It’s a wet Sunday afternoon, jobs are done, what can I watch that will draw me in (the grittier the better)

[Luckymeluckyme]

I’m losing the will to live over TV just now, I just can’t find anything I want to watch.

I love dark British/Welsh (occasionally American and Scandinavian)
dramas, complex characters, takes on historical true crime cases and social issues, I also really enjoy and moving or unforgettable documentaries

I really dislike glossy (unrealistic) characters and storylines, anything Spy/MI5 or as soon as the synopsis suggests as hint of science fiction and comedy.

Occasionally I’ll find a diamond that I’ve previously over looked because off it having the one of above themes in it (Life on Mars being one of series that I think I might like but put off with the time travel and that it might not be dark enough) The Handmaids Tale being the perfect example and one of the best things I’ve seen.

Things that I’ve really enjoyed over the last few years…

This is Britain
Happy Valley
Red Riding
Snow Angels
Craith/Hidden
Hinterland
Man hunt
True Detective
We need to Talk about Kevin
The Long Shadow
Sharp objects
Little Fires Everywhere
Mare of Eastown

Help me MN!! 🙏🏻

How about the full monty series ?
It's nothing like I was expecting... Quite gritty. Very real life of the times.
Shadowlands is a good film. The "true" story of CS Lewis. No fantasy or sci-fi. Sad but uplifting.

I second Unforgotten - brilliant series!

The Killing, set in the Pacific Northwest and it’s incredibly bleak in parts but very gripping. Hardly anyone I know has seen it.

Unbelievable on Netflix is fantastic. Toni Collette is utterly brilliant in it as is Merritt Wever. They make a hell of a duo. It’s based on a true story.

Slow Horses is brilliant. I actually gasped in shock at parts of it. Gary Oldman plays the most fantastic character.

Thanks everyone, making my way through some of the suggestions on my list, just watched The Thing about Pam which I enjoyed and would say quite similar in its style of production to Candy if you enjoy that.

Lots here that I’ve already watched but good that other are getting good tv options to sift through.

keep them coming, my next binge is going to be the next season of Time.

Another vote for Bodies. It has period drama, crime and science fiction all rolled into one.

The Serpent on Netflix. It's not new so you may have seen it. Based on a true story

I@m late to the party and not read the full thread.... but as whenever a post comes up asking for recommendations my go to is always Bosch on Prime

Hidden - Welsh police drama. Dark, damp, atmospheric.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidden_(2018_TV_series)

The Following - James Purefoy & Kevin Bacon. Underated.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Following

Bodies
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodies_(2004_TV_series)

More votes here from me for Bosch, Bosch Legacy and Slow Horses.

@FantasticElasticBand Craith/Hidden was on my original op list and probably one of the best things I’ve ever watched.

Trying to work out if I’ve seen The Following, sounds like my kind of thing but I don’t remember it.

I highly recommend criminal justice on iplayer. 2 series with separate storylines. I was gripped by both and so impressed by Maxine Peakes acting in the 2nd series.

Succession

Really plays with your head and best script in donkeys years.

I must apologise.

I loved the night off and mixed the synopsis up with Criminal Justice.

They sound quite similar when you read the plot.

@mum2jakie thanks for the Time recommendation! just binge watched both series and loved it!

Narcos on Netflix with Pedro Pascal (the pablo Escobar) one is actually quite good. Which leads you into Queen of the South (already recommended).

Glad you enjoyed it. I haven't got round to watching the second series yet myself!

Thanks for coming back on The Night Of because I thought 'are you mad woman?' 🤣. It is an exceptional series, one of the best I've ever seen. Bleak though, I don't think I could ever watch it again.

Not sure if it's been said but Justified is fricking amazing.

Save Me. Gritty crime thriller with Lennie James :)

The Gallows Pole - 3 part drama by Shane Meadows (This is England etc) set at start of Industrial Revolution (true story). Great characters and natural dialogue. Was on bbc in April

Unbelievable is just brilliant if you haven't seen it. Bosch is very good too in the way it builds up its supporting cast as well as developing the stories of the main leads.
The Bear on Disney Plus is fabulous too.

Narcos is gritty and based on a true story. I absolutely loved it (I seem to have a thing for cartel based dramas like BB!)

Dark. I think a German Netflix show, really enjoyed it but it is supernatural. Got a bit silly towards the end but a brilliant concept.

I've recently realised I like gritty shows too (loved mare of east town) and hate sleek, corporate American crap so I'm watching this thread with interest!

The Split. Another gem with the outstanding Nicola Walker

Just spotted this thread and a lot of things mentioned I haven't seen so given me plenty of food for thought. In the last 12 months or so I've watched a few edgy Netflix dramas from Europe (crime/ gangs) Really enjoyed the following

Dogs of Berlin (Germany)
Suburra Blood on Rome (Italy)
Undercover (Netherlands / Belgium)
Wrong Side of the Tracks (Spain)
Lupin (France)
Marseille (France)

Right now I#m watching Queen of the South about a woman who comes of the streets of Culiacan and rises through the ranks of a cartel eventually forming her own. Think its American but quite compelling

I thought Bodies was prob the kind of (tricksy dr who-like - sorry! )Brit sci fi that the op mentioned earlier .