Dark Scottish crime drama starring Trainspotting star Kevin McKidd wins praise for its moody atmosphere and twists
A four-part crime drama set against the streets of Scotland is drawing renewed attention from viewers, with Kevin McKidd at the centre of a tense story involving a missing daughter, an old unsolved case and allegations of corruption.
Originally released on ITVX in 2023, Six Four stars McKidd, best known internationally as Dr Owen Hunt in Grey’s Anatomy and for playing Tommy Mackenzie in Trainspotting. The series also features Vinette Robinson, James Cosmo, Alex Ferns and Richard Coyle.
The four-part drama follows police detective Chris O’Neill after his teenage daughter disappears. What initially appears to be a devastating family crisis soon becomes connected to a case from the past, forcing Chris to question the police institution he works for and the people closest to him.
A missing daughter leads Chris back to an old case
Chris is approached by a journalist with disturbing information about the disappearance of Julie Mackie, a local girl whose case once caused deep divisions within the police.
The journalist claims that serious mistakes were concealed during the investigation into Julie’s disappearance. As Chris begins looking into the case, he finds evidence of errors, corruption and personal ambition that may have been buried for years.
At the same time, he is struggling with the disappearance of his own daughter. The two cases gradually begin to appear connected, raising the possibility that events from the past could hold the key to what has happened to his family.
The official ITV synopsis describes the series as a story of kidnap, corruption, betrayal and a determined search for the truth. ITVX currently lists all four episodes, with the first following Chris after his daughter goes missing and a journalist approaches him about another missing girl.
Michelle takes matters into her own hands
Chris is not the only one searching for answers.
His wife Michelle, played by Vinette Robinson, is a former undercover officer. Rather than waiting for the investigation to provide answers, she uses the skills from her former career to pursue her daughter herself.
Her search takes her back into the criminal underworld she previously escaped. Along the way, she encounters a world of vice and extortion with connections reaching into Scotland’s political establishment.
The story becomes even more complicated when the daughter of the Justice Minister is kidnapped just as the minister is approaching an election victory.
The circumstances bear striking similarities to the Julie Mackie case. Chris and Michelle are therefore left trying to establish whether history is repeating itself or whether the new kidnapping could finally expose what really happened to Julie.
ITVX’s episode descriptions indicate that Chris eventually links the new kidnapping to the Julie Mackie investigation, while Michelle’s past becomes increasingly important as the story develops.
From a Japanese novel to a Scottish crime story
Six Four is based on the novel of the same name by Japanese author Hideo Yokoyama.
The television adaptation, written by Gregory Burke with Clare McQuillan, makes a significant change from the source material by moving the story from Japan to Scotland. The original novel was set within a Japanese police department, while the television version is primarily based in Glasgow.
Burke’s adaptation retains the novel’s central concerns about institutional corruption, loyalty and the search for truth, while giving the story a distinctly Scottish setting.
The series was filmed in Scotland, with production taking place in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Other filming locations included Dumfries and Galloway, helping give the drama a strong sense of place.
Six Four premiered on ITVX on March 30, 2023, with all four episodes released as a complete series.
Viewers praise Kevin McKidd’s performance
Viewers have particularly singled out McKidd’s performance as Chris, describing the drama as dark, atmospheric and deliberately slow-burning.
One IMDb viewer called the series a “moody and dark” thriller and highlighted McKidd as the main reason to watch. They praised his portrayal of a troubled detective dealing with his daughter’s disappearance, describing the performance as intense but restrained.
Another viewer focused on the show’s bleak atmosphere and intricate storyline, saying the performances from McKidd and Robinson helped make it highly engaging. They also compared the mood to a Scandinavian crime drama.
A third viewer felt that the story’s twists and turns eventually led to a more straightforward explanation centred on revenge.
Critical reaction was also positive. The Standard gave the series four stars and praised its performances, plotting and twists, describing it as a tightly constructed four-part drama.
Where to watch Six Four
Six Four is a four-episode crime thriller starring Kevin McKidd and Vinette Robinson, with James Cosmo, Alex Ferns and Richard Coyle among the supporting cast. It was produced by House Productions for ITVX.
The complete series is currently available to stream on ITVX.
Watch the trailer
An official trailer for Six Four was released ahead of its 2023 debut, offering a look at McKidd and Robinson as Chris and Michelle O’Neill and the investigation surrounding their missing daughter.