If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, Banacek is available in the US on Amazon Prime Video right now. The 2-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. George Peppard anchors it, but the writing does the real work. Start it on Amazon Prime Video whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Banacek is worth clearing space for. Banacek treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. Banacek is an American detective TV series starring George Peppard that aired on the NBC network from 1972 to 1974. The series was part of the rotating NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie anthology. It alternated in its time slot with several other shows but was the only one to last beyond its first season. George Peppard and George Murdock lead a cast that never lets the mystery feel thin. Across 2 seasons (1972–1974), it never lost the thread that made it worth starting. Banacek is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find Banacek proves them wrong. Sherlock Holmes is the obvious comparison, but Banacek earns its own place alongside it. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. George Peppard's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.

Banacek was cancelled in 1974, created by Anthony Wilson — and 2 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.