Histórico Criminal

Criminal Record is a British crime drama that offers a tense and thought-provoking watch, powered by excellent performances from Peter Capaldi as the unsettling DCI Dan Hegarty and Cush Jumbo as the determined DS June Lenker. The story centres on the reopening of a murder case from ten years ago, where a Black man may have been wrongly convicted. It tackles issues of race, power, and bias within the police.

The show jumps back and forth in time, which can sometimes be confusing, but it helps reveal the characters' personal struggles and the broken systems they work in. Hegarty represents the old-school way of policing, using pressure and loopholes to protect himself. Lenker, on the other hand, risks everything to uncover the truth, even if it means going behind her colleagues' backs. Their tense relationship is at the core of the series, though it sometimes feels drawn out.

Rather than focusing on solving a mystery, the show looks at bigger issues like racism, sexism, and corruption in the justice system. It has a dark and serious tone, supported by strong visuals and eerie sound design, making it more disturbing than entertaining at times.

The ending may disappoint, as it lacks a big twist or clear resolution. Still, Criminal Record is a gripping series for those who enjoy crime dramas that deal with real-world issues and aren't afraid to ask tough questions.

The acting from the two leads doesn't get much better. Jumbo and Capaldi give an absolute masterclass in acting. Cush Jumbo gives an incredibly nuanced performance expressing emotion and feeling with every word and look. Capaldi suitably scary as the big bad cop. The story has twists and turns and keeps you guessing. There really is very little to dislike about this show. If you like quality drama it's definitely worth giving it a go. Some reviewers have decided the show is about white folk always being cast as villains but I'd suggest they're bringing some already existing hang ups and looking for ways to reinforce the view. I didn't find any evidence of any prejudices in the way the story was told or cast.

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.

First: wow. It's been such a long time since a crime drama kept me off my phone. The pacing is perfect for me as often crime drama's for me feel a little overdrawn not this one.

Cush Jumbo is as ever amazing in her role, Peter Capaldi was also brilliant I even forgot about his previous roles I usually think of when I see him (Sid's dad in Skins and his roles in Doctor Who).

The twist at the end was genuinely surprising (I'm pretty good at this whodunnit game) and here I am writing a review to recommend anyone thinking of watching it to do exactly that.

Lastly I think there is enough left from the season to justify a second season and I really hope they renew this one rather than leaving it to fade as a limited series.

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.