“The Detective Drama Of The Decade”: Sarah Lancashire’s Forgotten 10/10 Crime Thriller Rose And Maloney Is Now Streaming In Full – And It’s A Must-Watch
Sarah Lancashire’s portrayal of a hard-drinking, fiercely unconventional detective is getting a fresh chance to shine – and viewers looking for their next gripping crime drama should take notice. First hailed as “the detective drama of the decade” when it debuted in 2002, Rose and Maloney is a brilliantly unpredictable series that deserves far more attention. Now, with all three series available on Prime Video, there has never been a better time to rediscover it.
Starring Lancashire alongside Phil Davis, the ITV drama follows two investigators tasked with reopening criminal cases where miscarriages of justice may have occurred. But these are no ordinary investigations. Their cases involve convicted rapists, murderers and disturbing claims that could turn seemingly settled verdicts upside down.
And at the heart of it all is an unlikely partnership that makes the series particularly compelling.
What Is Rose And Maloney About?
First broadcast on ITV in 2002, Rose and Maloney centres on Rose Linden (Sarah Lancashire) and Marion Maloney (Phil Davis), two investigators working for the fictional Criminal Justice Review Agency.
Their job is to examine criminal convictions and investigate claims that innocent people may have been wrongly imprisoned.
The story begins with a devastating professional setback for Rose. After helping secure the acquittal of a convicted murderer, she discovers that he is actually guilty when he admits the crime on the steps of the Court of Appeal.
The revelation costs Rose her position and leads to her demotion. Her new assignment brings her together with Maloney, an investigator whose personality could hardly be further removed from hers.
- Rose Linden: A rebellious, chain-smoking, hard-drinking detective who has little patience for rules and conventions.
- Marion Maloney: A cautious, methodical investigator who prefers to follow procedure and keep everything by the book.
On paper, they seem like a disastrous pairing. In practice, their contrasting personalities create the chemistry that became one of the show’s biggest strengths.
The Cases Are Darker Than You Might Expect
Across three series, Rose and Maloney tackle a succession of disturbing criminal appeals, with each investigation raising uncomfortable questions about guilt, evidence and the justice system.
Among the cases they revisit are:
- A convicted rapist whose case demands further investigation.
- A wealthy property developer found guilty of murdering his father, sister and business partner on a remote farm.
- A teenager imprisoned for killing a baby.
- A woman convicted of murdering her lover’s wife and teenage daughter several years earlier.
These aren’t straightforward detective stories in which the answer is obvious from the beginning. The shifting details and unexpected developments keep viewers guessing about where each investigation will lead.
Who Stars In Rose And Maloney?
Sarah Lancashire and Phil Davis lead an impressive ensemble cast, with several familiar faces appearing throughout the three series.
The main cast includes:
- Sarah Lancashire as Rose Linden
- Phil Davis as Marion Maloney
- Nisha Nayar as Joyce Hammond
- Andrew Lee Potts as Daniel Berrington (Series 2)
- Susan Brown as Wendy Sillery (Series 2)
- Eamonn Walker as George Parris (Series 2)
- Anne Reid as Bea Linden (Series 2)
- Stephanie Leonidas as Katie Phelan (Series 2)
- Tara Fitzgerald as Annie Sorensen-Johnson (Series 3)
- Neil Dudgeon as Alan Richmond (Series 3)
- Ramon Vaughan-Williams as Carl Callaghan (Series 3)
- David Westhead as Wallace Canford (Series 3)
Is Rose And Maloney Worth Watching?
Absolutely. The series has earned its reputation as one of the standout detective dramas of its era, and Sarah Lancashire’s performance is a major reason why.
Rose is a particularly memorable character: unpredictable, unconventional and far from the polished image of a traditional television detective. Opposite her, Phil Davis brings a different energy as the restrained and methodical Maloney.
Their contrasting approaches give the show much of its personality, while the investigations themselves deliver enough twists and uncertainty to keep the story engaging.
The biggest frustration? Only three series were made. There’s plenty here to leave viewers wishing the partnership had lasted longer.
Is There A Trailer For Rose And Maloney?
Yes. You can watch the trailer for the 2002 television series below before deciding whether to add it to your watchlist.
Where Can You Watch Rose And Maloney?
Good news for anyone ready to revisit this overlooked crime drama: all three series of Rose and Maloney are now available to stream on Prime Video.
That means viewers can follow Rose and Maloney’s investigations from the beginning without having to wait for weekly episodes.
What Other Sarah Lancashire Dramas Should You Watch?
If Rose and Maloney leaves you wanting more of Sarah Lancashire, there are two other dramas worth adding to your list.
The Accident
For something considerably more heartbreaking, try Channel 4’s The Accident. Lancashire plays a mother consumed by guilt following an explosion at a major construction project in a rural Welsh town.
Her husband, local politician Iwan (Mark Lewis Jones), had originally championed the project. But when the devastating consequences emerge, the family and the wider community are left facing an unimaginable tragedy.
Black Doves
Prefer espionage and high-stakes secrets? Netflix’s Black Doves offers a very different side of Lancashire.
Keira Knightley stars as Helen, a spy who has secretly passed government information to a mysterious organisation known as the Black Doves for a decade. Lancashire plays her spymaster, delivering another standout performance in a tense world of espionage and deception.
Series 1 is available on Netflix, with series 2 set to arrive later this year.
Whether you’re drawn to gripping investigations, emotionally devastating family dramas or shadowy spy thrillers, Sarah Lancashire has plenty to offer. But for anyone who missed it the first time around, Rose and Maloney is a particularly compelling place to start.