Police dramas are far from finished, as this gritty London crime thriller continues to hold its own against the very best with a flawless 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
Devotees of Line of Duty will be delighted to discover this London-set detective series, with six full series available to stream.
Unforgotten is a British crime drama which originally launched in 2015 and enjoyed an impressive run on our TV screens. The programme follows a squad of detectives operating in London, led by DCI Cassie Stuart across the first four series and DI Sunny Khan, as they unravel cases of both disappearance and murder throughout the capital.
Taking the lead role was Nicola Walker, later joined by Sinéad Keenan alongside Sanjeev Bhaskar, before a character shake-up for the concluding series, in which Keenan stepped into Walker’s shoes as Bhaskar’s new partner, DCI Jessie James.
Viewers remain captivated by Unforgotten as each series tackles a completely fresh case, introducing seemingly unconnected characters who, as the episodes progress, are revealed to share ties to the victim. As the mystery develops, it examines the profound emotional impact the crime has on all those involved, leaving audiences utterly devastated.
View 3 ImagesMultiple seasons have a 100% review score (Image: Mainstreet Pictures 2015)
One review reads: “Whoa. I feel wrung out after watching that. Not light entertainment, but top-drawer, if harrowing, stuff.”
Meanwhile, another fan posted: “Very moving and well done in every respect: acting, writing, and filming. Definitely some sad stories here but told with empathy and heart. The plot features a twist that surprises but that also makes perfect sense.”
The programme appears to have consistently delivered what audiences craved, with its second series achieving a 100% rating on the review platform, alongside the third, while the fourth instalment dips only marginally to an impressive 93%.
One review said: “Masterpiece Theatre’s Unforgotten Season 2 was intense, heartbreaking and amazing all at the same time. The writing for the series is spectacular. The story drew me in and kept me engaged until the end… which blew me away with how thought-provoking and touching it was.”
View 3 ImagesIt first launched in 2015 (Image: ITV)
The drama has garnered widespread recognition, including BAFTA TV nominations, with Tom Courtenay claiming the prize for Best Supporting Actor, an accolade Mark Bonnar secured the subsequent year.
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However, audiences appeared split over the character changes in later series, which attracted less attention from television enthusiasts. This largely stems from the bond viewers established with Stuart as the programme chronicles her personal circumstances, including romantic and family tensions alongside the unrelenting pressure of her profession.
Reflecting this sentiment, one viewer said: “I am not connecting well with Nicola Walker’s replacement, unfortunately. I am finding series 5 difficult to stay interested in. “
All six series of Unforgotten are currently available to watch in their entirety on ITVX.