Netflix's #1 Show With 100% on RT Is the Best Crime Series of the Season Based on Real Events

The miniseries The Witness is now available on Netflix and is already topping the streaming charts. This three-part show is based on the true story of the brutal murder of 23-year-old Rachel Nickell.

The Witness is a remarkably balanced drama in which the investigation of a horrific crime intertwines with the story of a family whose lives are forever changed by the tragedy.

What Is 'The Witness' About?

One July day in 1992, Rachel Nickell took her two-year-old son, Alex, for a walk on Wimbledon Common, a place frequented by hundreds of Londoners every day. Among them was a brutal killer who attacked and stabbed a woman 49 times right in front of the child.

The killer escaped, leaving the boy with only a few bruises and severe emotional trauma. Detectives were at a loss – the only clue was a barely noticeable bootprint, and the only witness was a two-year-old kid.

The investigation dragged on for a decade and a half while André, a widowed father, was forced to raise his traumatized son under constant media scrutiny.

'The Witness' Is Based on a True Crime & the Real-Life Counterparts of the Main Characters Served as Consultants

The Witness is based on real events and Alex's adult memoir, Letting Go. Alex and his father, André Hanscombe, served as consultants for the project, lending it authenticity and psychological depth.

Thanks to their involvement, the relationship between the on-screen Alex and André became realistic. The relationship slowly evolves from overprotectiveness and unquestioning obedience to loud arguments with mutual insults and, finally, to mutual acceptance and forgiveness.

The trauma suffered at a young age reverberates years later when the adult Alex rebels against his father's strict rules and attacks him with a kitchen knife in one scene.

The creators skillfully balance classic true crime with a story of painful separation and generational conflict, transforming The Witness into a universal drama that is accessible even to those not interested in crime news.

'The Witness' Is a Quality Show About a Protracted Investigation and Forgiveness

The creators highlight the countless hours detectives spent in archives and offices. The investigation was hindered not so much by a lack of evidence or imperfect DNA testing technology, but rather by systematic errors.

Alongside the series premiere, Netflix released the documentary The Murder of Rachel Nickell, which includes archival materials from the investigation and recordings of conversations with two-year-old Alex.

The Witness is a well-made British series that, at times, resorts to TV cliches and excessive sentimentality. However, the story of the complex relationship between father and son more than compensates for any dramatic flaws.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Witness'?

• The Witness has 100% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 6.5/10.