Among detective shows released between 1980 and 2020, this one stands out as particularly inventive and original. The series focuses on guest actors, with the main cast members taking a less prominent role, which is fairly standard for action-oriented television programs. Many older shows, like The Big Valley or The Virginian, operated similarly, using their recurring characters to populate the scenes around visiting guest stars and their storylines. Essentially, the performers who carry the significant plot developments appear temporarily. Each episode presented a surprising element related to previously unsolved murder investigations—sometimes, what seemed like murder turned out to be something else entirely. Frequent "flashback" sequences featured these temporary characters as well. The series demonstrated an unusual and welcome departure from typical television writing.

Source on TMDB