Siobhan Finneran routinely wows us with her show-stealing performances, from Unchosen to Happy Valley – she knows exactly how to blow us away. If you’ve worked your way through most of her back catalogue, we’ve found her best series since Happy Valley – and you’re going to want to tune in to her 10/10 performance tonight.
We all have secrets, but Detective Sergeant Johanna Griffin (Siobhan Finneran) must investigate a town riddled with them. The Harlan Coben adaptation takes us to Northern England, where a mysterious woman sends shockwaves through a small community by revealing information that has cataclysmic consequences for the individuals involved…
With the series available to stream now, here’s everything you need to know about The Stranger, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is The Stranger about?
BBC
This eight-part mystery thriller first aired on Netflix in 2020 and is an adaptation of Harlan Coben’s novel of the same name. While the book is based in New Jersey, the TV series relocates the drama to England. As for the premise, The Stranger follows an enigmatic young woman in a baseball cap (Hannah John-Kamen), who reveals life-ruining secrets to members of a close-knit community.
The drama kicks off with Adam Price (Richard Armitage – Harlan Coben royalty) cheering his son on from the sidelines of his football game. Then the young woman approaches him with a shocking claim about his wife, Corinne (Dervla Kirwan), related to a pregnancy loss. He returns home to confront Corinne – and she soon disappears.
But Adam isn’t The Stranger’s only target – she continues to wreak torment across the whole community. With each new revelation seemingly related to the last, the more she exposes, the more you’re left wondering what more are people possibly hiding.
Siobhan Finneran plays the sharp and no-nonsense DS Johanna Griffin, a detective tasked with a string of increasingly bizarre incidents – from an injured teenager found after a woodland rave to the discovery of a decapitated alpaca. Soon, her investigation becomes connected to Corinne’s disappearance and a murder.
Who’s in the cast of The Stranger?
Netflix
The cast of The Stranger includes:
Richard Armitage (Stay Close, Fool Me Once, Missing You) as Adam Price Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley, Unchosen, Protection) as DS Johanna Griffin Hannah John-Kamen (Killjoys) as The Stranger Jennifer Saunders (Safe House, Unwelcome) as Heidi Doyle Shaun Dooley (Changing Ends) as Doug Tripp Paul Kaye (Small Prophets) as Patrick Katz Dervla Kirwan (Smother) as Corinne Price Kadiff Kirwan (Slow Horses) as DC Wesley Ross Anthony Head (Ted Lasso) as Edgar Price Stephen Rea (The English) as Martin KillaneIs The Stranger any good?
Netflix
Yes – for fans of Harlan Coben’s trademark unguessable twists and cliffhangers, The Stranger is a must-watch. Siobhan Finneran is just as magnetic and warm as a detective as she is as Clare Cartwright in Happy Valley. Her straight-up character brings an element of grounding to the explosive chaos that unfolds.
Is there a trailer for The Stranger?
Yes – you can watch the trailer for The Stranger below.
How can I watch The Stranger?
You can watchThe Stranger now on Netflix.
What other Siobhan Finneran dramas can I watch now?
ITV
If you’re after Siobhan Finneran in another crime drama, we’d recommend A Confession, in which she plays mother Elaine to Sian O’Callaghan (Florence Howard), who vanished on a night out in Swindon. The drama is based on real-life events, where Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher was found guilty of misconduct for breaking procedural rules to catch a serial killer. A Confession is available to stream now on ITVX. For another gripping watch, we’d suggest The Loch in which she stars as DCI Lauren Quigley, who works with local detective Annie Redford to hunt down a serial killer in Loch Ness. The Loch is available to stream now on ITVX.