Payback: Edinburgh Crime Thriller Is Free to Stream on ITVX
A quiet family life can unravel in an instant when a husband’s murder exposes a secret world his wife never knew existed. That is the unsettling premise at the heart of Payback, the six-part crime thriller set in Edinburgh and led by The Bay star Morven Christie.
Originally released in 2023, the ITV drama follows Lexie Noble, a mother of two whose life changes dramatically after her husband Jared is killed. What initially appears to be a random attack soon reveals a far more dangerous story involving money laundering, organised crime and a police investigation.
Written by Debbie O’Malley and executive produced by Jed Mercurio, whose credits include the acclaimed crime series Line of Duty, Payback features a cast including Christie, Peter Mullan, Prasanna Puwanarajah and Derek Riddell.
All six episodes are currently available to stream for free on ITVX.
A murder reveals Jared’s secret life
Morven Christie stars as Lexie Noble, who lives with her family in the suburbs of Edinburgh.
After spending years at home caring for her six-year-old daughter, Lexie is preparing to return to work at the accountancy firm she runs with Jared. Those plans are abruptly thrown into chaos when Jared is murdered.
As Lexie begins to deal with the aftermath, she discovers that the husband she thought she knew had been living a secret life.
Jared had been laundering huge amounts of money for Cal Morris, a notorious crime lord played by Peter Mullan. His criminal activities have also come onto the radar of financial investigators DC Jibran Khan, played by Prasanna Puwanarajah, and DCI Adam Guthrie, portrayed by Derek Riddell.
Jared’s death therefore leaves Lexie facing two very different threats. On one side is the police investigation into her husband’s activities. On the other is the criminal organisation he secretly worked for.
Lexie becomes trapped between the police and a crime boss
The police see Jared’s activities as a potential route to bringing Cal Morris to justice. Cal, however, is determined to protect himself and his operation.
He forces Lexie to work for him, placing her in the uncomfortable position of becoming involved in both sides of the investigation.
As the police operation intensifies, Cal’s demands on Lexie become increasingly difficult to escape. She has to deal with investigators looking for answers while also satisfying a crime boss who expects her full cooperation.
At the same time, Lexie is trying to protect her children and uncover the truth surrounding the money Jared had been handling.
The official synopsis describes her as becoming caught up in a police operation targeting Cal while being forced to work for him at the same time. With the investigation closing in, her situation becomes increasingly precarious.
Across the six episodes, the story continues to build through a series of complications and revelations. Lexie attempts to discover what happened to Cal’s missing money while keeping herself and her family out of danger.
The episode descriptions on ITVX point to several key developments, including Lexie’s confrontation with DCI Guthrie, the search for Cal’s money, a revelation in Vilnius and a visit to the Isle of Eris.
Morven Christie and Peter Mullan lead the cast
Christie anchors the drama as Lexie Noble, while Peter Mullan plays the intimidating Cal Morris.
The main cast also includes Prasanna Puwanarajah as DC Jibran Khan and Derek Riddell as DCI Adam Guthrie. Steven Mackintosh, Julie Graham and Eileen Duffy are also among the ensemble.
The cast was singled out as one of the drama’s strengths in The Guardian’s 2023 review. The newspaper praised the performances across the series and highlighted the quality of the ensemble.
The review also noted the drama’s focus on financial crime and its brisk pace. Christie is at the centre of the story, while Mullan brings a threatening presence to the role of Cal Morris.
Viewers praised the twists and Scottish locations
Payback has also attracted positive reactions from viewers, with particular praise for its storyline, performances, twists and Scottish setting.
One viewer described the series as a gripping thriller with a strong story, while also highlighting the scenes filmed in Glasgow and Edinburgh and the architecture featured throughout the drama.
Another viewer called it a must-watch, praising the writing, tension and performances. A third pointed to the unexpected twists and turns in the script, saying the story avoided the predictability often associated with some crime thrillers.
The performances have also continued to draw attention from critics, with The Guardian highlighting the strength of the ensemble and the quality brought to the gangland drama by its cast.
Watch the Payback trailer
Where to watch Payback
Payback originally aired on ITV in 2023 before being made available as a complete series on ITVX.
All six episodes are currently listed on ITVX, with each episode running for around 57 minutes. The streaming platform describes the series as a dark crime drama centred on murder, money laundering and the search for justice.
For viewers looking for a Scottish crime thriller with a murder at its centre and a story that moves between financial crime, organised crime and a police investigation, Payback follows Lexie Noble as she tries to survive the dangerous secret life her husband left behind.