Fans Of Shetland Are Getting Completely Pulled Into This 83% Rated Welsh Crime Drama — Viewers Are Calling It “One Of The Best Crime Shows Of The Last Decade” As Its Haunted Detective And Bleak Coastal Mysteries Keep Them Binge-Watching Late Into The Night
Missing Shetland? The BBC’s atmospheric noir crime drama Hinterland could be your next binge-worthy obsession.
Like the early seasons of Shetland, Hinterland follows a familiar yet compelling formula: a troubled detective at the centre of intricate, unsettling cases set against a striking natural backdrop. This time, however, the setting shifts from the rugged Scottish islands to the eerie and beautifully isolated Welsh coastline.
The Welsh crime drama has earned an impressive 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes and follows a troubled London detective who relocates to Aberystwyth in search of a fresh start, only to become entangled in a series of dark and unsettling local cases.
Originally debuting on Welsh-language broadcaster S4C in October 2013, the series was later released in English on the BBC the following year. It concluded in 2016 after a three-season run.
If you’re curious about the series, here’s a quick overview of what you should know before diving in.
What is Hinterland about?
The series centres on DCI Tom Mathias (Richard Harrington), a former Metropolitan Police officer who relocates from London to Aberystwyth in Wales in search of a quieter, more stable life.
However, his fresh start is short-lived. He is soon drawn into a disturbing case involving a violent attack at a remote chalet hidden among the sand dunes.
© TCD/Prod.DB / Alamy Stock PhotoThe synopsis for the first series continues: “The victim is believed to be a 64-year-old God-fearing woman, Helen Jenkins, but she is nowhere to be found.”
“The investigation leads him to the remote village of Devil’s Bridge, where Helen Jenkins’ body is found at the bottom of a deep ravine, not far from the site of the old children’s home that she ran for many years. The home was closed 15 years ago, and the building is now a hotel, but the untouched attic reveals a snapshot of a tortured past. Only by unlocking the secrets of the children’s home can Mathias crack the case and reveal the murderer.”
Who stars in Hinterland?
Richard Harrington (Bleak House) leads the cast as Detective Chief Inspector Tom Mathias.
He’s joined by Mali Harries (The Way) as Detective Inspector Mared Rhys, Alex Harries (Keeping Faith) as Detective Constable Lloyd Elis, Hannah Daniel (EastEnders) as Detective Sergeant Siân Owens and Aneirin Hughes (Keeping Faith) as Chief Superintendent Brian Prosser.
What have viewers said about the show?
The series has built a strong fan base over time, with viewers frequently describing it as “excellent” and a “must-watch.”
One viewer wrote on social media: “Hinterland is a must watch Welsh series. Binged on it for 3 days. Brilliantly written and portrayed. Just the right amount of intensity to keep you glued. 9.5/10,” while another called it “haunting, beautiful and bleak.”
A third fan went even further, describing the drama as “one of the best crime shows of the last decade.”
All three seasons of Hinterland are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
