Remember the days when buddy cop shows were a staple of American television?
From Starsky & Hutch to Miami Vice, the genre has given us mismatched companions who bicker, joke, and ultimately take down the bad guys.
It’s escapism at its finest – a world of fast cars, sharp quips and explosive endings.
But over the years, the buddy cop genre has disappeared from American small screens.
But don’t worry; it’s alive and well – it’s just packed its bags and gone global.
A brief history of Buddy Cop Glory
The buddy cop model came a long way in the 1980s and 1990s, an era when the appeal of “Lethal Weapon” and “Beverly Hills Cop” shifted from the big screen to television.
Shows like “Starsky & Hutch” and “Cagney & Lacey” offered variations on the theme, combining humor, action and occasional drama.
Audiences love the chemistry between the lead characters, whether it’s Punch and Jon speeding around on motorcycles in CHiP or the street-smart detectives sniping at each other in the squad room in Hill Street Blues .
As the 2000s dawned, the Buddy Cop model began to evolve, experimenting with non-traditional partnerships and formats.
Take terriers, for example.
The show isn’t strictly a buddy cop series—it follows two unlicensed private investigators—but it embodies the mismatched duo dynamic that thrives on the genre.
Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James brought humor, sincerity and a touch of chaos to their characters, earning the show a loyal following.
Unfortunately, terriers are the victim of poor marketing and stiff competition, not the type itself.
FX struggled to convey the show’s themes, combining a vague title with a promotion that failed to resonate with potential viewers.
Competing against heavyweights like “Sons of Anarchy,” “Terrier” couldn’t find an audience and was canceled after just one season.
It’s a cautionary tale about how even a well-produced show can struggle without the right network support.
Meanwhile, other American TV series like Psycho, White Collar and Burn Notice have kept the buddy-cop spirit alive, albeit in unconventional ways.
“Sage” leans heavily into comedy, with Sean and Gus solving crimes through witty banter and crazy antics.
White Collar trades a police badge for skulduggery, pairing a slick criminal with a by-the-book FBI agent in a captivating show.
Burn Notice adds a touch of spy thriller, blending high-stakes action with buddy-cop banter, courtesy of Michael and Sam.
Even with these revamps, the core appeal of the buddy-cop genre — contrasting personalities working together — remains intact.
However, by the mid-2010s, USA Network shifted toward serialized stories and dark themes, leaving less and less room for the light-hearted, episodic adventures that defined Buddy Cop TV.
A genre-defining classic American show
In order to understand why the buddy cop genre has thrived for so long, it’s worth revisiting some of its staples.
Shows like “CHiPs” and “TJ Hooker” showcase the fun, action-packed side of police work.
Punch and Jon’s chemistry on “CHiPs” lends the show an easy appeal, while William Shatner’s turn as TJ Hooker’s grizzled mentor Adds depth to this more traditional cop drama.
And Cagney & Lacey, true trailblazers.
The show proves that a buddy-cop dynamic can work just as well as a female protagonist, solving serious social problems without losing its sharp wit or emotional resonance.
One of the most memorable twists and turns in Buddy Cop mode comes from the northern versus due south border.
The Canadian-American drama pairs Officer Benton Fraser, a straitlaced and extremely polite Mountie, with Ray Vecchio, a shrewd and cynical Chicago detective.
Their dynamic is pure gold: Fraser’s unwavering adherence to rules and etiquette clashes comically with Vecchio’s world-weary pragmatism.
Add in Frasier’s loyal wolf sidekick Diefenbaker, and the show strikes the perfect balance between quirky humor and heartfelt storytelling.
Its unique charm has earned it a loyal fan base and cemented its status as a cult classic.
Even a lesser-known gem like “Life” brings something special to the table.
Damian Lewis stars as Charlie Cruise, a wrongfully imprisoned cop who becomes a detective with a new Zen lifestyle.
His unconventional philosophy clashed perfectly with his more skeptical costar Dani Reese, creating one of the most unique dynamics in the genre.
Overseas: A new interpretation of a classic formula
While the United States was dismissive of buddy cop dramas, the international market embraced the genre with open arms and gave it a much-needed makeover.
Take Britain’s The Mallorca Files, for example, where a British detective and a German detective clash and connect as they solve crimes against the idyllic backdrop of Mallorca.
It’s light-hearted, charming and fun, a throwback to the golden age of buddy cop TV but with a modern twist.
France’s “Good Girls,” although a film, pairs two women from very different worlds to investigate a murder linked to their pasts.
The mix of action and comedy proves that the buddy-cop dynamic can thrive when given new voices and perspectives.
And let’s not forget Canada’s Wild Card, a new series in which a con man teams up with a disgraced police officer who’s been demoted to maritime patrol.
Its quirky premise and odd pairings echo some of the terrier’s charm, but with a distinctly Canadian twist.
Watch Mallorca Archives Online
International markets also tend to have unique cultural angles, such as Beforeeigners in Norway.
This may not be a traditional buddy cop drama, but pairing a modern detective with a Viking time traveler creates a classic character conflict in a crime-solving narrative.
Why it works abroad
International police tie-in shows are booming for several reasons.
First, they’re not as oversaturated as American television, so the formula still feels fresh.
Second, they favor character-driven storytelling and unique settings—such as the sunny beaches of Mallorca or the seedy streets of London—rather than police tropes.
Cultural context also plays a role.
In many countries, police dramas don’t face the same scrutiny as in the United States, which allows these shows to retain their escapist charm.
By blending the buddy-cop dynamic with other genres, such as science fiction or historical fiction, they managed to captivate audiences.
Is there any hope for the United States to make a comeback?
While traditional buddy-cop shows have taken a back seat, the essence of the genre still lives on in other forms.
Shows like The Rookie play with this formula, pairing contrasting characters in crime-solving scenes while eschewing outdated tropes.
Watch Rookies Online
On the big screen, movies like “Ride or Die” prove that people are still interested in high-octane buddy action.
To reinvigorate the genre, American television networks need to learn from their international counterparts.
By embracing diverse voices, blending genres, and focusing on the human relationships at the heart of the story, there’s no reason buddy cop shows can’t make a comeback.
After all, who doesn’t enjoy watching two unlikely partners reluctantly learn to work together?
Who is your favorite buddy-cop duo?
The buddy cop genre thrives on partnership, and we want to hear from you!
Is there a show you missed or a hidden gem that you think deserves more love?
Do you think America is ready for a renaissance, or are you enjoying the international impact?
Share your favorite mismatched duos with us – we’re all celebrating the magic (and witty banter) of teamwork!
