As Episode 1 of "Criminal Record; 2024 release from the UK; 8 episodes ranging from 43 to 53 min) opens, we are in London, and introduced to Chief Inspector Hagerty, who does an Uber-like gig on the side for extra money. In a parallel story, a woman is calling 999 (the British equivalent of our 911) to report domestic abuse by her boyfriend. Along the way, the caller makes an astonishing revelation about a crime committed in 2012... At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.
Couple of comments: this crime mini-series is the brainchild of British writer and producer Paul Rutman ("Indian Summers"). Here he brings the story of how a Black man may have been wrongly convicted and imprisoned for a crime committed over a decade ago. The mini-series is plot heavy so the less said, the better. Suffice to say that it plots a senior cop who is a white male against a junior cop who is a Black female. Things are tense from the get-go. Check out the very first meeting (in Episode 1) between the two lead characters. To say things are awkward and uncomfortable would be a serious understatement. It also sets the table nicely for things to come. Not enough praise can be given to the lead performers: Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo are simply stellar, and the key reason why this miji-series makes for great viewing.
"Criminal Record" premiered on Apple TV a few weeks back. We are now exactly halfway through. The remainder 4 episodes will be released on Wednesday evenings. I just caught up with the initial 4 episodes, and can attest that there is good reason why "Criminal Record" us currently rated 90% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. If you are in the mood for a top quality crime mini-series, Id; readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.