River
Created by Abi Morgan
On BBC One
A dark, introspective miniseries that uses a murder investigation as the frame for a study of grief, guilt, and psychological fracture in a gifted detective unraveling.
Respected police officer John River, a gifted cop with a troubled mind, struggles to come to terms with the recent loss of a colleague, and chases a suspect across London - with tragic consequences. Now at odds with the authorities, River ends up in a precarious position as he seeks to bring closure to the mother of murdered teenager, who blames him for failing to keep his promise.
Clusters
Where to watch
- StreamPrime Video, BritBox, Peacock
- AdsPrime Video, Pluto TV, Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, Amazon MX Player
Questions people ask
Is River sad? Yes, very. More sad than 99% of series.
Does River leave you hopeful? No. Less hopeful than 96% of series.
Is River easy watching? No. Less comforting than 94% of series.
Is River scary? Yes. More frightening than 89% of series.
Is River violent? Somewhat. More violent than 71% of series.
These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Written about
- The Shows That Know They EndFinding
Cinnamon Score
How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Familiar shape, done well.
How unlike any other series this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like River, and what each one shares →
Like River
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as River
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like River, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like River, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like River, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
