14 Years Later, This 96% Fresh British Show Is Still the Best Police Procedural Ever Made

In 2012, the BBC launched Line of Duty, a TV series that was supposed to be just another run-of-the-mill story about British cops.

Instead, it became a national treasure and a phenomenon that drew millions of viewers and prompted critics to declare a new golden age of television.

Here, we explain why Line of Duty remains unrivaled in the genre and how it differs from endless soap operas about noble cops.

What Is 'Line of Duty' About?

The series centers on the fictional AC-12, an internal affairs unit that hunts down corrupt police officers.

Led by the stern Superintendent Ted Hastings, detectives Steve Arnott and Kate Fleming solve complex cases where the line between guilty and innocent is often indiscernible.

Each season focuses on a single major investigation. The characters confront a system stacked against them, suspects with lawyers who document every move they make, and their own demons.

'Line of Duty' Shatters the Myth of Good Versus Evil, Plunging Us Into a World of Gray Morality

Show creator Jed Mercurio, a former pilot and doctor, disliked soap operas in which good cops chase bad criminals. He decided to depict a world where corruption stems not from innate evil but from human emotions such as the thirst for power, envy, fear, and love for loved ones.

In the first season, we're faced with a dilemma: Detective Tony Gates, hunted by AC-12, is not a monster – he told one small lie, and it snowballed into disaster.

The main characters are also far from ideal. Steve and Kate are impulsive and make mistakes and sometimes they even get involved with suspects. But it's impossible to hate them – they're ordinary people who break under the weight of circumstances but always come back.

'Line of Duty' Is a Slow-Paced Documentary-Style Show With Powerful Plot Twists

Line of Duty embodies the style of classic BBC psychological dramas. There are no quick edits or intense dialogue, an interrogation episode may last 20 minutes, during which the characters attempt to coax the suspect into revealing the truth.

The camera is deliberately neutral, almost documentary-like. It lingers on faces for extended periods and picks out characters from around corners as if observing them. The lack of vibrant color grading places the viewer on the gray, rainy streets of Britain.

At the same time, when plot twists occur, they hit with unexpected force. At the end of each season, viewers are treated to true-crime closure when the credits recount the fates of the defendants as if the investigation were actually taking place.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Line of Duty'?

• Line of Duty has 96% from critics and 94% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 8.7/10.

Where to Watch 'Line of Duty'?

Line of Duty is available to stream on Hulu and Tubi.