In real life, detectives are expected to follow the rules and operate from the same template but on screen, being normal usually doesn't cut it. In a crowded TV landscape where there are dozens of detective shows all vying for the viewer's attention, it is always ideal for the lead investigator to be a little weird.
Over the past couple of decades, fans have thus been introduced to fictional detectives that do more than just flash their badges and wear long coats. These individuals not only have strange mannerisms but also rely on unusual investigative methods to get the job done. Interestingly, their methods always work.
10 Frank Columbo (Columbo)
In most of the highly rated police procedurals, suspects are known to be uncooperative and elusive. However, this is no problem for LAPD's chief homicide detective in Columbo since has a very effective way of cracking cases: tricking criminals into thinking that he is foolish and incompetent. He achieves this easily achieves by using circumstantial speech and appearing absent-minded.
Columbo's offbeat tactics normally work because most of the show's miscreants are arrogant members of the elite who look down on people. Away from his investigative methods, Columbo has several other appealing trademarks, such as his praise for chili con carne and the catchphrase, "One more thing," which he often uses in each episode after he remembers something crucial.
9 Adrian Monk (Monk)
Adrian Monk lacks the courage that would be expected of a member of the San Francisco Police Department. The detective has a total of 312 documented phobias, including simple things such as ladybugs and harmonicas. Even so, his fears never sip into his ability to solve crimes. In fact, constantly watching out for the triggers is what makes him notice unusual things quickly.
Adrian's attention to detail is also the source of most of Monk's comic relief moments. As much as his colleagues appreciate his skills, they'd rather he goes easy on things such as their fashion and eating habits. A simple thing such as spotting someone who isn't wearing matching socks causes Monk to go on hilarious rants, resulting in a number of incredible one-liners
8 Francis "Fr. Frank" Dowling (Father Dowling Mysteries)
The odds of finding a Catholic priest who doubles as a detective are low in real life but Father Dowling Mysteries gladly blends crime and religion. The show has a preacher who would rather play an active role in ridding the world of evildoers rather than pray about it. Fans thus get to see a man of the cloth who often skips mass in order to catch criminals.
For Father Frank, getting Chicago's criminals behind bars is never difficult because he has Sister Steve, a very resourceful sidekick who knows everything about the Chicago streets and handles a car better than many of Fast & Furious' most skilled drivers. He also has an advantage over other detectives because people willingly tell him things through the parish's confession booths.
7 Ned The Piemaker (Pushing Daisies)
Murder mysteries would be a lot easier to solve if the victims could tell what happened. Luckily, that's possible in one of the most underrated modern TV shows, HBO's Pushing Daises, because Ned The Piemaker has the ability to bring people back from the dead in order to question them about the circumstances that led to their death.
Ned is uncharacteristically humble and shy, traits that make him more likable compared to other TV detectives. He treats others with respect and even insists that resurrected people be referred to as the "alive again" rather than zombies or the living dead. Despite his unique power, his extreme love for pies also makes him very relatable.
6 Theodopolus "Theo" Kojak (Kojak)
There are tons of absurd catchphrases in old TV shows, and Theo from the NYPD's Eleventh Precinct takes credit for a bulk of them. Among his popular remarks in Kojak is "Who loves ya, baby?" which he often says to anyone that agrees to a quid-pro-quo or a suspect that has just been caught.
Of course, Theo loves none of these more than he does Tootstie Pops. Everyone finds it strange for a grown man like him to be sucking on a hard candy lollipop all the time, but the best part is that he never cares what they think. Theo's eccentricities aside, his case-closing rate is nearly 100%, making him one of the most competent fictional cops.
5 Lucifer Morningstar (Lucifer)
Lucifer Morningstar remains iconic because there is no shortage of weird things about him, including the fact that he can have sex 10 times a day and once slept with 92 people in eight weeks. Since he is actually the devil, he has a better understanding of evil, so he ends up making a very good detective for the LAPD in Lucifer.
The powers accorded to Lucifer as the devil make the job a lot easier for him. Unlike other cops, he doesn't have to chase after suspects. He can simply levitate to where they are or cause them to remain static. Thanks to his temptation inducement ability, the Lux nightclub owner is able to make anyone fall for him and reveal their secrets to him.
4 Dirk Gently (Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency)
For Dirk, fate is the key to solving crimes. The former "Project Blackwing" members believe everything in the universe is interconnected so in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, he often adopts holistic methods, resulting in either good or strange outcomes.
Dirk's tendency to rely on philosophy and science makes him appear a lot smarter than other TV investigators. Whether it's time-traveling to get back to a time before a crime happened or citing Confucius in relation to a case, the investigator goes over and beyond to get the job done. His ties to the CIA make him somewhat of a part-time spy too.
3 Jessica Fletcher (Murder She Wrote)
Fletcher is more of an "unofficial" detective since she is always consulted by the Scotland Yard, Cabot Cove Sheriff's Department, MI6, and the FBI, because of her status as the greatest Murder Mystery novelist rather than as a member of any precinct. Despite not having prior experience in police work, the sleuth ends up doing a much better job than most law enforcement officers.
Fletcher's active imagination in Murder She Wrote coupled with her ability to do extensive research means she knows how each murder is likely to play out. The author's authoritative and know-it-all nature means she also gets to scold officers on the regular, though this often plays out in a humorous manner instead of a condescending one.
2 Sledge Hammer (Sledge Hammer)
Regarding eccentricities, San Fransico PD's Sledge Hammer takes things to a whole new level. The flamboyant and charming detective is specifically known for his obsession with his .44 Magnum, which he not only showers with but also sleeps with. He even makes a comfy satin pillow for it.
The Sledge Hammer protagonist is partly modeled after James Bond, which means he often goes against his superiors by doing something extreme and then waiting for the consequences. Luckily for him, the punishment tends to be mild or gets deferred altogether, because he is the most reliable officer in the department.
1 Shawn Spencer (Psych)
Shawn Spencer is the key reason Psych is one of the most appreciated 2000s comedy shows. Generally, life works in opposites for him as he fears harmless things such as dead bodies and ghosts but is ever willing to dive into dangerous situations without thinking about his own well-being.
Because he is actually pretending to be psychic, Shawn is often forced to behave in strange ways to convince everyone he is not normal. As such, he is a major source of humor. Thankfully, the "fake it 'til you make it" approach works out extremely well for him, and he ends up being trusted even by his detractors.