Marcella: Season One

ITV's downbeat detective series from Hans Rosenfeldt, Swedish creator of The Bridge, stars Anna Friel as Marcella Backland, a mother of two who returns to the police force when her marriage unravels. Her kids are at boarding school and the murder unit is working on a case that recalls the Grove Park murders that she investigated in 2005, so she picks up where she left off. Marcella reports to DCI Laura Porter (Nina Sosanya) and works with DC Mark Travis (Jack Doolan), who has been carrying a torch for her. London here appears as a photogenic if also treacherous place where everyone appears to be connected. Marcella's lawyer husband, Jason (Nicholas Pinnock), works for a powerful family that may have ties to the recent murders. Jason has been having an affair with Grace (Maeve Dermody)—the daughter of matriarch Sylvie (Sinéad Cusack)—who goes missing shortly after Marcella rejoins the force. Other threads involve a sex worker (Florence Pugh), a doctoral student (Laura Carmichael), and a Polish cab driver (Emil Hostina). To add to the Nordic noir vibe here, Marcella has a fiery temper and suffers from episodes in which she loses track of time. Although it can be frustrating to watch vibrant actress Friel play such a dour character, Marcella is a reasonably engaging show. Presenting all eight episodes from the 2016 debut season, this is a strong optional purchase. (K. Fennessy)