10 British Crime And Mystery Shows To Watch If You Liked The Stranger
British Crime shows have been undergoing a quasi-renaissance of late. While previously a British crime show instigated images of David Jason in A Touch of Frost or Midsommer Murders, the trend has recently changed from PG, village-based crime to gritty, grisly, crime with a troubled and flawed detective. In this sense, shows are now more focused on a character study of the detective than on the actual crime itself. Netflix's The Stranger was a perfect example of this recent trend, perfectly balancing the surrounding mystery with the character development of the main character.
This article will list 10 British crime and mystery shows to watch if you enjoyed the Stranger.
10 Marcella
Starring Anna Friel as the titular Marcella, this show focuses on Marcella as she returns to work as a detective to deal with an 11-year-old, unsolved case. Rather than being focused solely on the mystery, the show illustrates Marcella's fragile mental state and how she struggles to balance her work with her home life.
Two seasons of the show have been broadcast so far, with the third season of the detective show to be released sometime during the summer of 2020.
9 River
River is a short-lived yet incredible example of noir-detective storytelling. The series revolves around DI John River, played by Stellan Skarsgård, who is living with the guilt of past murder victims. The show is more than just a detective story, with the show revolving heavily around River's mental state and the guilt he feels at for his past. In addition to Skarsgård, Nicola Walker stars as River's partner.
The series received positive reviews from critics, with many praising the show for how it covers River's mental health, as well as the mysterious and compelling plot. River is incredibly easy to watch as it is only a 6-part series that is available on Netflix, making it the perfect series to watch on a rainy day.
8 Luther
Luther may be the best British detective show of the last few years. The show follows DCI John Luther (Idris Elba) as he tries to navigate his fragile mental state while also balancing his work and personal lives. In addition, the show also features some of the most compelling and grisly crime mysteries of the past decade.
In addition to the fantastic performance of Idris Elba as Luther, the show also features a stellar portrayal of Alice Morgan, the show's main villain, by Ruth Wilson.
7 Collateral
Collateral was a fairly underrated British crime drama starring Carey Mulligan, John Simm, and Billie Piper. The film follows Kip Glaspie (Carey Mulligan) as the detective who is assigned to deal with the murder of a pizza delivery boy. From this one case, the plot spreads into a complex, interconnected mystery across the four episodes.
While the series was only limited to four episodes, Collateral received positive reviews from critics, with many praising the series for its compelling and addictive plot.
6 Broadchurch
Written by Doctor Who's Chris Chibnall and starring David Tennant, Olivia Colman, and Jodie Whittaker, Broadchurch is an iconic British detective show that was a cultural phenomenon in the UK. The first series is based around the death of a young boy and the emotional fallout and subsequent media attention that surrounds this small Dorset town.
The series ran for three seasons, with each season being received well by critics. Due to the fact there are only three seasons of the show, it is perfect for a binge-watch and is certain to not disappoint.
5 The Fall
The Fall is a British- Irish detective drama starring Gillian Anderson as Stella Gibson and Jamie Doran as Paul Spector. The plot follows Stella Gibson as she is relocated from the Metropolitan Police Force in London to the Police Service of Northern Ireland in order to investigate a serial killer.
The series has received positive reviews from critics, with both its first and second seasons receiving 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the third season receiving 71%.
4 Criminal: UK
Criminal: UK is a recent Netflix anthology crime series that focuses on cases in the UK, France, Spain, and Germany; with each country receiving three episodes. The show is set in a police interrogation room as the police try and press their suspects for answers that will help solve their cases.
The series was received well among critics and audiences, with the IMDB score currently sitting at 7.4 and the Rotten Tomatoes score on 84% currently.
3 Unforgotten
Created by Chris Lang and starring Nicola Walkera and Sanjeev Bhaskar, Unforgotten follows two detectives as they attempt to solve cold cases around missing persons and murders. The seasons generally follow a pattern whereby unconnected characters are slowly revealed to be heavily connected.
The series currently has three seasons under its belt, with a fourth set to be released in 202o. The series has received good reviews from critics, with many praising the series for its emotional stories and strong cast.
2 Wallander
Adapted from the Swedish books written by Henning Mankell and starring Kenneth Branaugh as the titular Kurt Wallander, Wallander follows the titular detective as he uncovers grisly murders. Currently, there have been four seasons of the show, making it easy to catch up with the story.
The series has been well received by critics, with the show being praised for its stunning visuals and the strong performance of Branaugh in the central role. In addition to critical praise, the series has also received 6 BAFTAs.
1 The Missing
The Missing is a British anthology mystery show focused around the hunt for a missing person. The first season starred James Nesbitt and Frances O'Conner as the parents of a missing child in France. The second season starred David Morrissey and Keeley Hawes as the parents of a missing child in Germany. The two seasons are connected by detective Julien Baptiste, played by Tchéky Karyo, who investigates both cases.
The series has received positive reviews from critics, with The Missing being praised for the strong performances of its casts, including Karyo, and the compelling and intriguing plots in both seasons of the show.