Homicide: New York is returning to Netflix for Season 2, with five new true crime stories from the annals of the New York Police Department. The show is another of Wolf Entertainment’s many ventures into true crime, clearly made in the creative footsteps of the company’s scripted brands like Law & Order. Sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn’t.

TV fans know Wolf Entertainment from its crime dramas such as Law & Order and the One Chicago franchises, but the company also has a long history in the true crime space. They also produce shows like Cold Justice and Homicide Squad: New Orleans. Homicide: New York Season 2 is more like the latter than the former—not just in subject matter, but in the way the cases are presented. There’s a stylized element to the proceedings, which makes them more entertaining but also occasionally becomes distracting. Things like camera angles and overly dark lighting really aren’t necessary to create tension, when the stories are already there.

Underneath that, though, are five episodes that will entertain anyone who enjoys true crime. Wolf Entertainment and Alfred Street Industries know the dramatic beats they need to hit, but what’s most impressive is the breadth of the stories they tell. Homicide: New York interviews a great variety of police officers, rather than just the usual one or two cops who are supposed to represent the entire department; that gives viewers a real sense of how many people are involved in a homicide investigation, and also provides a lot more points of view.

In addition, the victims’ families and other affected parties are incorporated throughout the episodes, and not just at the beginning or end of the story. This can be painful to watch, but it’s important. True crime fans don’t always get to hear what’s going through their minds during an investigation; one excellent example is the The First 48 episode “Trap House,” which showcased how the victim’s family worked with Tulsa Detective Jason White. Yet that’s the exception, not the rule. Anything that gives victims’ loved ones more of their voice is a good thing.

Homicide: New York has good intentions, and solid stories that have enough twists and turns to keep Netflix viewers watching. The premiere episode is one that audiences will not be able to predict. Its biggest weakness is just that added layer of dramatic style on the top. There are moments when the show veers more toward entertainment, and one never wants to forget that these are real stories with real people at their core. True crime can and should do more than entertain. But Homicide: New York Season 2, for the most part, stays on target. The visual effects and camera angles are just added glamour to a show that already has enough to hook fans’ interest.

Homicide: New York premieres March 25, 2026 on Netflix. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Netflix.

Article content is (c)2020-2026 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.