The BBC's four-part crime drama In The Dark has earned praise from viewers and critics alike, with one hailing it as a "perfectly gritty" drama. The series, which first aired in 2017, stars MyAnna Buring as detective Helen Weeks, who returns to her hometown to investigate the disappearance of two young girls.
The case quickly becomes personal when the main suspect turns out to be the husband of Helen's childhood best friend. The drama follows Helen as she attempts to uncover the truth while also dealing with an unexpected pregnancy and a complicated personal life.
Return to Polesford
The first episode sees Helen return to her rural hometown of Polesford, Derbyshire, with her partner and fellow detective Paul, played by Ben Batt. Two young girls have been abducted, and Linda Bates, Helen's childhood friend, finds herself at the centre of a media storm after her husband is arrested.
The official BBC synopsis questions: "But is he guilty? And why is Helen so desperate to come to Linda's aid, after avoiding Polesford for all these years?"
Adaptation and Supporting Cast
The series is adapted from Mark Billingham's novels Time of Death and In the Dark, with award-winning writer Danny Brocklehurst behind the television adaptation. Brocklehurst is known for his work on Netflix dramas Fool Me Once and Missing You, as well as the hit comedy Brassic.
In The Dark has a strong supporting cast, including Shetland star Jamie Sives, Adolescence actor Ashley Walters, and Baby Reindeer's Jessica Gunning.
Storyline and Reception
Across the four episodes, Helen becomes embroiled in two separate investigations, with the first two episodes focusing on the disappearance of the girls before the story moves into a second case involving the darker side of urban Manchester. The series also explores Helen's relationships and the uncertainty surrounding her pregnancy, giving the crime drama a personal storyline alongside its police investigations.
The Guardian praised the opening episode at the time, writing: "In The Dark is by no means a trope-free zone... But once you have accepted that, it is a crisp opener (of four) -- pacy, thoughtful and skilfully constructed, with multiple strands I am eager to see twisted together again."
Viewers have also been impressed by the series, with one IMDb reviewer writing: "The show is VERY good!! I really wish there were more than four episodes but it was labeled as a mini series.." Another described it as "a perfectly gritty police drama", adding: "Just wish there were more episodes." A third viewer gave the drama 9/10, writing: "This show has the makings of a really good series, with such strong viewing figures I hope the potential is realised, and the show returns, excellent drama. 9/10."
All four episodes of In The Dark are currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
