Fast-paced television shows filled with plot twists, drama, and thrills can keep audiences on their toes. Well-executed TV shows can create shocking plot holes that are believable and fulfilling. Incredibly fast-paced TV shows have to balance the act of complex storytelling, enriching characterizations, and maintaining an exciting pace while also creating a solid groundwork for the show's future plot.

Audiences in the mood for amazing TV shows filled with shocking plot twists and drama can rely on fast-paced TV shows to keep them on the edge of their seats. Impeccably executed plot twists and cliffhangers can elevate a show's storytelling and keep audiences invested in it. Fast-paced TV shows keep viewers guessing and engaged with the show. From action-filled thrillers to tense murder mysteries, there is no shortage of fast-paced TV shows filled with plot twists to binge-watch.

10 American Vandal (2017-2018)

Mockumentary Style Investigation Of High School Mysteries

The mockumentary TV show American Vandal follows high school sophomores Peter Maldonado (Tyler Alvarez) and Sam Ecklund (Griffin Gluck) after they create a true-crime documentary to solve the case of who drew phallic images on faculty cars at Hanover High School. After class clown Dylan Maxwell (Jimmy Tatro), the primary suspect, is expelled despite his adamant denial, Peter and Sam begin an investigation into the prank to exonerate Dylan. American Vandal season 2 follows Peter and Sam as they undertake their second mystery after another high school's cafeteria lemonade is spiked with laxatives.

American Vandal was surprisingly thrilling and fast-paced, despite being a satirical TV show that blended comedy and drama. Each American Vandal episode covered a different aspect of the case and was filled with deception and plot twists. American Vandal had eight episodes per season, ensuring that each mystery was wrapped up in a short season and had a satisfying conclusion.

9 The Afterparty (2022-2023)

Whodunnit Mystery Through The Eyes Of Each Character

The Afterparty is a comedy murder mystery TV show in which each episode is viewed and experienced through the perspective of a different character. Each episode of The Afterparty utilized a different genre to portray the perspective of each character/murder suspect. Despite each episode of The Afterparty being a retelling of the events before the murder, the small discrepancies in the stories, new information being revealed, and the plot twists made The Afterparty a thrilling show to watch. The Afterparty's strong characters and interesting plotline ensured the whodunit mystery was compelling.

The Afterparty season 1 took place after a high school reunion after-party that went awry after pop and movie star Xavier (Dave Franco) was killed at his own party. The mystery in The Afterparty season 1 has an unforgettable and shocking yet satisfying conclusion. The clues about the unexpected plot twists were subtly and carefully placed throughout the series, ensuring that the plot twists weren't added for cheap shock value and felt earned.

8 The Umbrella Academy (2019-2024)

Dysfunctional Superhero Family Tries To Stop The Apocalypse

The superhero drama show The Umbrella Academy follows the dysfunctional Hargreeves family who reunite after their father's sudden death. Their grieving is interrupted when they learn that there's an impending apocalypse that will destroy the world and kill everyone on Earth. The six living Hargreeves siblings, and the ghost of Ben (Justin H. Min) face their own personal demons and stumble through Five's (Aidan Gallagher) never-ending mission to stop the world-ending apocalypse.

The Umbrella Academy took the time to focus on character development just as much as the big action set pieces that we had come to expect. - Screen Rant

The subsequent The Umbrella Academy seasons follow the Hargreeves siblings as they travel through time and create alternative timelines, get into superhero hijinks, and stop world-ending events. With The Umbrella Academy featuring a large ensemble cast and interesting ing characters, the superhero show is a fast-paced thriller that excels at building up character growth throughout the seasons. In addition, The Umbrella Academy is filled with fast-paced fight scenes filled with incredible VFX to showcase the Hargreeves family's powers and abilities.

7 Bodyguard (2018)

War Veteran Assigned To Protect Home Secretary In Political Thriller

Bodyguard is a critically acclaimed British police procedural TV show and political thriller following Police Sergeant David Budd (Richard Madden), a war veteran who works for the London Metropolitan Police under the Royalty and Specialist Protection Branch. Tensions arise after Budd is assigned to protect Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes), a person whose politics he detests.

Bodyguard expertly builds tension as Budd and Montague's opposing views and beliefs cause Budd conflict over his allegiance. Budd's traumatic experiences as a war veteran paints his mindset and views throughout the series and informs his decision. The action-filled TV show Bodyguard is a fast-paced six-episode thriller that uncovers a conspiracy. Bodyguard is filled with plot twists that keep audiences guessing as Budd struggles with his past, his loyalties, his duty to protect Montague, and unraveling a political conspiracy.

6 Bad Sisters (2022-2024)

Four Sisters Plot To Murder Their Abusive Brother-In-Law

The Irish black comedy show Bad Sisters follows the five Garvey sisters, Eva (Sharon Horgan), Grace (Anne-Marie Duff), Ursula (Eva Birthistle), Bibi (Sarah Greene), and Becka (Eve Hewson) after the death of Grace's husband, John Paul (Claes Bang). Bad Sisters jumps between timelines, one before John Paul's death, as the sisters plot to murder the abusive and controlling husband; the other after his death, as insurance agents try to prove that they had a hand in it. The fast-paced mystery show Bad Sisters has likable protagonists you can root for, and strong antagonists that drive the story forward.

The dark comedy Bad Sisters was able to have unpredictable and unlikely plot twists that didn't feel out of place. The plot twists in Bad Sisters add to the comedy in the dark show. Despite knowing that the sisters were plotting to murder John Paul, each episode was filled with tension and plot twists as the audience don't know how John Paul met his end.

The numerous failed murder attempts didn't just add comedic value to Bad Sisters, they also had devastating consequences for the sisters and their loved ones. Bad Sisters season 2 will be releasing on November 13, 2024, on AppleTV+.

5 Banshee (2013-2016)

Ex-Con On The Run Assumes The Identity Of Sheriff

Banshee is an action thriller TV show starring Antony Starr, best known for his role as Homelander in The Boys, as a mysterious ex-con who assumes the identity of the murdered sheriff Lucas Hood. Hood is on the run and hiding from the powerful criminal known as Rabbit (Ben Cross) after stealing $15 million dollars worth of diamonds. Banshee follows Hood's struggle to fit into his new role as the sheriff while still living a life of crime and violence.

With its unique premise and compelling characters, Banshee is a crime show filled with action, drama, thrills, betrayal, and plot twists. Each episode of Banshee features gritty action and enthralling combat that altered the course of Hood's journey and had major consequences for his plans and relationships with others. Banshee's short seasons ensured that each season was a fast-paced adventure filled with action.

4 Homeland (2011-2020)

CIA Agent Suspects That A Terrorist Attack Is Looming

Homeland is a critically acclaimed espionage thriller series following Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes), a CIA agent suspicious of Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis), a prisoner of war who was recently rescued. Carrie is dealing with hiding that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder from the CIA, her probation and reassignment by the CIA, and her suspicions that Brody is planning a terrorist attack.

While the eight-season show lost momentum in the later seasons, the early seasons, Homeland season 1 in particular, is a fast-paced spy drama and thriller. Carrie's dedication to proving that Brody was planning a terrorist attack, and her isolation as the only person suspicious of the war hero Brody, excluding her mentor Saul (Mandy Patinkin) made her a compelling lead. The spy thriller Homeland is filled with mis-directions and plot twists as conspiracies are unraveled and exposed and alliances are made and betrayed.

3 Orphan Black (2013-2017)

A Con-Artist Discovers She's A Clone

The science-fiction thriller Orphan Black revolves around Sarah Manning (Tatiana Maslany), a con artist who witnesses the suicide of a woman who eerily looks exactly like her. After Sarah assumes the woman's identity, she discovers that she is one of many genetically identical clones, and that someone is hunting her down to kill her and the other clones.

Orphan Black manages to effectively balance the science-fiction and mystery elements with lighthearted comedy and ionate romances that add moments of levity and joy to the thriller. As different groups hunt down Sarah and the clones for nefarious purposes, Orphan Black builds tension throughout the seasons and cohesively weaves intricate threads of plot together. The well-planned and well-executed writing made the Orphan Black series finale a satisfying conclusion to the show.

Orphan Black returned in a sequel titled Orphan Black: Echoes following Sarah Mannings daughter Kira, 37 years after the events of the series finale. Orphan Black: Echoes focuses on Kira and her wife as they try to help a woman with amnesia.

Tatiana Maslany portrayed 17 clones in Orphan Black, and her acting prowess ensured that each clone felt different in their behavior, speech, and characteristics. Maslany's acting skills were essential for making the science-fiction plot feel believable and for making the interactions between the clones feel real and distinct.

2 Why Women Kill

Anthology Series Following Women Who Turn To Murder

The dark comedy anthology TV show Why Women Kill follows different women in different decades who deal with issues of infidelity and betrayal by their husbands, and decide that murder is the best course of action. Why Women Kill season 1 focuses on three storylines of three women from different eras residing in the same mansion, while Why Women Kill season 2 focuses on only one storyline.

Despite the differences between the seasons, Why Women Kill stayed true to its heart and remains a thrilling woman-centric story filled with murder, betrayal, and twists and turns. While the title Why Women Kill makes it clear that the main characters will attempt to kill their husbands, the thrilling part of the show is learning why the women resorted to murder and violence, and what pushed them to take the step. Unfortunately, Why Women Kill leaves unanswered questions for fans, as it was canceled after season 2.

1 24 (2001-2010)

Counter-Terrorist Agent Protects The USA In Real Time

The action drama TV show 24 focuses on the counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) as the highly proficient agent puts his morals on the line to save lives. 24 utilizes the real time method of narration, with each season being 24 episodes to represent the 24 hours in a day.

The unique usage of split screens to showcase the events going on simultaneously made the drama show exciting and refreshing.

The real time drama 24 made the already tense situation even more electrifying by turning each episode into an hour into Jack Bauer's action-heavy life. 24 displays clocks on-screen during points of the show, putting emphasis on the time constraints and increasing narrative tension. The unique usage of split screens to showcase the events going on simultaneously made the drama show exciting and refreshing.

24 notoriously relied heavily on cliffhangers and plot twists that kept each episode engaging and built up to the season finale. Each season was a depiction of an action-packed and stressful day in the life of Jack Bauer. Jack Bauer often worked with allies and ignored his moral com to prevent terrorist attacks, highlighting his complex characterization and making him an incredibly sophisticated hero.