2024 has been great for Colman Domingo, an actor who wandered in Hollywood’s “underrated” woods longer than he should have. Best known for his Emmy-winning role of the drug addict, Ali, inEuphoria, the star has truly made a mark this year. The actor was nominated for an Oscar for his work inRustinand was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Now he is receiving widespread commendation for his performance in the Netflix conspiracy thriller series,The Madness.
The Madness
In the series, Domingo plays Muncie, a famous CNN pundit who heads to the secluded Poconos woods to write his new book. When his power goes out, he tries to get help from a friendly neighbor who had introduced himself earlier, only to find the man murdered and dismembered. As a good man should, he reports the matter to the police only to be singled out as a suspect. He thus goes on the run and spends a huge chunk of the show trying to find out who is behind the crime.
For viewers who have already watched this amazing thriller, there are more like it. Shows likeThe Madnessprimarily center around individuals whose lives have been disrupted because of larger conspiracies.
10’Burn Notice' (2007 – 2013)
Burn Notice
InBurn Notice, wisecracking CIA agent Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) is living the James Bond life untilhe is served a “burn notice” (abrupt dismissal from the agency), while he is on a mission in Nigeria. Distraught, he retires to his home city of Miami and starts working as a private investigator as he tries to find out who kicked him out and why.
Having Fun While Digging for the Truth
This warm,daffy spy storyconsistently delights and surprises,thanks to its numerous oddball characters, notably Michael’s mojito-addicted best friend, portrayed by Bruce Campbell. There areplenty of incredible one-liners and slapstick moments, yet to its credit, the show never tries so hard to be zany. The humor is often leavened with tragedy stemming from the agency conspiracy, so you’ll find it hard to stop watching.
Stream it on Hulu
9’The Fugitive' (1963 - 1967)
Harrison Ford’s critically acclaimed ‘90s filmimmediately comes to the mind of most movie and TV lovers wheneverThe Fugitiveis mentioned, but there is an equally great ‘60s production covering the same story. Here, David Janssen stars as Dr. Richard Kimble,a physician wrongfully convicted of his wife’s murder. He flees, hoping to find the mysterious “One-Armed Man,” who he believes is the real killer.
A Stretched yet Sensible Plot
How long can a man be on the run? You’d be surprised. There are 120 episodes here, andnone feels redundant.This fast-paced taleowes its strength to the force of David Janssen’s Emmy-nominated performance. He runs and curses like his life depends on it. Beyond that, the thriller has one of the nastiest villains you will ever meet, so put your hate cap on before pressing the play button.
Stream it on Pluto TV
8’The Capture' (2019 – 2022)
The Capture
InThe Capture,British army Lance Corporal Shaun Emery (Callum Turner) is back home, his head is awhirl with images of human rights violations and battlefield horror. When his barrister gets kidnapped and murdered, Shaun gets accused of the crime, and there is CCTV evidence to back it up. Did he do it?
Major Twists, Coupled by Relevant Social Commentary
This tense British thrillermelds social, political, and moral turmoil, reinforced by serrated editing and a pastiche of colors and filming styles. Throughout the first season, Shaun presents the anguished face of bottled-up rage, and you are forced to back him all the way. Most importantly,there is appropriate commentary on the issues that affect us today, with the series taking its time to address the surveillance culture.
Stream it on Peacock
Colman Domingo’s 10 Greatest Movie and TV Performances
Colman Domingo has proven that he can shine in both main and supporting roles. Here are his best performances.
7’Prison Break' (2005 – 2017)
Prison Break
Everyone needs a sibling like Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller). ThePrison Breakprotagonist doesn’t think twice about getting himself locked up when his brother, Linc, is given a death sentence after he is falsely accused of murdering the Vice President’s brother. His plan? To break Linc out of prison before the execution date and stop the sinister figures who have framed him.
One of Television’s Smartest Protagonists
Looking for something that will really entertain you? Leave your belongings to the guards at the entrance and surrender yourself to Fox River Penitentiary. Showrunner Paul Scheuring tells a familiarprison-is-tough tale, butinfuses it with heart, twists, and humor. Colorful side characters (watch out for Theodore “T-Bag” Bagwell) also inject the show with a spunky vitality. Michael’s out-of-the-box plans add to the fun, and so do the numerous setbacks that emerge.
6’Renegade' (1992 – 1997)
Renegade’s Harley-riding, bounty-hunting hero, Reno Raines (Lorenzo Lamas), was once a lawman… a very good one. But a dead body was pinned on him. Now he is on the move as he surreptitiously tries to bring his enemies to justice, and, hopefully, get his old job back.
Endless Beatdowns
At the start of each episode, the voice of the great Don LaFontaine ushers you in.
“He was a cop, and good at his job, but he committed the ultimate sin, and testified against other cops gone bad. Cops that tried to kill him, but got the woman he loved instead. Framed for murder, now he prowls the badlands. An outlaw hunting outlaws… a bounty hunter… a renegade.”
Renegadehas one ofthe best TV intros and opening credit sequencesyou will ever see, but that’s just a tiny portion of its brilliance.Part procedural, part chop-socky fiesta, the show was a breath of fresh air for an actor mostly known as a soap opera heartthrob. And it’ll leave you wondering why he never became a major action star.
5’Lupin' (2021 – Present)
Lupinis the story of Assane Diop, a professional thief with a strong heart and a gentle disposition whoseeks revenge against a wealthy family that framed his immigrant father for the theft of an expensive diamond necklace. Inspired by an early 20th-century book about gentleman thief Arsène Lupin, he targets the family using subterfuge and thievery.
The First French Series to Hit the Top 10 on Netflix USA
With an affectionate nod topopular heist movies,Lupinfashions itself as a surprisingly moving tale about class exploitation. Even though he is a criminal, Diop stands in blunt contrast to all the meanness surrounding him. His drive makes you cheer for him and become wholly invested in his welfare, andthe show as a whole is unabashedly cinematic, with a finely tuned orchestral score and awe-inspiring French cinematography.
Stream it on Netflix
4’The A-Team' (1983 – 1987)
The A-Teamis aboutfour former members of a fictitious United States Army Special Forces team who were court-martialed and jailed for a crime they had not committed.Thankfully, they managed to escape and hide in Los Angeles where they now work as soldiers of fortune
A-Team is an A-Show
This thrilling mercenary tale has everything you’d find in a great action series. From endless shootouts to explosions, there is enough to keep viewers engaged. AndMr. T, laconic as always, is likable as the muscle behind the team.Though the show takes too much time giving us some of the answers we need, it never lets the viewer’s nerves rest. The only letdown is the highly sanitized violence. You are unlikely to see any blood or wounds.
3’Quantico' (2015 – 2018)
InQuantico, Priyanka Chopra stars as Alex Parrish, a newly recruited FBI agent whobecomes a prime suspect in a terrorist attack on Grand Central Terminal.The show dances between two timelines: the present when Parrish flees and attempts to prove her innocence, and the past, when she was at the FBI academy in Quantico.
Blending Personal and Global Challenges
From the zany mind ofGossip Girlwriter Joshua Safran comes a wildly tense, twist-packed saga about the vagaries that stem from working in a high-stakes profession. There’s the kind of edge-of-your-seat entertainment you’ve gotten from shows like24, andDesignated Survivor,butyou’ll still enjoy everything thanks to a lead who is fully committed to the role, and a deeper look into the link between politics and law enforcement.
2’The Terminal List' (2022)
The Terminal List
Based on Jack Carr’s best-selling novel of the same name,The Terminal Listtraces the activities of Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander James Reece (Chris Pratt) ashe investigates an incident that led to the ambush and death of his entire platoon in Syria.As he digs deeper, shadowy figures within the government put a target on his back.
Pratt Still Shines While Away from His Blockbuster Comfort Zone
The Terminaltopped Prime Video’s “Top 10” list within two weeks of its launch and came in at third place on the Nielsen chart with a whopping 1.1 billion minutes viewed across all eight episodes. The series is labyrinthine, butthose willing to submit to the clever rhythms of the showrunner will be rewarded with a cavernous, resonant meditation on military affairs.
1’Kleo' (2022 – Present)
Kleotakes us back to the ‘80s where East German Stasi assassin Kleo Straubsuccessfully kills a double agent in a West Berlin club, only to be rewarded by a false accusation by her agency. She is released shortly after the Berlin Wall gets taken down and wastes no time going after the conspirators. Meanwhile, Sven Petzold, an underappreciated lawman happens upon evidence linking the incident to Straub. Is she as innocent as she thinks?
German Awesomeness
Winner of numerous awards in its home country,this German thriller has the look and feel of a John la Carre adaptation, yet it isn’t one.Combining meandering arcs with vivid cinematography, the show feels bizarre but purposeful. And whenever things get too dark, a few laugh-out-loud moments are sprinkled in to dilute the atmosphere.
