Violent past haunts community
This British crime drama is an addictive character study, mystery and police procedural, writes James Croot.
Inspired by a pair of reallife murders in Nottinghamshire in 2004, Sherwood might just be the most compelling crime drama to come out of the United Kingdom since Broadchurch.
Creator and screenwriter James Graham (Quiz), whose village was traumatised by those killings, has crafted an addictive character study, mystery and police procedural that you can’t help but be drawn into attempting to debate and solve yourself.
It might be 30 years since the infamous miners’ strike of 1984, but tensions still run high here. People divided between those who crossed the picket line and those who followed the national union’s edict and subjected the ‘‘scabs’’ to verbal and occasionally physical abuse. Even the police aren’t exactly welcome, their handling of the conflict still seen as heavy-handed.
As Detective Chief Superintendent Ian St Clair (David Morrissey) reminds his colleagues, while accepting an award, they need the public’s faith and support to keep the criminals ‘‘off our streets’’. ‘‘We police by consent – and we’ve a long way to go to earn back some of that trust.’’
His next engagement though is even more celebratory. The wedding of would-be local councillor Sarah Vincent (Joanne Froggatt) to Neel Fisher (Bally Gill).
But even there, the spectre of past hurts haunts proceedings. Gary Jackson (Alun Armstrong) and Dean Simmons (Sean Gilder) are openly antagonistic towards one another and their simmering enmity boils over, when a snide remark from Gary results in a hurled glass.
No-one expected what would happen next. As Gary heads home a little later, he’s surprised by a shout from the shadows, followed by an arrow to the chest. It will be the morning before he’s missed – or discovered – just around the corner from this home.
As with Broadchurch, we’re introduced to a plethora of suspects – sorry – people, with their own flaws, foibles, grudges and prejudices. Navigating them is, initially, no easy task, but Graham’s sharp, smart script ensures each has an important role to play – or vital link to reveal.
And it helps that Sherwood is populated by an impressive, deep bench of seasoned talent. Aside from Morrissey, Froggatt and Armstrong, also look out for Lesley Manville, Robert Glenister, Adeel Akhtar, Philip Jackson, Mark Addy, Christopher Fairbank, Lindsay Duncan, Terence Maynard and Stephen Tompkinson.
Archive footage of miners’ union boss Arthur Scargill and divisive British PM Margaret Thatcher help set the scene – but it’s only the backdrop to what is a fullyengaging, thought-provoking, modern drama that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Sherwood is now available to stream on TVNZ+.