Fans of crime dramas are in for a treat with the BBC series What Remains, a twisty thriller that has been branded 'creepily compelling' and a 'gripping whodunnit' by viewers. The show centres on a couple who discover a body in the attic of their new flat, sparking a deeper investigation into a death that went unnoticed for two years.
Plot and Premise
Written by Tony Basgallop and directed by Coky Giedroyc, What Remains originally aired in August 2013 as a single season of four episodes. The story begins when a young couple moves into a tenement apartment and finds the remains of Melissa Young, a woman who owned the top flat and whose death had been overlooked for two years. Detective Len Harper launches an investigation, convinced it is murder despite colleagues believing it was suicide.
The official synopsis reads: 'A young couple move into an apartment only to find the body of a young woman that had been missing for two years but never registered as missing, which leads to a deeper investigation into what actually happened.'
Cast and Critical Reception
Jessica Gunning stars as Melissa Young, with David Threlfall as DI Len Harper. The ensemble cast also includes Alex Arnold, David Bamber, Claudie Blakley, Denise Gough, Victoria Hamilton, Steven Mackintosh, Amber Rose Revah, Russell Tovey, and Indira Varma.
The series earned largely positive reviews. The Guardian noted: 'What Remains breathes new life into cop drama cliches,' while Radio Times called it a 'melancholy, sinuous crime drama'. The Independent described it as 'creepily compelling', and The Daily Express praised it as a 'gripping whodunnit'. One critic declared: 'Well written and thought-provoking. The best murder mystery programme since Broadchurch.'
Viewer Reactions
Audiences have echoed the critical acclaim. An IMDb user wrote: 'Classic whodunnit, but done with a modern take. Great character development, some real nasty neighbours living here. The best British show I've seen in a long time, even if it is five years old. It's as good as Broadchurch.'
Another viewer added: 'Amazing acting and quite frankly, scary and unique. A must see!' A third said: 'Gripping and exceptional.' A fourth commented: 'The best drama on the BBC. The acting is uniformly outstanding and the house menacing. One of the very best thriller mini series that's been made by anybody (and I've watched a lot).' Someone else remarked: 'Incredibly dark. The acting, the plot, the setting and the pacing are all great. Top notch series.'
Where to Watch
All four episodes of What Remains are currently streaming for free on BBC iPlayer, making it ideal evening viewing, particularly during the UK's heatwave.
