Down Cemetery Road (Apple TV+) 

By: Rachel Brodeur

Fans of the detective thriller genre will find in Apple TV’s Down Cemetery Road a unique blend of old tropes with modern touches. Despite two strong female leads and an interesting story, the show struggles with pacing and maintaining a clear identity. 

The series starts playing on the idea of how a chance encounter can completely alter the course of one’s life. Lead Ruth Wilson (Jane Eyre) playing single woman Sarah Trafford is a captivating presence on screen. In the pilot, she randomly crosses paths with a young girl in her neighborhood. Later, that child becomes the center of a mysterious tragedy. It is through investigating this mystery that she crosses paths with co-lead Emma Thompson (Love Actually, Cruella). These two women follow the thread of this unraveling mystery, with each layer of conspiracy placing them in more danger than the last. They both have chemistry and an ease between them, however, neither of their motivations seem all that relatable or plausible. 

Down Cemetery Road does offer solid performances, a story with surprises, and well-filmed settings. The visuals carry viewers to English cities through the more remote countryside. The on-location filming goes beyond sound stages and makes the world feel vast and exciting.  However, what hurts the series is the current saturation of British crime drama series. It simply does not measure up to the complex character development of Slow Horses, the action and drama of Mobland, or even the excitement of Black Doves. It comes at a time where it will probably get lost in the shuffle. 

Part of its issue is that it starts as a mystery drama and ends as more of an action movie. In its transition, Down Cemetery Road  loses its audience. Additionally, while it has the strong leads, the AppleTV+ production lacks a charismatic villain. Without that push pull, the pacing of the episodes and general plot feels like an endless series of Wilson and Thompson moving from one location to another without the audience really feeling a building of tension. 

Rachel’s Rating: 6.5/10  Apple TV’s Down Cemetery Road is a female-led drama that blends action and mystery. It’s a solid choice for fans of British crime stories, despite failing to distinguish itself amidst a crowded genre.