TV

"Unsettling" Crime Series on Netflix is a Perfect Broadchurch Replacement

Image credit: Channel 4, ITV1

A four-year-old series starring David Tennant has been quietly dropped on Netflix.

Summary

  • Earlier this year, a new British series was added to the Netflix library.
  • It's a crime drama starring David Tennant that's sure to bring Broadchurch to mind.
  • The show is available on Netflix in select regions, while in other countries it is available through other services.

We all love mysteries because they are always intriguing puzzles that force you to use all your wits and deductive reasoning along with the characters to solve gruesome crimes. However, let's be honest, there are an infinite number of movies and TV shows with similar premise, which makes the mystery genre seem rather unremarkable.

However, when the crime story focuses not so much on the crime itself, but on its consequences, human relationships, the psyche of the criminal, the victim and their loved ones, we get a deep psychological drama. Add quality cinematography and a talented cast to the formula and you have a surefire hit.

Such was the case with Broadchurch, starring David Tennant and Olivia Colman. Yes, you can find criticism of the show here and there, but the vast majority of professional critics and audiences remained positive, and now the show boasts an impressive 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Sadly, Broadchurch ended a long time ago, and if you miss it, we've got the perfect binge-watch option in store for you. This February, the Netflix library has been updated with another British crime drama starring David Tennant. Let's take a look at what the show is all about.

What Is This Show with David Tennant About?

We're talking about Deadwater Fell, written and created by Daisy Coulam, who you may know from the crime drama Grantchester. Along with Coulam, David Tennant also served as executive producer.

The story follows a terrible tragedy that happened in the remote Scottish countryside: one day, a terrible fire broke out in a family's home. The locals rushed to help, but by then the mother and three children had perished in the fire. Only the father of the family, the village doctor Tom Kendrick, played by Tennant himself, managed to get out. However, it turns out that all five were drugged, and Tom himself clearly has something to hide. The story unfolds through the eyes of family friend Jess Milner (Cush Jumbo).

The four-episode miniseries received very impressive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Many noted how great and cleverly written the script is, and together with the strong performances, the critics' score was 88%, giving the series 'certified fresh' status.

Where and How to Watch the Series?

In January 2020, the series was broadcast on the UK's Channel 4, but it has been available for streaming on Netflix since February 2024. However, the series isn't distributed everywhere on the streaming service, so let's take a look at where and how you can watch this crime drama starring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo, depending on your region.

  • UK — For UK residents, the series is available in two ways. First, it is still available on demand from the Channel 4 website. Second, as mentioned above, Deadwater Fell has been available on Netflix since February 2024. In addition, the series is also available on Sky TV, as the package includes the Netflix offering.
  • US and Canada — Unfortunately, the deal didn't include Netflix US and Netflix Canada, so you'll have to subscribe to other services or buy the show. For streaming, Deadwater Fell is available on AMC+ or Acorn TV, or via Prime Video if you subscribe to one of the first two. Sundance Now, Hoopla and Spectrum also offer the show for streaming.
  • Australia — In Australia, the show is available in two options: Binge and Apple TV with the BritBox channel.
  • Other regions — For residents of other countries where the series is not available, we recommend using either the Channel 4 website or one of the above streaming services via VPN.