Crime drama enthusiasts are being urged to discover a beloved series set in the "beautiful" yet "bleak" Welsh town of Aberystwyth. Hinterland, known as Y Gwyll in its original Welsh language format, is a noir police procedural created by Ed Talfan and Ed Thomas. The programme first aired in Welsh on S4C in 2013, with the English-language version debuting on the BBC the following year. It was the first BBC television drama to feature dialogue in both English and Welsh.
A Troubled Detective in a Dark Setting
The series follows the brilliant but deeply troubled DCI Tom Mathias as he unravels sinister murder mysteries while trying to escape his traumatic past. The official synopsis explains: "On the run from his London past, brilliant but troubled DCI Tom Mathias isolates himself on the outskirts of a town filled with secrets as dark and destructive as his own. Partnered with the intelligent and complex DI Mared Rhys, they form an engaging relationship as they embark on solving cases that involve the ultimate anti-social crime: murder."
Cast and Filming
Richard Harrington stars as DCI Tom Mathias, alongside Mali Harries as DI Mared Rhys. The ensemble also includes Alex Harries as DC Lloyd Elis, Hannah Daniel as DS Siân Owens, and Aneirin Hughes as Chief Superintendent Brian Prosser. Additional cast members are Anamaria Marinca, Geraint Morgan, Sian Reese-Williams, and Siôn Alun Davies. The first series was primarily shot in Aberystwyth and Ceredigion on Wales' west coast over 124 days in 2013. Each scene was filmed twice, once in Welsh and once in English.
Critical Acclaim and Viewer Praise
The programme holds an impressive 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The Guardian described the premise as "spectacular." The Arts Desk noted: "This isn't West Wales as seen in the brochure. The place is drenched not only in rain but also blood, while the landscapes are grimly wintry, as are the faces of everyone involved in this deliciously dark show." Viewers have also heaped acclaim on the series. One IMDb user posted: "Spellbinding. More please BBC, this is what I buy my license for." Another called it "the best Welsh series ever" and "a total masterpiece." A third declared: "The dark jewel in the BBC's crown. Excellent. Intriguing. Haunting. Beautiful and bleak. Strong characters and performances." A fourth viewer added: "I love those British crime/mystery series such as Lewis, Wallander, Vera, DCI Banks, George Gently and Shetland. To them you can add Hinterland," while another commented: "Hinterland is not to be missed."
Where to Watch
All three series, comprising 26 episodes, are currently available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
