Official Trailer
Rating: 6.6/10 | Genre: Crime, Drama | Seasons: 2 | Episodes: 16 | Status: Returning Series
Starring: Peter Capaldi, Cush Jumbo, Shaun Dooley, Stephen Campbell Moore, Luther Ford
Criminal Record is the kind of show that hooks you with a solid premise but doesn’t quite stick the landing. It’s a British crime drama that wants to be smarter than it is, and while it has some genuinely tense moments and good performances, it never fully commits to being truly great. If you’re into cop dramas and you’ve got time to kill, it’s worth a watch. Just don’t expect to be blown away.
The core idea is simple enough: two detectives on opposite sides of the law are forced to work together to solve an old case. One’s a hungry young detective trying to prove herself. The other’s an established guy who has everything to lose. That friction should be gold, and sometimes it actually is. But the show meanders when it should push forward, and some plot threads just feel like filler.
Season 1
Season 1 starts strong. An anonymous call about a potential wrongful conviction pulls Detective Sergeant June Lenker into a mystery that could either make or break her career. Peter Capaldi plays Daniel Hegarty, the veteran cop who holds all the cards, and he’s great in this. He brings a quiet menace to the role. Cush Jumbo is solid as June, though her character is sometimes written in ways that feel a bit cliche for the “ambitious young detective” archetype.
The first few episodes genuinely work. There’s real tension between these two characters, and the mystery of what actually happened in this old case keeps you guessing. The show does a decent job of making you wonder who’s telling the truth. Is Hegarty protecting someone? Is June in over her head?
But here’s where it starts to lose steam. Midway through, the show brings in a new case involving a kid in the park, and it feels like padding. The season tries to juggle too many storylines at once, and some of them don’t feel connected enough to justify the screen time. By the end of the season, things do come together, but it takes longer than it should.
The biggest issue with season 1 is pacing. There are eight episodes, and honestly, this could have been a tight six-episode limited series. Instead, it meanders just enough to lose some of its momentum. Still, Capaldi’s performance and the central mystery are enough to keep you watching until the end.
Season 2
Season 2 shifts gears. Now a young man gets stabbed at a political rally, and June and Hegarty are forced back together. The season tries to add more layers by bringing in far-right extremism and undercover operations. On paper, that sounds interesting. In practice, it’s a mixed bag.
The good news is that the show feels more focused this time around. The central case is clearer, and there’s a real sense of urgency. Hegarty’s decision to use someone as an undercover asset creates genuine stakes. You don’t always know where things are heading, and that’s refreshing.
The bad news is that season 2 sometimes feels like it’s trying too hard to be relevant. The far-right angle feels a bit on the nose, and it doesn’t always blend smoothly with the rest of the story. Some character decisions don’t track as well as they should. There were moments where I genuinely didn’t believe why people were making the choices they were making.
That said, season 2 is probably the stronger of the two. It’s tighter, the mystery is more engaging, and the stakes feel real. If you bailed on season 1 halfway through, season 2 might actually win you back. The dynamic between June and Hegarty has developed enough that their scenes together have real weight.
Look, Criminal Record is decent television. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s competent. Capaldi is worth watching. The cases are interesting enough to keep you engaged. But it’s also the kind of show that you’ll probably forget about a few months after you finish it. It doesn’t stay with you. There’s no moment that hits so hard you’re texting your friends about it. It’s just solid, middle-of-the-road drama.
If you’re looking for a crime show to fill your free time and you’re not too picky about whether it’s brilliant or just okay, grab it. But if you’re searching for your new favorite series, you might want to keep looking. Have you watched it yet, or is this on your list?
Episode Guide
Season 1 (8 Episodes)
Episode 1: Emergency Caller (5.3/10)
An anonymous call puts Detective Sergeant June Lenker in the path of the formidable Daniel Hegarty.
Episode 2: Two Calls (5.2/10)
Convinced there's a link between the emergency calls, June sets out to prove a theory—but Hegarty stays one step ahead.
Episode 3: Kid in the Park (4.9/10)
A horrific incident lands June on Hegarty's team, giving her a way to win his trust while secretly digging into the Errol Mathis case.
Episode 4: Protected (4.7/10)
Pressure mounts on June from all sides as she makes a breakthrough in Errol's case.
Episode 5: Possession with Intent (4.6/10)
June's personal life suffers collateral damage when her son is targeted.
Episode 6: Beehive (4.6/10)
A shocking revelation compels Hegarty to find his daughter. June uncovers a game-changing piece of evidence.
Episode 7: The Sixty-Twos (4.6/10)
The events leading up to Errol's 2011 arrest reveal a hidden history.
Episode 8: Carla (4.8/10)
A wave of public outrage pushes Hegarty and June to work together before it's too late.
Season 2 (8 Episodes)
Episode 1: Is It Him? (3.7/10)
The search for a killer lands June back in Hegarty's orbit, who has a proposition for her: Join his intelligence operation to find her man.
Episode 2: Firestarters (3.7/10)
Hegarty brings June into his plan to use Billy as an undercover asset. June's home life starts to unravel.
Episode 3: Snakes and Ladders (2.8/10)
With Billy embedded in Cosmo Thompson's far-right group, Operation Samphire is underway. A key piece of evidence in June's case surfaces.
Episode 4: Safe (2.8/10)
June appeals to the victim's mother to help combat the vicious rumors spread by Cosmo and his followers.
Episode 5: Duty of Care (3.3/10)
Hegarty continues the hunt for the detonators. June comes to a shocking realization. Cosmo's off-the-grid boot camp takes a deadly turn.
Episode 6: When the Music Stops (1/10)
After the chaos in the woods, Billy goes dark and Operation Samphire hangs by a thread.
Episode 7: Going Down (1/10)
June is calling the shots now, as the team gets information about Cosmo's next move.
Episode 8: Nobody Dies (1/10)
June and Hegarty must work together to stop the danger already set in motion.
Where to Watch
Stream on: Apple TV, Apple TV Amazon Channel