Criminal Record Excels at Being a Procedural, But Sucks at Most Important Part

Summary:

• Criminal Record is a British crime thriller by Apple TV Plus that premiered in January 2024.
• The show has received much praise for its masterful portrayal of detective work.
• However, many viewers feel that the show lacks interesting interpersonal dynamics, which may be a reason for its declining ratings.

Created by Paul Rutman, Criminal Record on Apple TV Plus has set the bar high for the streamer's future productions. With a very strong season 1, which now stands at 91% from critics and 73% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, the show is almost certain to return for another round.

From the acclaimed performances of Cush Jumbo and Peter Capaldi to the intriguing mystery of the murder case the two clashing detectives are assigned to, the show has managed to surpass the majority of crime dramas available on television today in terms of quality.

However, no matter how much viewers appreciate the detailed set design and well-thought-out mystery, if the show lacks emotion, they won't be likely to come back. Many of those who wish Criminal Record many happy returns believe that this may be the reason for the show's demise in the future.

Is Criminal Record Worth Watching?

If you are a fan of the gritty British crime series, Criminal Record is probably right up your alley. But if you're more used to procedurals that rely heavily on interpersonal relationships to keep viewers hooked, it might not be the best choice.

While the chemistry between reluctant partners Daniel Hegarty and June Lenker is undoubtedly great, every other attempt by the writers to create drama outside of work only adds to the viewer's annoyance.

As Redditor drinkdrinks2 believes, the show would benefit from losing the emotional swings of June and her husband's relationship and continuing to focus on the dynamic duo that actually works without the need to add artificial drama to it:

“I feel like the show is doing really great on the police procedure part but not as much with the relationships. And if there is any chance of season 2, they better leverage on Peter and Cush's chemistry. Their scenes together are so riveting,” they said.

Of course, June's marriage is the show's perfect way to portray the difficulties that people of color still face even in their personal lives. Her husband, Leo, is supposed to be annoying, looking down on her experience and even questioning her sanity at times, failing to recognize the importance of her feelings.

However, this is not the complex character you want to keep exploring, but rather the one you wish was gone for good. There is almost no way to redeem him in the eyes of the audience, so the whole arc should end this season before it gets dragged out.

If you want to see where the show would leave its characters in the season 1 finale and what would lead up to it, be sure to tune in to Apple TV Plus on Wednesday.

Source: Reddit