With their dark and engaging plots, sharp writing and detailed characters, BBC series have a distinct quality that makes them stand out from the lot.
Moreover, having fewer number of episodes, these shows manage to keep one hooked from beginning to end.
Luckily, Netflix has made some great BBC drama series available to its viewers over the years. From thrillers to spy dramas to dark comedies, audiences have a wide variety to choose from.
Here’s a list of 10 BBC series on Netflix you should definitely watch:
Peaky Blinders
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Sam Neil, Helen McCory
Set in the post-WWI England, Peaky Blinders follows the story of a gangster family led by the cunning crime boss Tommy Shelby (Murphy), who stops at nothing to accumulate more wealth and power for his gang. The BBC series is historical fiction, being loosely based on the urban youth gang of the same name.
Merlin
Cast: Colin Morgan, Angel Coulby, Bradley James
Merlin is a fantasy-historical drama loosely inspired by the legends on King Arthur and the sorcerer, Merlin. Besides being high on action, suspense and adventures, the BBC show is also fused with humour.
Sherlock
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman
The series follows the genius sleuth, Sherlock Holmes (Cumberbatch), and his companion Dr. Watson (Freeman) as they deduce tangled mysteries. Sherlock has received praise for its writing, acting and direction and won several nominations and awards.
Giri/Haji
Cast: Takehiro Hira, Kelly Macdonald, Yōsuke Kubozuka
Giri/Haji, which translates to Duty/Shame, is an eight-episode long thriller drama. Its centres around detective Kenzo Mori, who is dispatched to London to look for his brother, a prime suspect in a high-profile murder. As he tries to find out whether his brother is alive and guilty, Mori makes various acquaintances and unearths dangerous secrets.
A Suitable Boy
Cast: Tanya Maniktala, Tabu, Ishaan Khatter, Rasika Dugal, Ram Kapoor
A Suitable Boy is a BBC miniseries based on Vikram Seth’s 1993 book of the same name. It follows the story of a free-spirited university student, Lata (Maniktala), whose mother is determined to find her a “suitable boy”. As suitors approach her, Lata is torn between choosing as her mother and the society would want her to and what her heart really desires.
Collateral
Cast: Carey Mulligan, John Simm, Nicola Walker
Collateral revolves around the investigation of a pizza delivery man’s death, which leads detective Glaspie (Mulligan) to uncover deeper mysteries involving drugs dealers and spies. Being just four episodes long, the show makes for a short and interesting watch.
The Fall
Cast: Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan
When senior investigating officer Stella Gibson is assigned a deadlocked murder case, she finds it similar to the murder of another woman from three months ago. Slowly realizing that a serial killer is on the loose, Stella and her team work towards capturing Paul Spector, who specifically targets young professional women.
The Last Kingdom
Cast: Alexander Dreymon, David Dawson, Emily Cox
The Last Kingdom is a historical drama centred around an interesting premise. The protagonist, Uhtred (Dreymon), is born a Saxon but is raised by Vikings as one of them. His loyalties are put to test when, years later, the Danes invade England and threaten to divide the country.
Bodyguard
Cast: Richard Madden, Keeley Hawes, Gina McKee
The six-episode BBC series tells the story of David Budd (Madden of Game of Thrones fame), a war veteran who is suffering from PTSD and is tasked with the protection of the UK’s Home Secretary at a particularly tumultuous time.
Line of Duty
Cast: Martin Compston, Lennie James, Vicky McClure
DS Steve Arnott (Compston) is transferred to a police anti-corruption unit after he refuses to help cover-up an accidental shooting by his team. As a part of AC-12, Arnott works towards uncovering corruption within the police force and becomes aware of the linkages between the police and crime groups.
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