These dramatic series are commendable, but not because they avoid dealing with violence. Most comedies do this. What is so impressive about these shows is that they achieve a high level of grittiness and excitement without overemphasizing violence, but by placing it in an appropriate context. A recommendation that a police show simply avoid violence would be unrealistic, given the demands of the genre. These shows deal with violent themes but consistently do so in a contextually appropriate manner.
Violence is a part of city life.
These shows understand that violence does occur in twentieth century urban America. They do not have to invent unusual or unrealistic ways of portraying violence. The violence must be realistic. When violence is depicted on these shows, it is never exaggerated, cartoonish or sanitized and the consequences are shown. Characters who commit violent acts do not do so easily and frequently demonstrate remorse.