Is the cop show market too dense?

The number of cop shows is ever increasing with a huge range of shows such as The Rookie (2018), 9-1-1 (2018), and Line of Duty (2012) exploding in popularity in recent years. But in a time where support for the police is dwindling, do we need any more shows glamorising law enforcement?

One category of police shows is the typical American cop show where there’s a crime, some kind of ‘genius’ solution, and a resolution where the good guys win and everybody is happy. These shows serve as really easy viewing and are something you can put on in the background as you can usually watch each episode as a stand-alone piece of media which is something many viewers find appealing. In a world where justice can seem uncertain, these shows serve as a source of comfort to the viewer and is perhaps another reason why they have exploded in popularity. Some series such as Law and Order (1990) have upwards of 500 episodes which makes you question what else they could possibly include in new seasons. I personally think this style of show is completely oversaturated and despite making for easy viewing, there’s not much else to gain from it.

Other styles of cop show such as the grittier UK based shows like Line of Duty and Bodyguard (2018), which end after a reasonable number of episodes, provide a much more intense viewing experience and outline some of the problems with the police force rather than romanticising it.

Overall, I think there are far too many police shows that have almost identical, repetitive formats and there would be little impact if these were to stop being made. I think new cop shows need to try and bring something new and exciting to the table, and whilst I do appreciate the need for easy viewing, the market is already saturated enough. Police show that offer a commentary on real-life issues in a realistic and inspiring way rather than shoehorning them into single episodes can be really impactful and I personally wouldn’t mind seeing more of these.