Criminal Record

This is a great social commentary than a simple murder mystery. Story makes a precisely deep cut on the feel-good fabric to prove how unconscious narratives are constructed during profilings and prosecution. Dramatization of a complex topic such as this is remarkable. Excellent work by the cast living each character realistically. Great visuals to express the inequality and the social decay it's causing setting a chaotic background for the plot. Unique audio effects and music. The story is a slow burn and messy as a thriller but it's expression of the society makes the watch well worthy of time.

As a US resident I've become used to a particular approach to the subject of racism in policing, perhaps more closely hewing to stories originating in the states versus in the UK where this show is set.

The characters and their situations are more nuanced then many I see in crime dramas. After 4 episodes I am still not completely certain of the motivations of one(of the two) major characters. I suspect there is more beneath the surface then is readily apparent, but I'm not certain, and I'm enjoying the (potential) shades of gray as they surface.

The acting is impressive and the script well written.

In summation, if your looking for a formulaic approach each episode you will probably be disappointed. Stereotypical characters, ditto.

I could still be let down by where the show leads, in which case I will come back and modify my score and this associated review, but for now I'm enjoying the ride.

I may be wrong, but this is IMDB, people, and TV shows are TV shows.

It gets complicated when we use the reviews tab for debating politics, racism or political correctness instead of assessing a production as a whole, or try to 'punish' the show with a poor review just because the angle or the ideas portrayed in the plot do not match our view of the world. Yes, it happens, sometimes we get incensed about some messages (this is not the case, Criminal Record is certainly not about the message), but, as a reader seeking for reviews before watching a show, I prefer less opinionated perspectives and find them more helpful.

In purely cinematographic terms, this is a quite enjoyable show, even though the theme is not new to the genre and has already been visited before by quite a few crime and procedural series.

However, the premise still holds, and so far the story is intriguing enough and ambiguous enough to feed the mystery about how things will resolve in the end. You wonder, is the 'bad guy' really that terribly bad or is he not, and a surprise awaits at the end of the season?

It is a pleasure to watch the extraordinary performances of Peter Capaldi (kudos) and a very accomplished Cush Jumbo, who add complexity and nuances to their characters.

Capaldi, in particular, is magnificent. His facial expressions are austere and exuberant at the same time (how does he do it?).

All the supporting roles are well performed and the script hooks the spectators enough to have them waiting for the next chapter. It is not The Wire, it is not Line of Duty, and it stretches some plot lines a bit. But it is still a fine show. I have watched a few hundreds of procedural and detective shows, and this, so far, I am enjoying.

I admired and appreciated this memorable series more than I enjoyed it. The power and control of the lead male detective Dan Hegarty and his veteran cohorts - all (not coincidentally) older white males - to bend the law, exert their biases, intimidate colleagues and shape events and outcomes to their liking was chilling.

Veteran DCI Hegarty (a frightening Peter Capaldi) and younger colleague June Lenker (the phenomenal Cush Jumbo) clash over her questioning of an old murder conviction Hegarty and cohorts obtained against Errol Mathis, a black man.

The main plot plays against a myriad of personal and family problems afflicting all characters. Some scenes are stressful to watch, and Capaldi's character by the third episode made my stomach tighten with every appearance.

The script is unflinching, the acting is first-rate and the bigger-picture story of unequal justice is memorably driven home. But if it's escapist entertainment you seek, look elsewhere.

An excellent series with exceptional performances and writing. Being addicted to British crime dramas and having seen whatever I can get my hands on, I could tell right off the bat that it was going to really hold my attention and be a truly satisfying watch. Racism being at its core and intricately weaving its flashbacks from 12 years prior with present day, what arresting police officers considered to be an open and shut murder case and for which the accused was found guilty has suddenly been brought into question. A fearful young woman's call to a crisis center regarding a current and similar murder inquiry draws DS June Lenker (Cush Jumbo), a young mixed race mother, to eventually cross paths with the steely and enigmatic DCI Daniel Hegarty (Peter Capaldi), the officer in charge of the original investigation and nearing the end of his career. Who was the woman at the other end of the line and what abruptly dragged her away from the phone? And just what kind of police officer is Daniel Hegarty? Can she prove her suspicions and vindicate a potentially innocent man?

It is disappointing to see the focus of some of the negative reviews posted. As this is a drama set in contemporary times, it deals with the issues perfectly illustrated by the differing perspectives cited here. What sadly is being overlooked or even ignored is that this story is also about the powerful bond between parents and their children, and the lengths some will go to in order to do what they believe to be in a child's best interest. I do hope that this moving series will receive the support it needs to warrant a sequel.