A British crime drama from 2013 is winning over new audiences, with viewers calling it "exceptional" and "the best drama on the BBC." The series, titled What Remains, originally aired on BBC One and has found a second life on BBC iPlayer, where all four episodes are currently streaming for free.
Plot and Premise
Written by Tony Basgallop and directed by Coky Giedroyc, What Remains follows a young couple who discover human remains in the attic of their newly acquired flat. The body is identified as Melissa Young, a young woman who owned the top-floor apartment and whose death went unnoticed for two years. Detective Len Harper launches an investigation, rejecting his colleagues' assumption that she took her own life. The official synopsis states: "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 supporting cast includes Alex Arnold, David Bamber, Claudie Blakley, Denise Gough, Victoria Hamilton, Steven Mackintosh, Amber Rose Revah, Russell Tovey, and Indira Varma. The series garnered significant critical acclaim upon release. The Guardian declared: "What Remains breathes new life into cop drama cliches." Radio Times described it as a "melancholy, sinuous crime drama." The Independent observed: "Not all [British detective dramas] are as creepily compelling as this." The Daily Express hailed it as a "gripping whodunnit." One critic remarked: "Well written and thought-provoking. The best murder mystery programme since Broadchurch."
Viewer Reactions
Viewers have been equally enthusiastic. On IMDb, one 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 added: "Amazing acting and quite frankly, scary and unique. A must see!" A third viewer said: "Gripping and exceptional." A fourth audience member 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)." Yet another wrote: "Incredibly dark. The acting, the plot, the setting and the pacing are all great. Top notch series."
Availability
All four episodes are currently available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer, making it ideal evening entertainment, especially during Britain's ongoing heatwave.
