The sea is the first thing you see when the credits roll in. The sea, windswept landscapes and the natural beauty immediately captures your attention and make for a lasting impression. That and intriguing story keeps you pinned in your spot while watching this crime drama based out of an island off the main coast of United Kingdom.
Now coming to the first season which has eight episodes broken down into two episodes group based on a particular novel by Ann Cleeves.
The first two episodes based on the novel named Red Bones depict the fate of an elderly lady called Mima Wilson. Shetland is shocked by the gruesome murder of a septuagenarian woman and Police is baffled by its link to the archeological dig site next to her home. Much blood is spilled and family loyalties are tested over the length of two episodes proving their name to be true.
The next novel which comes on the screen for the subsequent two episodes is called Raven Black. An apt name considering the main suspect apprehended in the murder case of a teenage girl has a pet raven. Magnus Bain is a recluse and hardly steps out of his house except some necessary work. However, this latest murder shows some striking similarities with an unsolved disappearance of another girl several years ago. Unfortunately, Magnus becomes the common link between these two cases but DI Jimmy Pérez goes beyond connecting these dots and eventually solves both of these crimes.
The forth story called Dead Water deals with the issues related to proposed oil pipeline and its impact on the local economy. As if the entire island gets divided over this upcoming development and an unlikely solitary man becomes the prime focus of all the activities. Some sympathise with him while others want him to be evicted. That leads to some unlikely missing person story and an unexpected murder which solved once again by DI Jimmy Pérez and team.
The final story in this seasons takes place on another island of the Shetland archipelago which is coincidentally happens to be home island of our brilliant DI Jimmy Pérez. Famous mainly for its migrating birds population and sheep farming, the unexpected gruesome death of a scientist puts this tiny island on the age. After uncovering lots of suspicious activities and ruling out major suspects, the shocking revelations at the end takes viewers by surprise.
All throughout the series, we are accompanying DI Pérez and his fantastic team of Police personnel including DC Alison “Tosh” MacIntosh, DC Sandy Wilson, Sergeant Billy McCabe. Except few bits and pieces, we hardly get any personal details of these people, at least in this season where the main focus is on the protagonist DI Pérez. We meet his dysfunctional family wherein he has lost his beloved wife few years ago and is now co-parenting his daughter- Cassie with her biological father. Seeing the caring father behind the facade of a tough police office is so much endearing, it makes him so much relatable and connects instantly with the audiences.
In the acting department, considering most of these actors are no so famous in mainstream audiences beyond Scotland, they successfully manage to make a lasting impression. Special mention requires to be made of Douglas Henshall who brings the central figure of DI Jimmy Pérez to life in such an interesting way. He is supported by some fabulous actors here, out of which Alison O’Donnell portraying Tosh is a fan favourite.
To sum it up, I will definitely recommend this for an immersive viewing experience. The background music score, the captivating cinematography and definitely the acting chops of all the leading actors make this series a must watch.