This 2015 BBC crime drama is attracting attention again after landing on Netflix
BBC crime drama finds new home on Netflix as viewers brand it ‘a gem'(Image: BBC)
If you’re searching for a weekend binge watch, the seaside-set BBC drama Cuffs might be just what you need. The eight-part crime series has landed on Netflix and has viewers hooked – some even comparing it to the classic show The Bill.
Starring Ashley Walters, known for his roles in Top Boy and Adolescence, and Sherlock’s Amanda Abbington, the 2015 series follows rookie police officer Jake, played by Jacob Ifan, as he navigates the dangers of police work and the politics of the force with his experienced partner, PC Ryan Draper (Walters).
Set in Brighton and the surrounding areas, Cuffs balanced humour and lightheartedness with grittier, more serious storylines. Across the eight episodes the show explores the lives of eight police officers, including DS Jo Moffat (Abbington), who are called to incidents ranging from dramatic to down right ridiculous – all while juggling personal issues at home.
Cuffs has been hailed as “realistic and fast-paced” by viewers(Image: BBC/IMDb)
The BBC’s official synopsis explains more: “Cuffs is packed full of humour and humanity. A character-led drama as well as a police procedural, this is a show where the cops are forced to deal with everything the job throws at them and where work-based pressures are never left at the station door.”
At the time of release, Walters told the BBC: “Cuffs is a police drama: It’s action packed, dealing with the lives of a police response team. It’s set in Brighton. It’s about what the characters have to deal with at work, and what they deal with within their own personal lives.
“I think a lot of people forget that police officers are human beings, and they have lives; they make mistakes, they’ve got kids, they’re married. They’ve got stuff to deal with other than criminals every day. I think there’s a lot of pressure on the police being role models, and protecting people,” he explained.
Ashley Walters stars as PC Ryan Draper(Image: BBC/IMDb)
The first episode of the series is packed with action, as rookie Jake tackles a mental health crisis and a high-speed car chase on his very first day.
Fans have praised the series for its originality and engaging characters, with many taking to IMDb to review the series. With one fan calling it the “most original and magnetic program in years”.
There review continued: “This is a wonderful cross-over of British black humour and the serious world of police work and its diversity, violence and opposition to violence, social and mental problems, politics of policing, and the personal.”
With another user agreeing, penning: “The action and the scenarios were exciting, adrenaline-fuelled and at times, very intense! Each character was different and had their own advantages and disadvantages, and were played very well.”
A third user described it as a “gem of a series” with “cleaver storylines,” while a fourth user noted: “It mixes a fairly light tone with some quite serious story lines.
“It’s realistic and fast-paced but it generally isn’t gritty. There’s a lightness that reflects its summer-in-Brighton setting.”