Stephen Graham’s ‘Outstanding’ Five-Part True-Crime Drama Is Leaving Netflix — and Viewers Say It’s an Absolute Must-Watch

Netflix viewers have only a limited window left to catch one of Stephen Graham’s most disturbing true-crime dramas.

The five-part series The Walk-In is leaving the streaming platform at the end of November, giving subscribers until November 30 to watch a drama viewers have described as “outstanding,” “incredibly powerful” and an “absolute must watch.”

Based on real events, the ITV production places Graham at the centre of a frightening story involving far-right extremism, infiltration and a plot to murder a British MP.

For viewers familiar with his performances in Line of Duty, Boiling Point and Adolescence, it’s another intense role built around a deeply uncomfortable true story.

Stephen Graham Plays a Reformed Neo-Nazi

Graham portrays real-life activist Matthew Collins, a former neo-Nazi who turned against the movement and dedicated himself to combating far-right extremism.

Set around the period of the Brexit referendum, the drama follows Collins as he attempts to infiltrate extremist organisations and expose their activities.

His strategy involves developing sources inside the groups — so-called walk-ins — who can provide information about what is happening behind closed doors.

But one particular organisation proves difficult to penetrate.

The group presents a youthful, clean-cut public image while harbouring ambitions of creating a race war.

Collins repeatedly struggles to get somebody inside.

The situation becomes dramatically more urgent following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox by a white supremacist.

One Unexpected Email Changes Everything

Following the murder, the far-right organisation at the centre of Collins’ investigation becomes the first such group to be banned by the British government since the Second World War, according to the programme’s synopsis.

But banning the organisation doesn’t convince Collins that the threat has disappeared.

Instead, he believes its members have simply been pushed underground.

His hopes of obtaining reliable information from inside appear to have disappeared with them.

That changes in March 2017.

Collins receives an unexpected email from someone claiming to be a member of the group.

The potential informant is ready to talk.

More alarmingly, he has information about an alleged plan to murder another MP.

From that moment, the drama becomes a race to expose the plot before it can be carried out.

The Drama Comes From an Award-Winning Writer

The Walk-In was written by Jeff Pope, whose previous work includes See No Evil: The Moors Murders, Philomena and Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.

The five episodes originally aired on ITV in 2022 and attracted considerable praise for confronting an exceptionally difficult subject without turning away from its darker implications.

Graham is joined by Andrew Ellis as Robbie Mullen and Dean-Charles Chapman as Jack Renshaw.

Leanne Best plays Alison, while Jason Flemyng appears as Nick Lowles and Chris Coghill portrays Chris Lythgoe.

The supporting cast also includes Bobby Schofield, Dean Lennox Kelly, Nicola Stephenson and Steven Miller.

Viewers Called It Powerful but Difficult to Watch

Audience reaction has repeatedly highlighted both Graham’s performance and the uncomfortable nature of the true story.

One viewer praised the “exceptional acting throughout” while describing the events depicted as shocking.

Another called the series “incredibly powerful” and praised its compelling writing.

Graham’s performance received particular attention, with viewers describing him as “fantastic as always” and saying he had “smashed it again.”

But several reactions also came with a warning.

This isn’t comfortable viewing.

One viewer described the series as “very hard to watch due to the nature of the true story” but still considered it well worth seeing.

Critics Were Mostly Impressed Too

The drama holds an 80% Rotten Tomatoes score, according to the supplied report.

The Guardian awarded it four stars and described it as “one of the best TV investments you can make (if you can bear it).”

The Independent also gave the drama four stars, calling it a compelling and disturbing portrayal of British neo-Nazism.

The Telegraph was less enthusiastic overall, awarding three stars, although it described Graham’s performance as “faultless.”

That divided reaction reflects the challenging material at the heart of the series.

The Walk-In isn’t designed as easy crime entertainment. Its tension comes from real political violence, radicalisation and the people attempting to prevent another killing.

Netflix subscribers have until November 30 to stream all five episodes before the series disappears from the platform. It remains available through ITVX as well.