Britain has never been short of compelling, hard-hitting crime dramas, with the likes of Happy Valley, Line of Duty, Broadchurch, Prime Suspect, and Blue Lights having all achieved cult status over the years. With such a packed roster of British crime dramas available to stream, it can be a challenge to find a programme that truly rises above the rest and makes a lasting impression. This one manages to do exactly that.
Set in Liverpool with a Stellar Cast
Set in Liverpool, featuring a cast that appears to have perfected the Scouse accent, this police drama centred around a troubled officer has garnered glowing reviews from every quarter. With a remarkable 100% approval rating across both its seasons, the show has left critics and audiences utterly captivated, with each enthusiastic review seemingly surpassing the one before it.
Martin Freeman Shines as PC Chris Carson
The Responder showcases a superb Martin Freeman in the lead role, who picked up a thoroughly deserved international Emmy for Best Actor for his depiction of PC Chris Carson in the series. Freeman is supported by Adelayo Adedayo, Josh Finan, Ian Hart, Warren Brown, Emily Fairn, and MyAnna Buring, who together form an exceptional ensemble cast. The Responder also secured four BAFTA nominations, including Best Drama Series, Best Actor (Freeman), Best Supporting Actor (Finan), and Best Supporting Actress (Adedayo).
Authenticity from a Former Police Officer
The drama's striking sense of authenticity and realism, both in its setting and finer details, is largely down to creator and writer Tony Schumacher, a former Merseyside Police officer. Tim Mielants serves as the show's lead director. The Responder debuted on BBC One in January 2022, with Schumacher saying the lead character of Chris has 'a lot to do' with him and the struggles he had faced as a police officer during his time in the force. The storyline and events of the programme however, are said to be fictional.
Second Series and Bernard Hill's Final Appearance
The programme was commissioned for a second series in March 2022 itself, and series two launched on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on May 5, 2024 - a date which marked Titanic and Lord of the Rings actor Bernard Hill's final onscreen appearance, as he died on the same day as series two's release. Following its launch, The Responder's pilot episode was viewed a remarkable 6,164,000 times on BBC iPlayer alone during 2022, propelling it up the rankings to become the third most-watched individual programme on the platform that year.
Critical Acclaim and Viewer Praise
The frequently underrated series has received glowing reviews over the years, with one impressed critic writing: 'In the overwhelming sea of crime dramas we see now, particularly from the BBC, The Responder feels like a massive breath of fresh air.' Another reviewer said: '[The Responder] arms itself with a compelling plot, a pitch-black sense of humour and a wonderful cast of supporting players. The best new crime drama on telly? Probably.' While one critic was astonished by how excellent the series truly was: 'I was rather taken aback by BBC One's The Responder: by how good it is, how unsettling and vivid.'
A glowing IMDB user review of the show reads: 'Outstanding! I didn't know what to expect when I first saw this pop up but in the end was blown away at how good it was. Season 1 was amazing. Martin Freeman is brilliant and is surrounded by a superb cast. A very special nod though to Emily Fairn and Josh Finan. They took this to the 10 level it deserves. This is a gritty, fast-paced, humorous, intense and well-written/directed/acted TV series full of twist and turns. I flew through the 5 episodes and want more. Hopefully, there will be a second season.'
Another thoroughly impressed viewer said: 'Best thing I've seen in a while, Martin Freeman is AMAZING!!! And so is the rest of the cast - this is gritty British TV at its very best. If you don't like gritty and dark, this is not for you - it's no Midsomer Murders. It also shows a Britain that most people outside of it usually don't get to see or even know about.' Another interesting aspect is the fact that this is set in Liverpool and most of the cast speak with a (more or less pronounced) Scouser accent. Britain is such a diverse place, but most people only think of London and the South when they think of it. I've always liked Martin Freeman, but I had no idea he was THAT good of an actor.'
One enthusiastic user review praising Freeman's performance on the show says: 'Incredible acting performance. Martin Freeman is totally brilliant in this gritty and affecting drama. It's a pretty grim and dark setting so if you're expecting some light relief then this won't help. But if you enjoy totally immersive and compelling acting then you'll love it. One of the best acting performances I've seen in years.' Meanwhile, another viewer said about The Responder: 'This was the best British crime drama I've seen for a while. I liked the fact that it centred around a regular, albeit troubled front line police officer. Also the best performance so far from Martin Freeman as someone getting himself unwittingly drawn deeper into trouble. Great stuff!'
The Responder is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
