The Ridge, a psychological crime drama starring Scottish actress Lauren Lyle, has been hailed by viewers as a must-watch after leaving fans gripped by its dark and unsettling storyline. The six-part thriller first aired on BBC in October 2025 and is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
Plot and Premise
The series centres on Mia, played by Karen Pirie and Outlander star Lauren Lyle, as she attempts to rebuild her life after addiction and the collapse of her professional career in Scotland. Her plans take an unexpected turn when she travels to New Zealand after receiving a wedding invitation from her estranged sister. However, when Mia arrives, she discovers that her sister, Cassy, has died before the wedding can take place.
What initially appears to be a tragic accident soon begins to look much more suspicious. Mia becomes determined to uncover what really happened, finding herself drawn into the secrets and tensions of the small community where her sister lived. She also develops a complicated attraction to her late sister's fiancé, Ewan.
Uncovering Secrets
As Mia starts digging into her sister's life, she discovers that Cassy had been involved in a bitter dispute with local farmers because of her environmental activism. There are also troubling signs that Cassy's relationship with Ewan may not have been quite as happy as it first appeared. The more Mia investigates, the more convinced she becomes that her sister did not simply fall to her death – and that somebody may have wanted her gone.
The BBC synopsis reads: "As Mia grapples with the shock of her sister's death, she becomes entangled in the small town's web of secrets and lies. Mia learns that Cassy, a staunch environmentalist, was involved in a heated conflict with local farmers, and there are unsettling indications that her relationship with Ewan was not as perfect as it appeared. The deeper Mia investigates, the more convinced she becomes that her sister was murdered. Meanwhile, Mia has her own problems to contend with. She struggles with a secret opioid addiction and her supply is dwindling."
Critical and Viewer Reception
The synopsis continues: "With unresolved charges of professional misconduct looming over her, haunted by a tragic incident from her childhood, and drawn romantically to Ewan, Mia finds it increasingly difficult to escape her past. Determined to uncover the truth about her sister's mysterious death, she soon finds that familiarity among a small community breeds lies and tensions, endangering the brittle fabric of the town itself. Undeterred, Mia embarks on a relentless search for buried secrets."
The series has also received praise from critics, with The Guardian awarding it four out of five stars, describing it as a "hugely layered" and "masterly" drama. Viewers have also been binge-watching The Ridge, with many taking to social media and review sites to give their thoughts on the series. Many have praised Lyle's performance and the show's unusual setting.
One viewer wrote: "I've watched a lot of TV dramas recently and found this one refreshingly different in terms of setting and characters, and it sustained my interest and develops engagement over a well-judged narrative structure of 6 episodes." While another praised the Scottish actress, writing: "With a powerhouse performance from Lauren Lyle, I'm completely engaged by this series. It sent shivers down my spine." A third viewer added: "A few wee flaws and some questionable acting abilities on show but totally carried by Lauren Lyle, who is absolutely brilliant. A thoroughly enjoyable thriller."
With a mix of murder mystery, family secrets and psychological drama, The Ridge is the perfect binge-watch series. The six-part series is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer for free.
