The Detective Drama Everyone's Talking About
If you've been scrolling through streaming menus looking for something that actually hooks you from the first frame, stop. In the Dark has arrived, and the critics are running out of superlatives. The BBC detective drama has been hailed as "the best BBC series since Shetland," "beyond brilliant," and even "the crime drama of the year" by Good Housekeeping. That's not faint praise when you consider the competition: Shetland itself, Grantchester, and Midsomer Murders are the gold standards of British whodunits. But In the Dark is being compared to all of them, and it's winning.
The series, which premiered in June 2026 on BBC One and is now available on BBC iPlayer, follows Detective Inspector Helen Ashby (played by newcomer Eve Ridley) as she investigates a series of seemingly unconnected murders in a rain‑lashed Northern town. The show's moody cinematography, knotty plotting, and Ridley's powerhouse performance have drawn immediate comparisons to the bleak, character‑driven style of Shetland. But early reviews suggest In the Dark goes even darker, leaning into psychological thriller territory while keeping the procedural heart intact. With six episodes to binge, it's the kind of show that demands you cancel your evening plans.
What Makes In the Dark Stand Out?
So what's all the fuss about? On paper, In the Dark sounds familiar: a dogged detective, small‑town secrets, a body count that keeps rising. But the execution is everything. The show's creator, award‑winning playwright Tomás Rivera, has crafted a narrative that treats the audience as intelligent adults. There are no cheap twists. The red herrings are earned. And the central mystery – why are victims being posed with vintage pocket watches? – unfurls with the slow, deliberate pace of a masterclass in suspense.
Critics have particularly praised the show's refusal to romanticise police work. DI Ashby is not a maverick genius with a drinking problem. She's a methodical, emotionally guarded professional whose personal life is shown with restraint. The supporting cast – including a standout turn from veteran actor Jim Broadbent as a retired forensic pathologist – adds layers of humanity. Good Housekeeping described it as "like Shetland but darker," and that rings true. The landscapes are equally atmospheric, but the moral terrain is more treacherous. There's no cosy pub at the end of the episode. Instead, you get a lingering sense of unease that stays with you long after the credits roll.
The Legacy of Shetland and Its Successors
To understand why In the Dark is causing such a stir, you have to look back at the shadow Shetland casts over British crime drama. Since its debut in 2013, the Douglas Henshall‑led series (later starring Ashley Jensen) defined a subgenre: remote, atmospheric settings; complex characters; and plots that felt both intimate and epic. Shetland became the benchmark. Every new detective drama since has been measured against it – Vera, Broadchurch, Happy Valley, and more recently The Bay and Karen Pirie.
But here's the thing: many of those shows have ended or gone on hiatus. Shetland itself wrapped its eighth series in 2025. Viewers are hungry for the next obsession. Into that gap steps In the Dark, and the timing couldn't be better. It also arrives alongside a strong field of rivals. The same Good Housekeeping roundups that praise In the Dark also spotlight a raft of other superb detective dramas airing this week (Monday 13th to Sunday 19th July 2026). Among them: the return of Grantchester on ITV, which continues to charm with its clerical‑sleuth formula, and the Netflix hit The Nurse, a Danish thriller that proves Scandi‑noir still has legs. But In the Dark is the one getting the "must‑binge" tag.
British Crime Drama in July 2026: A Bumper Crop
July 2026 is a bonanza for crime fans. Beyond In the Dark, the month's British TV premieres include several high‑profile titles. Gone (ITV1, from 6 July) is a missing‑person thriller set in the Lake District, starring Jodie Comer. Inspector Ellis (BBC One, from 13 July) introduces a new detective played by Adrian Lester, promising a more traditional locked‑room puzzle. And on the lighter side, Trying (Apple TV+) returns for its fifth season, mixing family comedy with the occasional mystery subplot. Combined, these shows demonstrate the incredible breadth of British television: from gritty police procedurals to character‑driven psychological dramas, there's something for every taste.
One notable trend is the sheer volume of female‑led investigations. Both In the Dark and Gone centre on women in positions of authority, continuing a shift that began with Prime Suspect and accelerated through Happy Valley. Even Midsomer Murders, that evergreen stalwart, now features DCI Sarah Barnaby as its lead. The landscape is changing, and audiences are responding. The 10 best crime dramas list for this week includes six series with female protagonists. That's not a niche; it's the mainstream.
Why It Matters: The Enduring Appeal of Detective Dramas
Here's the thing about our collective obsession with detective fiction: it's never really gone away, but it keeps evolving. From Arthur Conan Doyle to Agatha Christie to Line of Duty, we crave the ritual of a mystery being methodically unravelled. In the Dark matters because it proves that format still has room for innovation. It doesn't rely on gimmicks – no time travel, no supernatural elements, no meta‑narrative tricks. It simply tells a gripping story with well‑drawn characters and trusts the audience to stay engaged.
That's rarer than you'd think. In the age of streaming, many crime dramas try to hook viewers with high‑concept premises or shocking twists in the first ten minutes. In the Dark does the opposite. It builds slowly, layering clues and character revelations with the patience of a novelist. This approach might seem counterintuitive for a binge‑watch era, but early word‑of‑mouth suggests it's working. People are talking about it not because of a viral moment, but because the whole thing is just… good. Solid. Satisfying.
Moreover, In the Dark reflects a broader resilience in British television production. At a time when US studios are slashing budgets and cancelling shows after one season, the BBC and ITV continue to invest in mid‑budget, high‑quality drama that knows its audience. These shows aren't designed to be global blockbusters – they're made for UK viewers who love a good mystery, and they often travel well abroad because of that authenticity. In the Dark is already licensed to Netflix for international release starting August 2026. The UK's crime drama factory keeps humming.
How to Watch and What to Binge Next
All six episodes of In the Dark are available now on BBC iPlayer in the UK. If you're outside the UK, it will land on Netflix from 1 August 2026. For those still working through the backlog, Shetland remains essential viewing, as does Grantchester (current series on ITVX). And don't miss Gone, which wraps up its first series on 27 July. The Good Housekeeping roundups also recommend The Bay, Vera, and the underrated Traces for summer bingeing. But if you only have time for one show this week, In the Dark is the one that critics are calling the real deal. Trust the hype – it's earned.
