The Sinner (2017–2021)

TV ShowEndedDrama, Crime, Thriller4 seasons, 32 episodes
The Sinner posterReview score: 73%

Plot

A blend of thrilling murder investigation and raw character drama, anthology series The Sinner follows the investigation of a chilling new homicide each season. Detective Harry Ambrose employs unusual tactics and a deep capacity for empathy to solve his cases … with a boundless dedication driven by his own dark past. Departing from the traditional "whodunnit," the series delves into the "why" -- exploring the buried traumas, psychological factors and philosophical reasons that might compel a seemingly "normal" person to commit unspeakable acts.

Email me if The Sinner returns or gets revived

Highest-rated episodes all ranked

  1. 01The Sinner S01E08Part VIIIS01E08 · 8.0Cora's fate is determined.
  2. 02The Sinner S04E07Part VIIS04E07 · 8.0Unsure whom to trust, Ambrose hunts down his pursuers.
  3. 03The Sinner S04E06Part VIS04E06 · 7.9A shocking new crime further rattles the town of Clark Harbor; Ambrose and Meg team together.

Episodes by season

Season01Best seasonEpisode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode8Episodes2017Aired 7.6Season avg
  1. S01E01The Sinner S01E01Part IAugust 2, 2017 7.1An unassuming housewife stabs a beachgoer to death, which sparks an investigation and creates confusion in a small town.
  2. S01E02The Sinner S01E02Part IIAugust 9, 2017 7.5Cora tries to block Ambrose's continuing investigation, while Mason struggles to come to terms with secrets from Cora's past.
  3. S01E03The Sinner S01E03Part IIIAugust 16, 2017 7.7Ambrose unearths a startling secret about Cora that changes the course of the investigation; Mason takes matters into his own hands.
  4. S01E04The Sinner S01E04Part IVAugust 23, 2017 7.8With Ambrose's help, Cora struggles to recover missing memories, which lead Ambrose to a new suspect.
  5. S01E05The Sinner S01E05Part VAugust 30, 2017 7.8After a body is discovered in the woods, the investigation into Cora's past deepens.
  6. S01E06The Sinner S01E06Part VISeptember 6, 2017 7.3When Ambrose begins to waver, Cora convinces him to take a risk for the case.
  7. S01E07The Sinner S01E07Part VIISeptember 13, 2017 7.6Cora finally remembers the night in question.
  8. S01E08The Sinner S01E08Season's bestPart VIIISeptember 20, 2017 8.0Cora's fate is determined.

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

Season02Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode8Episodes2018Aired 7.0Season avg
  1. S02E01The Sinner S02E01Season's bestPart IAugust 1, 2018 7.3A troubled detective returns to his hometown to investigate why a young boy would kill his parents.
  2. S02E02The Sinner S02E02Part IIAugust 8, 2018 7.2Ambrose and Heather begin to unravel where Julian is from. Julian is thrust into a new world.
  3. S02E03The Sinner S02E03Part IIIAugust 15, 2018 7.2Heather makes a startling realization about Marin. Vera and Julian are dealt a hard blow.
  4. S02E04The Sinner S02E04Part IVAugust 22, 2018 7.2Ambrose returns to Mosswood to confront Vera about the commune's work.
  5. S02E05The Sinner S02E05Part VAugust 29, 2018 7.1As Ambrose zeroes in on a new suspect, a rift develops between him and Heather.
  6. S02E06The Sinner S02E06Part VISeptember 5, 2018 6.5Vera reveals Mosswood's past to Ambrose, leading to a turn in Julian's case.
  7. S02E07The Sinner S02E07Part VIISeptember 12, 2018 6.8Heather and Ambrose search for Julian.
  8. S02E08The Sinner S02E08Part VIIISeptember 19, 2018 6.8Heather and Ambrose continue their search for Julian as Marin’s past is unraveled.

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

Season03Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode8Episodes2020Aired 6.9Season avg
  1. S03E01The Sinner S03E01Part IFebruary 6, 2020 7.5Detective Ambrose investigates a tragic yet suspicious car accident on the outskirts of Dorchester.
  2. S03E02The Sinner S03E02Season's bestPart IIFebruary 13, 2020 7.6Ambrose looks into Jamie and Nick's relationship before the crash. Jamie begins to unravel.
  3. S03E03The Sinner S03E03Part IIIFebruary 20, 2020 7.4Ambrose investigates Jamie's past. Leela gives birth as Jamie's anxiety reaches a breaking point.
  4. S03E04The Sinner S03E04Part IVFebruary 27, 2020 7.0Ambrose pursues Jamie through New York City and tries to prevent another homicide.
  5. S03E05The Sinner S03E05Part VMarch 5, 2020 6.5Ambrose urges the NYPD to investigate Jamie for a new crime. Jamie struggles to salvage his life.
  6. S03E06The Sinner S03E06Part VIMarch 12, 2020 6.6Jamie pays Sonya a surprise visit. Ambrose goes to extreme lengths to get a confession.
  7. S03E07The Sinner S03E07Part VIIMarch 19, 2020 6.7After a major turn in the case, Ambrose's tactics are scrutinized.
  8. S03E08The Sinner S03E08Part VIIIMarch 26, 2020 6.0Jamie seeks vengeance, putting him on a collision course with Ambrose.

Season 3 ranked & reviewed

Season04Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode8Episodes2021Aired 7.6Season avg
  1. S04E01The Sinner S04E01Part IOctober 13, 2021 6.8Ambrose visits the town of Clark Harbor for a getaway and finds himself at the center of a tragedy.
  2. S04E02The Sinner S04E02Part IIOctober 20, 2021 7.5A new suspect leads the investigation into an ongoing feud between the Lams and the Muldoons.
  3. S04E03The Sinner S04E03Part IIIOctober 27, 2021 7.4Ambrose heads to the mainland to learn more about Percy's past and uncovers dark family secrets.
  4. S04E04The Sinner S04E04Part IVNovember 3, 2021 7.5When the Muldoons push to close the investigation, Ambrose refuses, pushing Sonya to the brink.
  5. S04E05The Sinner S04E05Part VNovember 10, 2021 7.8Ambrose discovers the source of Percy's ritualistic practices and dives deeper into her past.
  6. S04E06The Sinner S04E06Part VINovember 17, 2021 7.9A shocking new crime further rattles the town of Clark Harbor; Ambrose and Meg team together.
  7. S04E07The Sinner S04E07Season's bestPart VIINovember 24, 2021 8.0Unsure whom to trust, Ambrose hunts down his pursuers.
  8. S04E08The Sinner S04E08Part VIIIDecember 1, 2021 7.7Ambrose exposes the secret that threw Percy's life off course, setting off widespread consequences.

Season 4 ranked & reviewed

Cast

Bill PullmanBill PullmanHarry AmbroseFrances FisherFrances FisherMeg MuldoonAlice KremelbergAlice KremelbergPercy MuldoonNeal HuffNeal HuffSean MuldoonCindy CheungCindy CheungStephanie LamRonin WongRonin WongMike LamJessica HechtJessica HechtSonya BarzelMichael MosleyMichael MosleyColin Muldoon

Photos

View all
1 / 12

The Sinner

Poster · 1 of 12

Shows like The Sinner all similar shows

The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.

  1. 01Drama·Crime·ThrillerTrue Detective2014–presentStreaming on HBO MaxTouch darkness and darkness touches you back.8.1Compare
  2. 02Drama·Crime·ThrillerThe Blacklist2013–2023·NBCAlso on NetflixThe Blacklist is a crime drama involving a former government agent who turned into a high-profile criminal turning himself in to the FBI offering to help catch criminals.8.1Compare
  3. 03Drama·Crime·ThrillerCriminal Minds2005–present·Paramount+Streaming on Amazon Prime VideoCriminal Minds revolves around an elite team of FBI profilers who analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they strike again.8.1Compare
  4. 04Drama·Crime·ThrillerBreaking Bad2008–2019·AMCAlso on NetflixBreaking Bad follows protagonist Walter White, a chemistry teacher who lives in New Mexico with his wife and teenage son who has cerebral palsy.9.2Compare
  5. 05Drama·Crime·ThrillerThe Killing2011–2014·AMCStreaming on HuluThe Killing follows Seattle homicide detectives Stephen Holder and Sarah Linden and their work as detectives investigating murders.8.2Compare
  6. 06Drama·Crime·ThrillerThe Following2013–2015·FOXAlso on NetflixThe FBI estimates there are currently over 300 active serial killers in the United States.7.0Compare

Head-to-head pick any opponent

Stack The Sinner's full episode-rating history against a rival, on one chart.

The Sinner vs True DetectiveFull episode chartThe Sinner vs The BlacklistFull episode chartThe Sinner vs Criminal MindsFull episode chart

Keep exploring top shows

ShortcutThe essential episodes

Short on time? The pilot-to-finale shortcut, only the episodes that matter.

MatchupCompare with another show

Two shows' episode ratings on one chart — settle it.

NetworkBest USA Network shows

More from the same network, ranked by rating.

GenreBest drama shows & films

The top of the drama pile, across both mediums.

GenreBest crime shows & films

The top of the crime pile, across both mediums.