Outlaws (2021 – ) Season 1

Seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a community payback sentence in Bristol.

My thoughts: Broad humors, cliche characters, and stock plotting.

DNF

Line of Duty (2012 – 2021) Season 6

AC-12 investigate DCI Jo Davidson’s apparent mishandling of the murder of an investigative journalist.

My thoughts: Not as strong as season 2-4 and the ending is a bit of a letdown, but still a superior crime show.

4/5

New Blood (2016)

The series follows junior investigators Stefan and Rash, who are brought together by a link between two seemingly unrelated cases.

My thoughts: The villains are arch, the direction clunky, and the humor mostly falls flat in this formulaic buddy-cop series.

DNF

Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)

A devout detective’s faith is tested as he investigates a brutal murder seemingly connected to an esteemed Utah family’s spiral into LDS fundamentalism and their distrust in the government.

My thoughts: Would have made a good movie.

3/5

Mare of Easttown (2021)

A detective in a small Pennsylvania town investigates a local murder while trying to keep her life from falling apart.

My thoughts: Minor logic quibbles aside, it delivers superior character work, a great central mystery, and a rare surprise ending.

4/5