The Philadelphia Homicide Division's lone female detective, Lilly Rush, finds her calling when she's assigned "cold cases," older crimes that have never been solved. Rush is known for her tenacity and ability to connect with the families of the victims.
Each episode focuses on a different case, which is typically set in a different time period, ranging from the 1950s to the early 2000s. The show explores the social and cultural contexts of each era, and how they relate to the cases being investigated. The series also delves into the personal lives of the detectives, including their relationships with each other and their own past traumas.
Cold Case was praised for its unique storytelling structure, strong performances from its cast, for tackling important social issues, such as racism, sexism, and homophobia, and for shedding light on the enduring impact of unsolved crimes on families and communities.