Unforgotten
ITV, Mondays, 9pm
Crime dramas come along at a rate of approximately 37 per week these days, but some of them still manage to feel genuinely original. So, here are just some of the ways in which Unforgotten, now in its fourth series, is truly special. One: the format, in which a cold case comes to light and the investigation unfolds, while we simultaneously get to know the characters who’ll turn out to be the prime suspects. It helps that creator Chris Lang knows how to create a convincing character as well as any writer out there, with deft portraits of relatable human beings, one of whom – at least – is also a killer.
Two: the detective duo, played by Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar, who achieve peak naturalism with the least show-offy of performances. They’re like the actual cops we see in shows like 24 Hours In Police Custody – professional, unassuming, smart and normal. They’re anti-quirky, they get on with each other, support each other, and radiate calm dignity, which helps make the show feel truly authentic.
Three: the tone, which is refreshingly unflashy. While other crime thrillers go over the top or adopt a heightened visual style, everything in Unforgotten, from the direction (by Andy Wilson, who has made every episode) to the lighting and editing is at the service of the story. That’s not to say the film-making is basic and unsophisticated – quite the opposite – it just doesn’t draw attention to itself. Everyone is working at the top of their game, and the whole thing oozes confidence. Four: the storytelling, which is classic whodunnit territory, keeping us guessing right up to the end. In the crime drama stakes, Unforgotten is unrivalled.