With Slow Horses now in its fifth season and at the peak of its popularity and demanding acclaim, it seems only fitting that one other Mick Herron novel would receive a series order.
Down Cemetery Road is predicated on the primary of Herron’s novels centered on character Zoë Boehm (although she doesn’t change into as central a personality until the later books), starring Emma Thompson as Boehm and Ruth Wilson as Sarah Tucker.
The series premiered on Apple TV just before Halloween, and Watch With Us immediately fell in love with it, though it’s been overshadowed by other shows, each excellent (Pluribus) and really bad (All’s Fair).
Here’s why Down Cemetery Road is a mystery show price watching without delay or any time of the yr.
It’s a Dynamite Role for Emma Thompson
Emma Thompson doesn’t do TV fairly often, which is why it’s a requirement to tune in when she decides to helm a small-screen series. Thompson plays the show’s caustic detective Boehm, filled with the form of wry wit and biting humor that drew fans to Slow Horses. The Howards End actress is very great on this role because she relishes delivering all of the sharp dialogue the writers give her. Her character is amazingly to-the-point and abrasive— to other characters’ occasional aggravation, after all.
Zoë Boehm is only a smart-ass, and Thompson doesn’t hide from showing her worst qualities. Her character bears each cynicism and vulnerability, as she is coloured by grief from her past. This fusion of personality traits doesn’t make her just entertaining to look at as she slings one-liners around with the best of ease, but in addition incredibly empathetic. Plus, she shares improbable chemistry together with her co-star, Ruth Wilson, who holds her own in every scene she shares with Thompson.
The Implausible Writing Draws You In
Thankfully, it isn’t just Thompson who gets the best-written character on Down Cemetery Road while supporting actors are forced to flounder with underwritten roles and poor dialogue. Your entire forged of characters on the series is stellar, and along with being a compelling crime thriller, additionally it is an efficient character-driven drama.
When other facets of the show might fall short, the characters are consistently there to carry the road. The show’s primary author, Morwenna Banks, also just happened to work on Slow Horses, so she knows exactly what she’s doing. She makes sure that not only are characters given great dialogue, but in addition they undergo real character development.
‘Down Cemetery Road’ Is Filled with Twists and Turns
The premise of Down Cemetery Road involves a freak house explosion that happens in Sarah Tucker’s quiet, South Oxford neighborhood, the aftermath of which coincides with the disappearance of slightly girl. Suspicious of the confluence of circumstances, Tucker teams up with no-nonsense private eye Boehm to unravel things, landing them in the midst of a chilling conspiracy.
It really works wonders how each episode of the series includes a significant twist in events and a cliffhanger as well, keeping audiences with their fingers on the “Next Episode” button — a challenge, since for now only 4 episodes have been released as of press time. Ultimately, the easy house explosion that ignites the narrative includes government cover-ups, tampered evidence and a wide-reaching plot that extends far beyond any suburban unrest. It’s the stuff great mystery shows are made from, and Down Cemetery Road has the products to be a worthy successor to genre classics like Prime Suspect with Helen Mirren and Broadchurch with Olivia Colman.
‘Slow Horses’ Fans Will Love ‘Down Cemetery Road’
Emma Thompson in Down Cemetery Road Matt Towers /©Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection
Mick Herron’s novels are infused with the identical form of punchy one-liners and smarmy humor that fans of Slow Horses have come to expect and adore from the series starring Gary Oldman. Now, Emma Thompson gets to be the one conveying such darkly comic lines, and it helps that Morwenna Banks also has a background in comedy writing.
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While the Bohem book series is actually more of a psychological drama, Banks adapts Down Cemetery Road in a way that plays up the black comedy elements. Thus, the series excels as a hybrid of dark humor and crime drama, making an attractive series that’s just as buoyantly entertaining because it is mysterious and thrilling.
Why Is No One Watching ‘Down Cemetery Road’? I Have Some Theories
Ruth Wilson in Down Cemetery Road Matt Towers /©Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection
So why isn’t anyone watching it? Since its debut in late October, Down Cemetery Road has already disappeared from the popular culture radar. That’s partly Apple TV’s fault — the streamer keeps churning out hit after hit, from the buzzy recent show Pluribus with Rhea Seehorn to the return of the critically acclaimed comedy, Palm Royale, with Kristen Wiig. There’s also more mystery shows than ever, with Netflix leading the pack this weekend with The Beast in Me, with Claire Danes as a mystery creator investigating her up-to-no-good recent neighbor, Matthew Rhys.
Whatever the rationale is, it’s not adequate. Down Cemetery Road deserves your time and a focus without delay. It’s mid-way through its eight-episode first season, which is the right time to binge just a few episodes and catch up before the finale on December 10. It’s also an ideal late-fall mystery show to obsess over that can keep you from going out into the cold.