Criminal Record is proof that crime dramas can still inspire, repulse, and engage delivering hard hitting social commentary alongside top-tier performances from seasoned veterans. It may aim to entertain by pitching Peter Capaldi (DCI Daniel Hegarty) and Cush Jumbo (DS June Lenker) as professional rivals in this London based limited series, that explores the respective sides of police corruption, legislated brutality, and wrongful incarceration, but Criminal Record also goes a little bit deeper than that.
With the early additions of Detective Sergeant Cardwell (Shaun Dooley) and Detective Sergeant Tony Gilfoyle (Charlie Creed-Miles), who are introduced as systematic manipulators in the life of prisoner Errol Mathis (Tom Moutchi), Criminal Record never shies away from exploring deep seated social issues. Locked up unlawfully after a murderous confession is obtained, his is a copybook crime story given an adrenaline shot in the arm due to its excellent ensemble cast featuring cinematic titan Cathy Tyson (Mona Lisa).
Occupying the edges of this thriller, Tyson brings a realism to her portrayal of Doris Mathis that only ever adds kudos to proceedings as Errol’s mother, while DCI Hegarty and his cronies sidestep their way around proper procedure to hamstring DS Lenker’s on-going investigation. Half of the pleasure behind Criminal Record comes from seeing this world building happen through characters and connections as past histories are revealed, and intentions become clear.
Aside from Jumbo and Capaldi, who each bring their own strengths to this series, Aysha Kala deserves an honourable mention as Sonya Singh, Errol’s defence lawyer and ardent advocate for his release. In a subtle tag team between Jumbo and Kala, Criminal Record develops a different dynamic outside that of corrupt authority figures, digging deeper into those moral decisions that may just grant Errol his freedom. These competing agendas sit at the centre of the story, hinting at a darkness which lives within DCI Hegarty and his motley crew of law breakers.
In many ways Criminal Record feels like the beginning of a franchise featuring DS June Lenker, that shares some DNA with Apple’s Slow Horses adaptation. Granted it might not have the comedy chops of its stablemate, but both Capaldi and Jumbo measure up in other regards, revelling in the contradiction that exists between them. In truth, this original series created by Paul Rutman, might not be the most original crime thriller Apple has to offer, but there is also no denying that what it does do is done very well indeed.
Criminal Record is available to stream on AppleTV+ now.
