James Nesbitt’s Bloodlands Is a Gripping Choice for Fans of Classic BBC Crime Dramas
A car pulled from Strangford Lough appears to point to a straightforward death. For DCI Tom Brannick, however, the discovery soon raises questions about one of the most troubling cases of his career.
That case centers on Goliath, a notorious assassin believed to have been a serving police officer in the 1990s. Even more disturbing for Brannick, the mystery is closely connected to his own past and the disappearance of his wife, Emma.
That is the setup for Bloodlands, the BBC crime thriller starring James Nesbitt. Running for two seasons between 2021 and 2022, the series combines an unresolved murder mystery with a deeply personal investigation, placing its lead detective in a situation where uncovering the truth could have serious consequences.
For viewers who enjoy crime dramas built around secrets, cold cases and detectives carrying complicated histories, Bloodlands is a natural choice.
What is Bloodlands about?
The drama opens with the discovery of a car in Strangford Lough. A possible suicide note found inside initially appears to offer an explanation for what happened, but DCI Tom Brannick is not convinced that the case is as simple as it seems.
As Brannick digs deeper, the investigation takes him back to the long-unsolved Goliath case.
Goliath is the name given to a legendary assassin whose identity has never been established. The killer is believed to have been a police officer during the 1990s, making the mystery particularly sensitive for Brannick and the police force.
The case becomes even more personal when Brannick’s wife, Emma, is identified as one of the people suspected of being among Goliath’s victims.
Reopening the investigation therefore means more than solving an old crime. Brannick must confront a painful part of his own history while trying to establish what really happened.
The drama’s central storyline becomes a tense hunt for Goliath, with Brannick caught in an increasingly dangerous cat-and-mouse game as he attempts to identify the assassin and understand the events surrounding the original case.
James Nesbitt leads the cast
James Nesbitt takes the central role of DCI Tom Brannick, giving the series a detective whose professional investigation is inseparable from his personal life.
The Northern Irish actor has considerable experience in crime and thriller dramas. His previous BBC roles include Murphy’s Law, Jekyll and The Missing. Bloodlands gave him another opportunity to play a detective facing an investigation that becomes increasingly personal.
Charlene McKenna, known for Peaky Blinders, plays DS Niamh McGovern, while Lorcan Cranitch, who appeared in Spooks, portrays DCS Jackie Twomey.
The supporting cast includes Susan Lynch, known for Happy Valley, as Heather Pentland; Lola Petticrew, who appeared in Say Nothing, as Izzy Brannick; Michael Smiley of Spaced as Dinger; Chris Walley from The Young Offenders as DC Billy ‘Birdy’ Bird; and Victoria Smurfit, who stars in Rivals, as Olivia Foyle.
Together, the cast gives the series a strong ensemble around Nesbitt’s central performance.
What did critics and viewers think?
Bloodlands received a positive response during its two-season run.
The Guardian gave the drama four stars, while Radio Times described it as “an unpredictable thriller with all the hallmarks of a Jed Mercurio drama”.
Audience reaction was similarly enthusiastic. Viewers described the series as “brilliant” and “high quality”, with its suspense and mystery proving particularly effective.
One viewer wrote on social media: “Bloodlands on BBC iPlayer. I don’t watch much telly but thought both series were excellent.”
Another simply described the show as “Seriously gripping!” and praised it as “fabulous TV.”
How to watch Bloodlands
Both seasons of Bloodlands are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
With James Nesbitt playing a detective drawn into an infamous unsolved case, the series has plenty for fans of darker BBC crime dramas. The mystery surrounding Goliath provides the central hook, while the connection between the investigation and Brannick’s own family gives the story a more personal dimension.
For viewers who enjoy police investigations shaped by buried secrets, unresolved cases and characters with complicated pasts, Bloodlands offers a tense two-season thriller built around all three.