Fans of British crime dramas are flocking to Netflix to watch Collateral, a four-part police procedural that has been hailed as 'outstanding' and more addictive than acclaimed series like Luther and The Fall.
The limited series, written by David Hare and directed by SJ Clarkson, originally aired on BBC Two in February 2018 before arriving on Netflix worldwide the following month. It stars three-time Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan as Detective Inspector Kip Glaspie, alongside Billie Piper, John Simm, Nathaniel Martello-White, Jeany Spark, Nicola Walker, Kim Medcalf, Nick Mohammed, and Hayley Squires.
Plot and Critical Acclaim
The official synopsis reads: "Investigating the murder of a pizza delivery man, a London detective uncovers a tangled conspiracy involving drug dealers, smugglers and spies." The series earned two BAFTA Television Award nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Billie Piper.
Critics have praised the show, with one writing: "Collateral felt believable and exciting." Another noted: "It's a smart and solid miniseries, particularly for those who don't already watch a lot of bleak British detective shows and can still be surprised by how everything in London seems connected." A third added: "It's a tangled web of individuals and motivations, and while some may find this all a bit too heavy on coincidence, there's no question that Collateral is a gripping procedural."
Viewer Reactions
Audiences are equally enthusiastic. One Rotten Tomatoes user posted: "Superb. Everything you want a modern thriller series to be. And limited too! Carry Mulligan is faultless." Another fan compared it favorably to other dramas: "I've just watched this after watching and attempting to watch a number of other police/crime dramas over the preceding weeks (The Fall, The Bay, The Undoing) and I'd say this was probably the best of them."
An IMDB review echoed the sentiment: "It has been a while since I have thoroughly enjoyed a TV series as much as I did Collateral. First off, the acting was superb... there was so much action, one would find it difficult to move away even for a minute!" Another viewer added: "Some of the greatest writing and complex storylines I have seen in years. WOW, what an excellent 4-Part series-with a killer soundtrack as well. Collateral has something for everybody: It's a murder mystery, It's a political drama, It's a spy thriller."
Collateral is currently available to stream on Netflix.
