#WhatToWatch
Unforgotten (PBS in the US or ITV in the UK)
TV Series: 5 Seasons
This is a procedural cop show from the UK. Nicola Walker gives intense yet subtle performances as a detective, who investigates open cases from the past. Each season focuses on a different (fictional) murder, discovered in the opening episode. The detectives find characters from the past who may have committed the crimes, in a web of deceit. Many of them have moved on in life or evolved. Each episode has twists and turns worth watching. Sanjeev Bhaskar, who I was more familiar with from his comedy series Goodness Gracious Me, plays detective Sunil “Sunny” Khan. This series became very popular in the UK, and fans guessed “what was in Sunny’s backpack” in each episode, which he would reveal on instagram from Set. Some of the murders have a queer, sex crimes, or hate crimes angle. A strong, female protagonist. As a 5-year series, they also go into the characters’ home lives as they evolve and age. I had been terrified by some true crime series. This hit the right balance of intrigue, thriller, and character study - that piqued my interest, but didn’t scare the crap out of me.
