Inspector Montalbano

Inspector Montalbano has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in the US on MZ Choice Amazon Channel and Mhz Choice, and in the UK on Arrow Video Amazon Channel. Every one of its 15 seasons holds up. 76 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Luca Zingaretti sets the tone, and the ensemble matches it scene for scene. Start it on MZ Choice Amazon Channel whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Inspector Montalbano earns its spot. The plotting in Inspector Montalbano is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. Inspector Montalbano is an Italian television series produced and broadcast by RAI since 1999, based on the detective novels of Andrea Camilleri. The protagonist is Commissario Salvo Montalbano, and the stories are set in the imaginary town of Vigata, Sicily. In 2012 the series generated a prequel, Il giovane Montalbano. Credit to Luca Zingaretti and Peppino Mazzotta for grounding it — this is a cast that earns the twists. Across 15 seasons (1999–2021), it never lost the thread that made it worth starting. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — Inspector Montalbano passes that test consistently. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in Inspector Montalbano. Viewers who responded to Starsky & Hutch will find a lot to like here too. The 15-season run rewards the patience it asks of you. Luca Zingaretti carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.

Inspector Montalbano wrapped up in 2021, created by Andrea Camilleri — and 15 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro's free voice app makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just say the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.