Not every great procedural makes it onto the major platforms, and Trace is a reminder of why it is always worth looking beyond the obvious. Every episode is out there — TV Butler finds it for you instantly without the guesswork. A 4/10 rating from a real audience is the kind of signal that does not lie — this was worth people's time when it aired, and it is worth yours now. The challenge with shows that are not on the biggest platforms is simply knowing where to look, and that is exactly what TV Butler is built for. Search by title, find out which service has it in your country, and go from there. No app-switching, no guessing — just a direct path to watching.

Originally commissioned by Tencent Video, Trace quickly became exactly the kind of show that viewers rearrange their evenings for. The major case squad within the public security organization tackles a series of perplexing cases, led by forensic expert Liao Yan and criminal psychology specialist Liang Maiqi. Both are young professionals returning from abroad, leveraging their expertise to solve unusual cases. Through close collaboration with their teammates, they navigate dangerous situations, using their intelligence and bravery to resolve crises and complete missions. It aired in 2020. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry episodes where the mystery takes a breath — Trace passes that test consistently. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Perfect for viewers who think they have already seen all the great crime dramas. Trace is the one that tends to prove them wrong. The writing earns its twists rather than manufacturing them, and the result is a show where the resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary. Fans of The Bay will recognise the tonal balance between tension and character work. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. If you are going to commit to one procedural this month, make it this one.