Sayak Basu
‘Too Old To Die Young‘ is created, co-written, and directed by the eminent filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn. The story centers around a policeman who has recently lost his partner, and now finds himself trapped in a dangerous world of criminals along with his partner’s killer. From Yakuza members to assassins from the Mexican cartels, this world is filled with people who do not regret bloodshed even for a second. The show reflects Refn’s aesthetics very clearly and he does not in any way separate ‘Too Old To Die Young’ from his canon.
There is a lot of violence in the series, along with a lingering feeling of sadness. The cinematography gives the show a moody tone, which only makes the violence more shocking for the viewers. Critics praised the series for its aesthetics and ambition, but have also warned viewers of its often self-indulgent violence. If you enjoyed watching this show and are looking for more series that explore similar themes and concepts, then you have come to the right place. Here’s the list of best shows similar to ‘Too Old to Die Young’ that are our recommendations. You can watch several of these series like ‘Too Old to Die Young’ on Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime.
8. The Punisher (2017-2019)
‘The Punisher‘ is a Netflix original TV series based on the Marvel comics of the same name. It is about a man who has taken to violence in order to bring criminals to justice. Moreover, Frank Castle has no superpowers and carries out his rampage using his human skills alone. Castle was a dedicated soldier who served in the US Marines whose life suddenly changes one day when his family is murdered right before his eyes. This incident has a deep impact on him and he becomes a complete recluse whose only mission is to kill criminals and find out the people who were behind his family’s death. Some of the action scenes in this series are too violent for a show based on a comic book. However, the authenticity of this violence adds to the beauty of the series. Jon Bernthal gives a tremendous performance as the leading character.
7. Dexter (2006-2013)
One of the most popular crime dramas of this century, ‘Dexter’ centers around the dual life led by its leading character, Dexter Morgan, who works as a forensic expert for the Miami Metro Police Department. Dexter’s mother was killed violently when he was a small child, and this trauma remains pent-up within him. Dexter’s adoptive parent, policeman Harry Morgan, is the one who noticed that he wasn’t exactly normal, and had clear homicidal tendencies. Morgan inspires Dexter to fulfill his urges by killing notorious criminals. While during the day, he is a respectable forensic expert, at night, Dexter goes out on his rampage, killing criminals who have managed to evade justice. With his technical expertise in forensics, Dexter also manages to cover his traces very carefully. The series ran for eight seasons and has been positively received by both critics and audiences.
6. Justified (2010-2015)
‘Justified’ is a crime drama series centered around a lawman who does not always stick to the books when it comes to delivering justice. The name of this lawman is Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (played by Timothy Olyphant). Givens always dresses like a cowboy and is very tough on criminals, not even hesitating from killing them when he deems fit. This habit of his is naturally not met with support from his seniors. After Givens kills a hitman called Tommy Bucks, his position is taken away and he is shifted to a new town — Lexington, Kentucky. Critics heaped praises on the series throughout its run.
5. Sons Of Anarchy (2008-2014)
‘Sons Of Anarchy’ is one of the most violent TV shows ever made. The story centers around a character called Jackson “Jax” Teller. Jax is a member of an infamous bike gang called SAMCRO (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original). The gang was originally founded by his father, and it has now fallen upon Jax to carry his legacy forward. It indulges in a number of illegal activities and also has contacts with politicians and the police. Eventually, Jax rises up the ranks to become the president of the group. The show depicts how he manages to control the gang while trying to get a grip on his personal life. There have been similarities drawn between SAMCRO and the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Many former members of the Hells Angels have made appearances on the show. The series received acclaim from both the viewers and the critics.
4. The Following (2013-2015)
This crime thriller stars Kevin Bacon as Ryan Hardy, a former FBI agent on the hunt for a serial killer who has managed to escape from prison. This serial killer, Joe Carroll, proves to be a tough nut to crack. He makes himself a cult leader after coming out of prison, and has gathered several people with criminal records and urges to commit murders. Carroll transforms them into a group of fanatic killers. However, news soon arrives that Carroll’s son, Matthew, has been kidnapped by his followers. The FBI figures out that this is actually a massive plan on Carroll’s part, who wants to keep himself out of prison by any means possible. The second season of the show focuses on another cult, this time led by a woman called Lily Gray. In Season 3, Carroll plays an important role in helping the police capture a serial killer who is as relentless as Carroll himself.
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3. Blood And Treasure (2019-)
Created by Matthew Federman and Stephen Scaia, ‘Blood And Treasure’ centers around a former FBI agent and an art thief. The form FBI agent is Danny McNamara. He now works as a lawyer, specializing in cases involving stolen art. Danny teams up with art thief, Lexi Vaziri as he looks to bring down a terrorist who is stealing and selling paintings. He naturally uses the money earned from these sales to fund his attacks. We follow Danny and Lexi as they try hard to prevent these thefts and bring the terrorist to justice. However, this hunt for the perpetrator also leads the duo to a historical question of immense importance. The series received mostly mixed reviews from critics.
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2. Warrior (2019-)
Based on the writings of the famous martial arts icon Bruce Lee, ‘Warrior’ tells the story of an immigrant Chinese who has arrived in San Francisco during the 1870s. We see that a large Chinatown has developed in the city because of the huge number of migrating Chinese who are arriving every day. The central character of the series, Ah Sahm, has come to America to look for his sister. He is extremely skilled in martial arts and can take on several opponents at once. His skill soon lands Ah Sahm a position in a Chinese tong (gang). He becomes a dear friend of the leader’s son. Ah Sahm soon figures out that his sister is a high-ranking member of his rival gang. The series has some amazing action sequences.
The violence at times is also pretty brutal. The world of 1870s San Francisco has been masterfully recreated in the show. In certain episodes, there is also a genre amalgamation wherein we find Ah Sahm in a situation typically seen in Western movies. The show received massive praise for its storyline and the immense energy in each episode.
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1. Goliath (2016-)
‘Goliath’ is not a crime drama, nor is it full of action. However, it still manages to find a place on this list because of the similarity in the theme it shares with ‘Too Old To Die, Young’. Just like the latter, ‘Goliath’ is also set in a world where the law has run its course and it is upon human beings to take matters into their own hands if they want justice to be served.
Popular actor Billy Bob Thornton plays the leading role of a lawyer named Billy McBride. McBride was quite a successful lawyer and is also the founder of the firm, Cooperman McBride. When McBride one day realizes that a man whom he saved from going to prison has ended up killing numerous people, he cannot forgive himself anymore. He even loses his job at the firm he himself founded. However, he gets one last case to prove to the world that he is still worth his salt no matter what. The series received widespread critical acclaim, especially Thornton’s performance in the leading role. He even ended up winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama.
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