Asyia Iftikhar
Published March 10, 2026 5:00pm
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A BBC thriller has landed on Netflix and is already making a splash (Picture: BBC/STV/Mark Mainz)
A heartpounding Scottish miniseries had landed on Netflix and already shot up the chart.
The four-part thriller follows a grieving mother, Anna Dean (Kelly MacDonald), who is accused of brutally attacking a bus driver called Craig, whom she believes murdered her son 15 years prior – a crime he categorically denies.
As a tense trial takes place within Scotland’s unique legal system, the series confronts the complexities of the law and the nature of being the accused and the victim in a case where there are no clear answers.
Or, as the synopsis puts it: ‘Is [Craig] really a notorious child murderer or a tragic victim of mistaken identity?
Also starring John Hannah and James Harkness, the show first landed on the BBC in 2019 and has recaptured audiences thanks to its recent addition on Netflix, climbing to number five in the top 10.
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When it was first released, the series garnered plenty of praise, landing a 92% critics’ Rotten Tomatoes score.
‘The Victim sneaks up like that. What looks like an ordinary mystery has a truly impressive depth and level of intellectual agility to it,’ The Hollywood Reporter wrote in a review.
‘The series – easily binge-watched in one or two gulps filled with gravitas and tension – has a very strong trio in the lead roles,’ Globe and Mail agreed.
The Times called it ‘intense and bleak, but also relevant, profound and important’ while the Evening Standard praised that Kelly ‘doesn’t miss a beat as the hardened Dean.’
It’s a sentiment echoed by fans with Rotten Tomatoes user Laurian D calling it ‘one of the best mini-series out there’.
‘Terrific performances, unique plot, amazing character development, all crowned by a memorable finale,’ they added.
All three actors have been praised for their shining performances (Picture: BBC/STV/Mark Mainz)
The four-part series takes place over four nights (Picture: BBC/STV/Mark Mainz)
‘From the start to the end – with the final screen of a Rumi quote, it is gripping and emotional. An extraordinary group of actors,’ Josh B said.
‘Terrific cast of actors and an amazingly original story. It was emotional and just wow,’ Nissa echoed.
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Discussing what drew her to the script at the time, Kelly said: ‘ It’s about family dynamics, it’s a mystery, it’s a thriller, but it’s grounded and real.
‘It takes one tragic event and shows the domino effect on so many people. It’s basically about two families, good and bad. Nothing is black and white – it’s almost Shakespearean.’
As for what compelled him to create the series, writer Rob Williams said: ‘The best drama often comes out of the most difficult dilemmas, and as the characters formed and began to speak it became clear to me that this story threw up many questions without easy solutions, questions that were and are uncomfortable to me – not least as a parent myself.’
The Victim is streaming now on Netflix.
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