The British crime drama The Tower, streaming free on ITVX, has been hailed by audiences as the perfect mix of Line of Duty and Unforgotten. The series holds a flawless 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has hooked viewers with its compelling storytelling and strong performances.
Plot and Premise
Based on Kate London's Metropolitan Police novels, The Tower follows Detective Sarah Collins, played by Gemma Whelan, as she investigates the deaths of a long-serving police officer and a teenage girl who fall from a London tower block. The official synopsis states: 'After a long-serving cop and a teenage girl fall to their deaths from a London tower block, Detective Sarah Collins investigates the dark heart of policing.'
Cast and Production
Gemma Whelan, best known for her role as Yara Greyjoy in Game of Thrones, leads the cast in her first primetime leading role. She is supported by Tahirah Sharif, Jimmy Akingbola, Emmett J. Scanlan, Lola Elsokari, Nick Holder, Karl Davies, and Nabil Elouahabi. The series debuted in November 2021 and is set in southeast London, though filming primarily took place in Manchester and Liverpool. The first series has three episodes directed by Jim Loach, the second series four episodes directed by Faye Gilbert, and the third series four episodes directed by Rene van Pannevis.
Critical Acclaim
The programme has achieved a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. One critic remarked: 'Polished in every way - the acting, dialogue and complicated ethical quandaries - this crackerjack series is super smart.' Another added: 'The show is very sobering and builds to its climaxes amazingly and fulfilling.'
Gemma Whelan's performance has drawn particular praise. A viewer wrote: 'Astonishing. Gemma Whelan is a rock star of the first order. Loved her in Game of Thrones... This show already sits firmly in my top five, maybe top three TV shows of all time.' An IMDB user review said: 'I read a 4/5 review in the paper so decided to give it a go. Intriguing story, well acted... Anyone missing Line of Duty will probably enjoy this.'
Audience Reactions
Another viewer commented: 'Up there with the best of British crime drama... A mix of Unforgotten meets Line of Duty with quality story line, depth of characters and a story thread that makes sense.' They added: 'Having only discovered it recently I watched all 11 episodes in a bit of a binge... it leaves you wanting more.' One audience review reads: 'This series is excellent. It is hard to stop watching... My biggest complaint is the seasons are too short.'
The Tower is available to stream for free on ITVX.
