Burn Notice is an American television series created by Matt Nix. The show originally aired on the USA Network for seven seasons. Sadly, the show has yet to make it to the Netflix streaming service. But at the same time, you can watch other shows like Burn Notice.
The show starred Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell, and Sharon Gless in the main roles. The title of the show refers to the burn notices issued by intelligence agencies to discredit or announce the dismissal of agents or sources. The show starts with one of these agents being burned in the middle of an operation in southern Nigeria.
Through the show, fans and viewers follow two narratives. The first one is why Michael was burned. And the second is individual episodes focusing on the cases he now works for clients.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at other police shows like Burn Notice you can watch.
Condor
The thriller TV series is based on the 1974 novel Six Days of the Condor by James Grady. The show is also based on the 1975 movie adaptation of the novel.
Condor stars Max Irons, son of Jeremy Irons, in the main role as CIA Agent Joe Turner. He is the sole survivor of a terrible and violent accident. Joe finds himself in the middle of a large conspiracy and has to get into the world he is not prepared for.
Alias
The action thriller series was created by J. J. Abrams. And fans of the famous director know he brings the action to the scene. Jennifer Garner stars in the main role of Sydney Bristow.
Bradley Cooper, Ethan Hawke, and Faye Dunaway also make an appearance in the show that lasted for five years.
Bristow is a CIA double agent recruited as an undergraduate seven years prior to the start of the show. She now must assume different aliases to carry out her work.
The Enemy Within
The NBC drama lasted for only one season. But it delivered plenty of mystery, action, and drama. Jennifer Carpenter plays the role of an ex-CIA operative. Her character, Erica Shepherd, serves time in a maximum-security prison after being deemed a traitor.
While serving her time, she is approached by FBI Agent Will Keaton who offers her a deal for her freedom. She uses her skills to assist Keaton in tracking down a dangerous terrorist.
Nikita
Nikita aired on the CW Network. It is an adaptation of the 1990 French film La Femme Nikita, written and directed by Luc Besson.
It revolves around the titular character, played by Maggie Q. she is a former spy who spent many years in hiding. She now goes back and wants to take down the secret government organization Division. Similar to the plot of Burn Notice, she finds herself on the opposite side of a powerful organization she once worked for.
NCIS
When we talk about police procedural television series, we have to mention one of the best in the genre. NCIS revolves around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
The show combines elements of the military drama and police procedural. The show is a spinoff from JAG. The concept of the show was introduced in two episodes during season eight of JAG.
NCIS has spawned many other spinoffs and similar shows.
Dexter
The American crime drama television series aired on Showtime from October 2006 to September 2013. The show is set in Miami, following the life of Dexter Morgan, played by Michael C Hall.
He is a forensic technician specializing in bloodstain pattern analysis for the Miami Metro Police Department. But he also leads a secret parallel life as a vigilante serial killer. Dexter hunts down murders who have not been punished by the justice system.
To this day, Dexter remains one of the best TV shows of all time.
Criminal Minds
Here is another police drama TV show that spawned many spinoffs. It premiered on CBS in September 2005 and lasted until February 2020. The show follows a group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral Analysis Unit.
Criminal Minds remain one of the most-watched TV shows on CBS. The media franchise has spawned spinoff series, but also a video game.
White Collar
The American police drama stars Tim DeKay as FBI Special Agent Peter Burke and Matt Bomer as Neal Caffrey, a highly intelligent con artist in the main roles.
The show’s biggest strength is the dynamic between Burke and Caffrey. The two work together on solving crimes after Peter offers him a deal for getting out of prison.
Willie Garson is the underrated star of the show as Mozzie.
Covert Affairs
The American action drama television series stars Piper Perabo and Christopher Gorham in the main roles. The show is about a young CIA trainee, Annie Walker, who works for the Domestic Protection Division as a field agent. She works with her guide, August Anderson, who is a blind tech operative.
During the show, Annie has to come up with different covert stories to keep her identity a secret. The show traces her evolution from a young operative into a hardened spy.
Chuck
If you want buddy cop action comedy-drama, you have to check Chuck. Zachary Levi plays the titular character, an average computer whiz-next-door. Chuck receives an encoded email from an old college friend now working for the CIA.
The message puts the greatest spy secrets inside Chuck’s brain. Now, the CIA and the NSA have to use him on top-secret missions.
The ratings of the show declined during the second season, but fans mounted a campaign to encourage NBC to renew the show. They targeted one of the sponsors of the show, the Subway restaurant chain.
Monk
This has to be one of the best shows like Burn Notice in a way it uses comedy. The detective mystery television series stars Tony Shalhoub as the title character, Adrian Monk.
It ran from 2002 to 2009 as a police series, but with some great comic and dramatic tones. The show emphasizes exploring the main character and his personal life.
During its run, the show won eight Emmy Award trophies, one Golden Globe Award, and two Screen Actors Guild awards. You can now watch it on the streaming service Netflix.
Psych
Speaking about detective comedy-drama, we have to put Psych on the list of shows like Burn Notice. It was created by Steve Franks for the USA Network. James Roday stars as Shawn Spencer, a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department. He has heightened observational skills, which is why many think he is a psychic.
The show has developed its own cult following. Fans often call themselves PsychoOs. The success of the show has spawned three separate Psych movies.
The Americans
Let’s talk about the American period spy drama created by Joe Weisberg for the FX television network. This show is set during the Cold War, following the story of Elizabeth played by Keri Russell, and Philip Jennings, played by Matthew Rhys. They are two Soviet KGB agents posing as an American married couple.
The show lasted for six seasons. During its run, critics praised it as one of the best of its era. The writing, characters, and acting were amazing. Rhys earned a Primetime Emmy Award for his acting during the final season.
The Mentalist
Let’s finish off the list with one of the best American drama television police series. The Mentalist stars Simon Baker as the former psychic Patrick Jane. He is a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation.
Patrick wants to find the murderer of his wife and daughter, which is why he helps the police. Before joining the police as a consultant, he was a successful con artist.
