TV series

The Lawless Years

1959–1961 · 3 seasons

A sober, period-detailed procedural that trades shootouts for quiet character studies of criminals and the detective who pursues them.

Overview: The Lawless Years is an American crime drama series that aired on NBC from April 16 1959, to September 22, 1961. The series is the first of its kind set set during the Roaring 20s, having predated ABC's far more successful The Untouchables by six months. The series stars James Gregory and Robert Karnes.
How it feels: Tense, dark, earnest and melancholic. Measured and needs your attention.
About: Crime, corruption, justice, power
Content: Mild violence, sexual content and language. No gore.
Note: Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Free in the US

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Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Full breakdown

Tone: tensestrength 2 of 3
darkstrength 2 of 3
earneststrength 2 of 3
melancholicstrength 1 of 3
Pacing: measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: crime
corruption
justice
power
loyalty
Places: big city
Era: period
Audience: adult
Form: procedural
true story
serialised
Content intensity: Gore none
Language mild
Violence mild
Sex mild