BRITISH CRIME DRAMA. “Coldwater.” / “Mayday.” / “Mudtown.” / “Captivated.” / “Crossfire.”

“Coldwater” (Britbox) British thriller. John moves his family to a remote Scottish village after a traumatic event in London, seeking peace but finding himself entangled with more problems.

       Weirdly comical, the culprits in this whack-job are Andrew Lincoln as the lost and confused John and Ewen Bremer as the nutcase Tommy. And Eve Myles as Tommy’s religious zealot wife Rebecca. This series is magnetic for its surreal implausibility and sinister humor. 🎥💻📽

“Mayday” (Britbox) British drama thriller. The series is about the sudden disappearance of a 14-year-old girl in a small town with a relatively affluent rural setting and strong pagan traditions. 

       I think the British are better TV storytellers than Americans. This series is a vivid example. Also, most Brit shows are compressed in 4 to 6 episodes, compared with a typical America-made series, which runs for 12 episodes.

       “Mayday” tells of the usual “missing or dead” plotline but not predictably contrived. Replete with a diversity of suspects, we don't have an idea who's guilty until the last, 5th episode. Credit to the ensemble: Veterans of British cinema Sophie Okonedo, Aidan Gillen, Peter Firth, Lesley Manville, Peter McDonald, Tom Fisher, and Sam Spruell. And the youngsters Leila Mimmack, in the dual/twins role (Hattie/Caitlyn) and Max Fowler as the confused Linus. 🎥💻📽

“Mudtown” (Britbox) British crime drama. A magistrate working in Newport, Wales uncovers criminal activity that may be a risk to herself and her family.

       I am not really familiar with British economic existence but I wonder what a UK magistrate gets as salary. So Clare gets another job. Her husband Alun also has, I think, a decent job. But they still are in debt and couldn't pay the mortgage? Which brings us to the storyline's conflict, but no spoilers.

       “Mudtown” is one of few British series that the story seems implausible. But it has a wicked magnetism that kept me glued, mainly on account of Erin Richards as Clare and Tom Cullen as the villainous Saint Pete (weird name). 

       Erin's confused intensity is balanced by Tom's sinister cool. Yet the ending is something that I don’t approve of. 🎥💻📽

“Captivated” (Britbox) British psychological thriller. A single mother who works as a cleaner is offered a job working exclusively for a rich client, but finds that the job may be too good to be true.

       Only 4 episodes, this is an example of most British series that are weekend binge-watch temptations. The life of this show is its lead, Kara Tointon. As a financially-hobbled single mother, Ms Tointon's Rachel is inner strength despite a facade of vulnerability. 🎥💻📽

“Crossfire” (Britbox) British thriller. A British family is caught up in an armed assault on a holiday resort in Spain. Stars Keeley Hawes.

       Only three episodes, this quickie thriller is anchored on Keeley Hawes’ Jo, a frustrated wife and ex-police officer. Problem is, episode 3 turned into a soap-operatic yarn. 🎥💻📽