Redemption

Redemption traces the experiences of Detective Inspector Collette Cunningham (Paula Malcolmson), a successful Liverpool Serious Crime Squad senior detective called back to her native Dublin by the Irish Garda (Police) due to the untimely death of her daughter Stacey (Rachel O'Byrne) from whom she'd been estranged for over 35 years. Collette is named as guardian of two unknown grandchildren, 16 year old Cara (Abby Fitz) and 14 year old Liam (Evan O'Connor), who have an absent father Eoin (Moe Dunford). To care for her grandkids and to more fully investigate the suspicious circumstances of her daughter's death, Collette swings a 6 month transfer as a junior DI with the Dublin Garda.

What emerges is a thoroughly gripping drama with a taut and intense story line over 6 episodes as Collette begins to unravel what really happened to her daughter against the backdrop of Dublin's organized crime syndicates whilst trying to develop a relationship with grieving teenagers with complex lives and zero history with their grandma. The show features excellent Irish acting talent and provides a view into modern Irish policing which makes for some fascinating and distinct cultural and procedural/legal differences from the far more common UK police dramas. Collette's quirky partner Siobhan (Thadea Graham), down to earth colleague Patrick (Keith McEarlean) and acerbic boss Jane (famous Irish actress Siobhan McSweeney) are magnificently cast. Of particular note were the fantastic and intense performances of the two young stars, 21 year old Fitz and only 15 year old O'Connor, both novice actors with prior experience only in more minor roles.

I'm surprised at some of the negative reviews as this series was a great showcase of Irish acting talent which meant this was not just a regional variation of a British cop show.

... Paula Malcomson is an extremely-prolific well-known film-TV-actor from Belfast, Ireland... she makes this entire series start-to-finish hers-to-happen & she's wonderful in it... entire cast is very-good

... just don't know about the starting storyline premise that she had readily let her daughter run-off & that after extensive searches is never able to find her... she goes on to have an outstanding thirty-year-career achieving rank of Detective Chief Inspector in Liverpool... then permanently gives it all up to move to Dublin accepting a considerably reduced rank of Detective Inspector

... anyway, it's a series well-worth-watching, whose status is that of "returning-series"... so maybe some plot-adjustments get addressed in upcoming season(s)

Enjoyed this series but it's not in the league as Happy Vally or Vera. Paula Malcomson was excellent in this, wouldn't have worked without her as the lead detective as she has a real onscreen presence, she's so naturally beautiful, sweet but tough. She plays the role of a successful detective who is also a mother estranged from her daughter who has just met her teen grandkids for the first time. Getting to know them while solving crimes and looking into the death of her daughter. Interesting story line, particularly with showing the reality of motherhood and how imperfect mums can be. Some of the supporting cast were very good such as the two teen actors that played collettes grandkids however the actors that played her workmates had weaker roles or maybe it was just weak scripts? In particular the actress who played her Boss, what a very boring actress and the two lead detectives that worked in the drug dept. Those 3 actors had zero spark. The two actors that played her main colleagues - the young girl and the bloke she drank with had bit more charisma. I think the script / storyline built up well but sort of fizzled out. Although the ending came together nicely- bit soppy. I watched this on Britbox. The UK has so many good crime dramas.

An excellent show with a good plot, great characters and outstanding acting. The show had a few good twists and turns. I would love to see a second season to allow some of the character relationships to develop further.

Amazing little series. Really hope we get another.

The acting is brilliant, and it's great to see a story written around a woman in her fifties.

The casting is inspired, everyone.is 100% believable, and the whole thing is surprisingly moving.

I loved this show.