An ITV police drama has been hailed as a 'must-watch' for fans of the hit BBC series Line of Duty, and it is now available to stream for free. The Australian series, titled Critical Incident, has been described as a 'high octane thriller' centered on a police officer and is featured in ITVX's hand-picked selection of 'unmissable' viewing.
Plot and Authenticity
The show originally aired in Australia in 2024 and, much like Line of Duty, follows an officer who makes a catastrophic mistake, resulting in an innocent bystander being caught in the crossfire during a pursuit. The synopsis for the six-part drama on ITVX reads: 'When a reckless pursuit leads to tragedy, Senior Constable Zil Ahmed and vulnerable teen Dalia Tun must reckon with the aftermath.' The series brings a genuine sense of authenticity, with writer Sarah Bassiuoni and executive producer Sheila Jayadev both drawing on their previous careers as criminal lawyers.
Cast and Reception
The hard-hitting drama boasts a cast including Akshay Khanna (Red, White and Royal Blue), Zoe Boe (The Tree), Roxie Mohebbi (One Lane Bridge), Hunter Page-Lochard (Cleverman), Jackson Heywood (Home and Away), and Jai Waetford (Neighbours). Critical Incident also stars Simone Kessell (Yellowjackets), Erik Thomson (Xena Warrior Princess), Zindzi Okenyo (Troppo), Heidi May (Thor: Love and Thunder), Oliver Ackland (The Originals), Josef Ber (Pieces of Her), Gerry Sont (Chances), CJ Bloomfield (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga), and Richard Brancatisano (Chasing Life).
While the series has provoked mixed reactions amongst certain audiences, the programme has received considerable praise overall. One viewer commented: 'It started slow but I actually enjoyed it. Good principal cast, well filmed and bingeworthy.' Another noted: 'Critical Incident is well done, good story, and all-round good acting. Yes, it could be better, some of the actors are trying too hard, but generally they get the tone right.'
A third added: 'I wanted to trash talk this so much, but I found myself binge watching the complete series in one night. Quality of camera work, production and casting, draws you into the characters stories within the story and true to today's culture.' Another reviewer said the show 'is a new crime drama that'll have you hooked immediately.'
However, one disheartened viewer complained: 'The premise is great, but the characters are stupid and get stupider by the episode. I got so bored that I didn't care what would happen to any of them which also means that the audience doesn't invest in them.'
Streaming Details
Despite having aired in 2024, a second series has sadly yet to materialise — though this does mean the entire show can be devoured in a single sitting. You can stream Critical Incident on ITVX now.
