Missing Shetland? BBC’s ‘Haunting’ 83%-Rated Crime Drama Has Viewers Binge-Watching All Three Seasons
Fans missing the brooding mysteries and atmospheric landscapes of Shetland may find their next obsession in another acclaimed BBC crime drama — this time set against the stark beauty of the Welsh coast.
Hinterland combines a troubled detective, complicated murder investigations and an isolated landscape to create the kind of dark, slow-burning crime story that has made Nordic noir-style dramas so addictive. Years after its final episode aired, viewers are still discovering the series and calling it “excellent,” “haunting” and a “must-watch.”
The drama also holds an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes, while all three seasons are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
From London to the bleak beauty of Aberystwyth
At the center of Hinterland is DCI Tom Mathias, played by Richard Harrington.
Mathias leaves the Metropolitan Police in London behind and heads to Aberystwyth, Wales, hoping for a new beginning. But whatever peace he hoped to find quickly disappears when he is drawn into a disturbing investigation.
The first major case begins with an attack at an isolated chalet among the sand dunes. The suspected victim is 64-year-old Helen Jenkins, a deeply religious woman who has vanished.
Mathias’ investigation eventually takes him to the remote village of Devil’s Bridge, where Helen’s body is discovered at the bottom of a ravine.
But finding her is only the beginning.
The investigation leads back to a former children’s home that Helen ran for years. Although the home closed 15 years earlier and the building has since become a hotel, its untouched attic holds evidence of a painful history.
To uncover what happened to Helen, Mathias must dig into the secrets buried within the institution’s past.
A crime drama built around atmosphere as much as mystery
Much of Hinterland’s appeal comes from its setting.
The isolated countryside and rugged Welsh coastline provide more than attractive scenery. They reinforce the series’ somber atmosphere, creating a world in which old secrets seem capable of remaining hidden for years.
It is one reason the drama may particularly appeal to viewers who enjoyed the earlier seasons of Shetland. Both series place emotionally complicated detectives inside striking but unforgiving landscapes, where seemingly quiet communities conceal darker stories.
Hinterland first premiered in Welsh on S4C in October 2013. An English-language version followed on the BBC the next year, with the drama eventually running for three seasons before concluding in 2016.
Richard Harrington leads the cast
Harrington, also known for Bleak House, heads the ensemble as DCI Tom Mathias.
Mali Harries plays DI Mared Rhys, while Alex Harries appears as DC Lloyd Elis. Hannah Daniel stars as DS Siân Owens, with Aneirin Hughes playing Chief Superintendent Brian Prosser.
Together, the characters form the investigative team at the heart of the drama, while Mathias’ own troubled personality provides another layer to the mysteries surrounding him.
Viewers call it ‘one of the best crime shows’
Despite ending years ago, Hinterland continues to attract new audiences.
One viewer revealed they binge-watched the Welsh series over three days, praising its writing and performances while giving it an impressive “9.5/10.”
They said the drama delivered “just the right amount of intensity to keep you glued.”
Another fan summed up its distinctive atmosphere in three words: “haunting, beautiful and bleak.”
Perhaps the strongest endorsement came from a viewer who described Hinterland as “one of the best crime shows of the last decade.”
For Shetland fans looking for another atmospheric British mystery filled with troubled characters, isolated landscapes and crimes rooted in long-buried secrets, Hinterland could be an ideal next binge.
All three seasons of Hinterland are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
