River: The Haunting Crime Drama Starring Stellan Skarsgård and Nicola Walker

Nicola Walker is best known to many viewers for Unforgotten, but her role in River reveals another side of her talent. This six-part BBC crime drama, first broadcast in 2015, blends a murder investigation with psychological suspense and supernatural elements, creating a mystery that is as emotionally affecting as it is unsettling.

Now available to stream on ITVX in the UK, River stars Stellan Skarsgård as Detective Inspector John River, a brilliant investigator whose life is thrown into turmoil after his colleague and closest friend, Detective Sergeant Jackie “Stevie” Stevenson, is murdered. Walker plays Stevie, whose death becomes the starting point for a case that challenges everything River believes about his friend — and his own perception of reality.

Even after Stevie dies, River continues to see and speak to her. She is not the only deceased person who appears to him, either. As these visions intrude on his professional and personal life, he must investigate serious crimes while struggling to understand what is real and what may be a product of his troubled mind.

Created and written by Abi Morgan, the acclaimed screenwriter behind The Split, River offers more than a conventional detective story. Its central mystery is intertwined with themes of grief, friendship, trust and the secrets that can remain hidden even between people who know each other well.

What is River about?

River follows DI John River, an exceptionally gifted detective who is haunted by the dead. The people he encounters through his work continue to appear in his everyday life, leaving him caught between the demands of his job and experiences that others cannot see.

The most important of these apparitions is Jackie “Stevie” Stevenson, his murdered colleague, partner and close friend. River is determined to uncover who killed her, but the investigation becomes increasingly complicated as he discovers that Stevie had parts of her life he never fully understood.

Stevie’s appearances sometimes help River make sense of the case. At the same time, the revelations surrounding her death force him to question the image he had built of the woman he trusted. The closer he gets to the truth, the more difficult it becomes to separate his memories, his assumptions and the facts.

River must also continue handling other investigations, each bringing its own encounters with the dead. These cases deepen the drama’s exploration of human behaviour and the circumstances that can lead people to commit terrible acts. They also put additional pressure on a detective already struggling to maintain his grip on reality.

At the heart of the series is a difficult question: can River uncover the truth about Stevie without losing the connection that continues to sustain him after her death?

The mystery gives the drama its momentum, but its emotional impact comes from River’s attempt to reconcile the friend he remembers with the more complicated person revealed by the investigation. Rather than treating the supernatural element as a simple gimmick, River uses it to explore loss, guilt and the limits of what one person can truly know about another.

Who stars in River?

The drama brings together an accomplished ensemble led by Stellan Skarsgård and Nicola Walker. Their unusual relationship forms the emotional centre of the series, supported by a cast of detectives, family members and other figures whose lives intersect with River’s investigations.

The principal cast includes:

• Stellan Skarsgård as DI John River
• Nicola Walker as DS Jackie “Stevie” Stevenson
• Adeel Akhtar as DS Ira King
• Lesley Manville as DCI Chrissie Read
• Georgina Rich as Rosa Fallows
• Eddie Marsan as Thomas Neill Cream
• Turlough Convery as Frankie Stevenson
• Sorcha Cusack as Bridie Stevenson
• Steve Nicolson as Jimmy Stevenson
• Owen Teale as PSupt Marcus McDonald
• Michael Maloney as Tom Read
• Jim Norton as Michael Bennigan
• Peter Bankolé as Haider Jamal Abdi
• Adjoa Andoh as Sunday Akentola
• Shannon Tarbet as Erin Fielding
• Josef Altin as Christopher Riley
• Anamaria Marinca as Ema
• Andrei Zayats as Ukrainian Lad
• Lydia Leonard as Marianne King
• Pippa Bennett-Warner as Tia Edwards
• Franz Drameh as Bruno
• Stefan Kalipha as Omari Tadros

Skarsgård’s performance anchors the series, balancing River’s sharp investigative instincts with his vulnerability and isolation. He portrays a man who can make sense of complicated crimes yet struggles to interpret his own experiences.

Walker’s role is equally significant. Although Stevie is dead when the story begins, her presence remains central to the narrative. Through River’s conversations with her and the details he gradually uncovers, she emerges as a character whose life cannot be fully understood from the memories of those closest to her.

Lesley Manville and Eddie Marsan add further weight to the ensemble, helping establish the distinctive world in which River’s professional investigations and personal struggles constantly overlap.

Is there a trailer for River?

Yes. The trailer for the 2015 series offers a preview of its atmospheric setting, the investigation into Stevie’s murder and the unsettling dynamic between River and the people he continues to see after their deaths.

Is River worth watching?

For viewers who enjoy crime dramas that explore the psychology behind a case rather than focusing solely on suspects and clues, River is a strong choice.

Its premise combines familiar police-procedural elements with the eerie qualities of a ghost story. But the supernatural encounters are closely connected to River’s character and the way he understands the world. The result is a drama that can move between tension, sadness and unexpected moments of humour without losing sight of its central mystery.

The individual investigations also contribute to the series’ wider examination of human behaviour. Each case offers another perspective on death and its consequences, while River’s own experiences gradually expose the limits of his understanding — both as a detective and as a friend.

Skarsgård has been particularly praised for bringing complexity to the lead role. River is intelligent and capable, but his professional strengths do not protect him from grief or uncertainty. His struggle to reconcile what he sees with what others consider reality gives the investigation a personal urgency that extends beyond the search for a killer.

Walker’s performance provides an essential counterpoint. Stevie’s continued appearances allow the pair’s relationship to develop even after her death, while the revelations about her life challenge River’s memories of their friendship. The mystery is therefore not simply about identifying the person responsible for her murder; it is also about discovering who Stevie was beyond the version of her that River believed he knew.

The critical response has been impressive. River holds a 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 16 reviews listed for the series. Critics have praised its distinctive approach to detective fiction, Abi Morgan’s writing and the performances of its leading actors. The Guardian also included the series in its coverage of the best television of 2015.

For anyone looking for a crime drama with psychological depth, emotional complexity and an unusual supernatural dimension, River offers a memorable alternative to a more conventional murder mystery.

Where can you watch River?

All six episodes of River are available to stream on ITVX in the UK.

The platform describes the series as the story of a detective haunted by the ghosts of murder victims as he struggles to distinguish reality from his own troubled perceptions.

With the complete series available, viewers can follow River’s investigation into Stevie’s death from beginning to end and discover how the personal and criminal mysteries eventually intersect.

Availability may vary by region.

What else can you watch Nicola Walker in?

If River leaves you wanting to see more of Nicola Walker, two other dramas offer very different showcases for the actress: Unforgotten and The Split.

Unforgotten

Walker is widely recognised for playing DCI Cassie Stuart in ITV’s acclaimed crime series Unforgotten. She starred in the first four series alongside Sanjeev Bhaskar, who plays DI Sunny Khan.

Together, Cassie and Sunny investigate historical crimes, uncovering long-buried secrets and examining how past events continue to affect the lives of those left behind. The show’s carefully developed mysteries and complex characters make it a natural recommendation for fans of River.

Episodes of Unforgotten are available on ITVX.

The Split

For a change of pace, Walker also stars in The Split, a family drama centred on the Defoes, a family of divorce lawyers whose professional expertise cannot shield them from complicated relationships and painful personal histories.

Where River explores murder, grief and the boundary between reality and the supernatural, The Split focuses on family loyalty, love and the difficult choices that shape people’s lives.

All three series of The Split are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

For Nicola Walker fans, River is another compelling entry in her television career. With Skarsgård’s layered lead performance, a murder mystery full of unsettling revelations and a deeply human story about friendship and loss, this six-part drama is well worth discovering.