History Main / ForensicDrama

* ''Series/{{Rosewood}}'' is another example of this mixed with the PoliceProcedural.

* ''Series/SilentWitness'' is a TV series about a trio of forensic pathologist and actually pre-dates ''Series/{{CSI}}''.

* ''Film/{{Manhunter}}'', based on the book ''Literature/RedDragon'', is about an FBI agent who is an expert in forensic profiling and who ends up asking for the help of one Hannibal [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Lecktor]]. Its star, Creator/WilliamPetersen, went on to play Gil Grissom in ''Series/{{CSI}}''.

* The 1992-3 Australian series ''Series/{{Phoenix}}'' also combined this with PoliceProcedural, with the husband-and-wife team of Ian "The Goose" Cochrane and his wife Carol trying to find out who set off a carbomb that killed two police officers, while trying to get the Major Crime Squad detectives to take their part of the job seriously.

[[folder: Film ]]

* ''Film/ForgettingSarahMarshall'' has the titular character star alongside WilliamBaldwin in a ShowWithinAShow called ''Crime Scene: [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Scene of the Crime]]'', a clear ''Series/{{CSI}}'' {{Expy}}.

* ''Film/{{Evidence}}'' combines forensic drama with SlasherFilm and FoundFootage film.

[[folder: Literature ]]

* R. Austin Freeman's Literature/DrThorndyke mysteries might very well be the trope codifier.
* The Scarpetta series by Creator/PatriciaCornwell is an incredibly popular range of books about a forensic pathologist.
* The Tempe Brennan series by Kathy Reichs, on which the TV show ''{{Series/Bones}}'' is (very loosely) based.
* The Elizabeth [=MacPherson=] series by Sharyn [=McCrumb=].

* John Rhode's long-running Lancelot Priestly series was made as as spiritual successor to the Thorndyke books.

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* ''Series/SilentWitness'' is a TV series about a trio of forensic pathologist and actually pre-dates ''Series/{{CSI}}''.
* ''Series/TruCalling'' had elements of this.

* ''Series/{{Dexter}}'' throws in a few aspects of this, though you can't really call the show a Forensic Drama; Dexter himself is a forensic investigator, though, and there is a lot of swabbing and lab-checking at least once an episode, sometimes even as an important plot point.
* ''Series/HecRamsey'': Forensic science meets cowboys.
** The short lived USA Network drama ''Peacemakers''could also be described as forensic science meets cowboys.
* ''Series/BodyOfProof'' is ''Series/{{House}}'' if he was a female medical examiner played by Dana Delany.
* ''Medical Investigation'' was NBC's FollowTheLeader entry to ''CSI''.
* ''Series/{{Trace}}'' is Russian forensic show set in Moscow, which is one of the longest-running shows in the world [[LongRunner (more than 2700 episodes since 2007)]].
* ''Sign'' is a Korean forensic drama modeled after ''Series/{{CSI}}''
* ''Series/CrossingJordan'' is a dramedy about the workers in Boston's coroner's office, but it morphed into a ''CSI'' clone about halfway through season 2.
* ''Series/{{Hannibal}}'' is a mix of this and GothicHorror. The main characters are a mix of FBI Special Agents, [[TheLabRat lab rats]], profilers and psychologists who use forensic science to track and apprehend serial killers, as in [[Literature/RedDragon the source material]]. The focus shifts away from these forensic aspects during the second half of season 2 and the first half of season 3, and the lab rat characters subsequently take a back seat.
* ''Series/{{Rosewood}}'' is another example of this mixed with the PoliceProcedural.
* The 1992-3 Australian series ''Series/{{Phoenix}}'' also combined this with PoliceProcedural, with the husband-and-wife team of Ian "The Goose" Cochrane and his wife Carol trying to find out who set off a carbomb that killed two police officers, while trying to get the Major Crime Squad detectives to take their part of the job seriously.
-->'''Inspector Brennan:''' We're not ready for you blokes yet.
-->'''The Goose:''' Oh, is that a fact? I don't know why you called us out here at all.
-->'''Inspector Brennan:''' ''(getting in his face)'' You got a problem?
-->'''The Goose:''' Hell ''[[SarcasmMode no]]'', there's only fifteen people wandering all over the scene. I mean, it's ''hopelessly'' contaminated; whatever was there is not there now--what could possibly be a problem?
-->'''Inspector Brennan:''' Who is this prick?
-->'''Detective:''' A public service prick, Mr. Brennan.
-->'''Inspector Brennan:''' Explain the facts of life to him. ''(leaves)''
-->'''Detective:''' He wants me to explain police procedure to you, boss.
-->'''The Goose:''' Go ahead. I'd like to hear "piss off" explained in depth.

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Web Original]]

* The Tempe Brennan series by Kathy Reichs, on which the TV show ''Bones'' is (very loosely) based.

* The French series ''Series/AlexandraEhle'' follows the eponymous quirky, stubborn and brilliant red-headed thanatologist and her hapless trainee.

As a result, we get the Forensic Drama. Most commonly this genre follows forensic pathologists -- they're the ones that cut up the corpses -- but will also include shows or characters that specialise in general forensic science (lifting fingerprints and the like), forensic psychology and forensic toxicology among a dozen other specialisations. Basically, if you can put "forensic" on the front of it, there's probably a pilot episode in existence somewhere.