Helen McCrory’s Twisty Crime Thriller Fearless Is Leaving Netflix Soon
Helen McCrory gets a showcase for her formidable screen presence in Fearless, the six-part ITV thriller that starts with a seemingly straightforward murder case before expanding into a much larger story involving politics, intelligence agencies and the Iraq War.
Originally broadcast in 2017, the series follows human-rights lawyer Emma Banville as she attempts to prove that a convicted murderer was the victim of a miscarriage of justice. Netflix is now preparing to remove Fearless from its catalogue, giving viewers only a limited window to watch all six episodes.
What is Fearless about?
At the centre of Fearless is Emma Banville, played by the late Helen McCrory. Emma has built a reputation as a human-rights lawyer willing to take on difficult cases, and her latest investigation concerns Kevin Russell, a man convicted of murdering schoolgirl Linda Simmons more than a decade earlier.
Emma believes Russell was wrongly convicted and sets out to uncover what really happened. What initially looks like an old murder case gradually becomes something far more complicated.
As she digs into the evidence, Emma finds connections that extend well beyond the original investigation. The case eventually leads towards the US military, the Iraq War and powerful forces that appear to have an interest in preventing her from discovering the truth.
The official production description similarly places the drama at the intersection of law, politics and the intelligence services, with Emma risking her career, reputation and personal life as she pursues the case.
That escalating sense of conspiracy is a major part of the show’s appeal. Fearless doesn’t stay confined to the familiar territory of a conventional murder investigation. Instead, its story keeps widening as Emma discovers that the case may have much greater consequences than she initially realised.
Helen McCrory leads an impressive cast
McCrory is the obvious focal point, bringing a forceful presence to Emma Banville. The actress, who was also widely known for her role as Polly Gray in Peaky Blinders, anchors the series as its increasingly determined protagonist.
She is joined by a substantial supporting cast, including Wunmi Mosaku, John Bishop, Jemima Rooper, Michael Gambon, Jamie Bamber, Robin Weigert and Emma Hamilton.
Michael Gambon plays Sir Alastair McKinnon, an influential former Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Office, while Mosaku plays DCS Olivia Greenwood, the investigating officer connected to the original Linda Simms case. John Bishop appears as Emma’s boyfriend, Steve Livesey.
The production was created and written by Patrick Harbinson, whose television credits include Homeland, while Pete Travis directed the series. Mammoth Screen produced the drama for ITV.
The series was filmed in East Anglia
For viewers who enjoy seeing East Anglia on screen, Fearless offers another reason to watch.
Filming began in September 2016 in London and East Anglia, with the setting playing an important part in the atmosphere of the story. ITV’s original plans described the drama as being set across London and East Anglia, placing its murder investigation against a distinctly British backdrop before the story expands into an international political conspiracy.
The six-part series eventually premiered on ITV on 12 June 2017, with episodes running for approximately an hour.
Watch the Fearless first-look trailer
ITV released a first-look video ahead of the series’ original broadcast, introducing McCrory’s Emma Banville and the case at the heart of the drama.
The official ITV synopsis describes Emma as a lawyer known for defending lost causes who becomes convinced that powerful forces are working against her as she tries to uncover the truth behind the schoolgirl’s murder.
What did critics think of Fearless?
The series attracted positive attention when it premiered in 2017, with much of the praise focused on McCrory’s performance and the show’s ambitious combination of crime, politics and conspiracy.
The Guardian described McCrory as shining in a “fabulously classy thriller,” while The Daily Telegraph compared the show’s atmosphere and cast to Homeland, placing its political intrigue against the backdrop of East Anglia.
The New York Times also praised the production’s “superior British cast.”
The response was part of a broader critical appreciation for McCrory’s performance. Her role gives the series a determined central character capable of carrying the story as the investigation becomes increasingly complicated.
Was there ever a second season?
No. Fearless remains a one-season story.
In March 2018, ITV confirmed that the drama would not return, meaning the six episodes remain the complete story of Emma Banville.
McCrory had previously expressed interest in returning to the character, but a second series never materialised.
That leaves Fearless as a particularly intriguing one-season thriller for viewers who enjoy British crime dramas with a political edge. Its six episodes take a local murder investigation and steadily expand it into a much larger conspiracy, with McCrory at the centre of it.
When is Fearless leaving Netflix?
If you’re planning to watch it on Netflix, there isn’t much time left.
Netflix’s listing confirms Fearless as a 2017 British thriller starring Helen McCrory, Wunmi Mosaku and Jonathan Forbes. Current UK listings show the series scheduled to leave Netflix on 12 October 2026.
With only six episodes, it’s still a manageable binge before it disappears from the service.
For anyone looking for a compact British crime thriller built around Helen McCrory, Fearless is one to put on the list before its Netflix run comes to an end.