If you\u2019re in two minds about whether to watch Criminal Record<\/a>, you may be put off somewhat by the preconception that it\u2019s generic, or just one in a long line of similar series. But, in truth, shows like this don\u2019t come around all that often.<\/p>\n I\u2019m not talking about police or detective dramas, of course they do \u2013 they\u2019re two a penny, they\u2019re absolutely everywhere and there\u2019s a lot of them that truly break the mould or earn their position on the slate.<\/p>\n No, I\u2019m talking about dramas which take a simple, seemingly worn-out premise, and elevate it simply by putting two powerhouse performers at its centre, and letting them do their thing.<\/p>\n From the past couple of years, Jimmy McGovern\u2019s prison drama Time<\/a> comes to mind, as does 2022\u2019s divisive BBC drama Marriage<\/a>. Now, we can add Criminal Record to that list.<\/p>\n The eight-part police thriller stars Cush Jumbo as idealistic detective June Lenker, who is the early stages of her career \u2013 she\u2019s utterly driven to prove herself, to uncover the truth and to deliver meaningful justice.<\/p>\n One day, a message in an emergency services call leads her to believe that Errol Mathis, a man convicted of murdering his partner, Adelaide Burrowes, over a decade prior, is in fact innocent.<\/p>\n Attempting to uncover the truth leads her into the path of Peter Capaldi\u2019s Daniel Hegarty, the well-connected, highly respected detective who led the initial investigation. He\u2019s not one for playing nice and, in the face of a threat to his reputation and legacy, he starts to fight back against Lenker\u2019s enquiries.<\/p>\n Thus begins a game of cat and mouse, as two very different approaches to life and policing come into conflict with one another. But just what are Hegarty\u2019s intentions? Is he right or wrong? Is he simply stubborn, or is he corrupt?<\/p>\n These questions linger over the entire season, as Capaldi expertly treads the line, never quite letting you in on the truth surrounding this complex, morally grey character until the time has come.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a phenomenal performance which keeps you captivated throughout every scenes he\u2019s in. It\u2019s subtle and textured, never leaning too far into the dramatic, and, thankfully, one which is matched by his co-lead, Jumbo.<\/p>\n Jumbo inhabits the role of Lenker, a detective who, despite being the better angel of this duo, is by no means perfect. You may root for her, but she\u2019s equally as complex as Hegarty, even if she is often two steps behind him \u2013 the doesn\u2019t patronise the audience, and instead makes clear the obstacles she faces trying to keep up with a seasoned detective with institutional backing.<\/p> The scenes between them are enthralling, while there\u2019s just as much intrigue to be found in the scenes of them separately, working against each other, never quite knowing how their dynamic will next develop.<\/p>\n The mystery itself, and the case Lenker finds herself embroiled in are engaging, without being revolutionary or, in all honesty, completely engrossing. This isn\u2019t a whodunnit by any stretch of the imagination, nor is it as gameified \u2013 you aren\u2019t really able to play along and piece it together.<\/p>\n However, there are still twists and turns along the way, most relating to Hegarty and how much he knows, or otherwise. It\u2019s a not a series which relies on surprises, but some well-judged cliffhangers will keep you coming back for more, as will the impressive supporting turns from a who\u2019s-who of British acting talent.<\/p>\n Shaun Dooley, Aysha Kala, Tom Moutchi, Stephen Campbell Moore and Zo\u00eb Wanamaker are all compelling in their various roles, while Charlie Creed-Miles is suitably repellent as one of Hegarty\u2019s former colleagues Tony Gilfoyle.<\/p>\n Another feather in the show\u2019s cap is its timely examination of issues surrounding modern policing \u2013 whether its racial bias, disparity in generational approaches to justice or how police work junctions in a contemporary, polarised environment.<\/p>\n The series doesn\u2019t flinch away from any of these discussions, nor does it from exploring the role of institutional failings in the decision making of individuals. It all feels refreshingly nuanced, and well embedded within the narrative, so as not to appear clunky.<\/p>\n Unlike some shows which strive for ripped-from-the-headlines relevance, this feels earned, not least because the subject matter is depressingly timeless, but also because it examines the topics it does in a complex, nuanced way, while steeping everything in character \u2013 it isn\u2019t just paying lip service to social issues for the kudos.<\/p>\n![\"Cush](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2024\/01\/CriminalRecordPhoto010501-c9695ce.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Criminal_Record_Photo_010501\\"\/")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>![\"Peter](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2024\/01\/CriminalRecordPhoto010101-35e1d82.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Criminal_Record_Photo_010101\\"\/")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>![\"Aysha](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2024\/01\/CriminalRecordPhoto010105-fc48bfe.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413\" "\\"Criminal_Record_Photo_010105\\"\/")
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>