"A chilling look at the mentor-protégé dynamic through the lens of brutal, high-stakes investigations into London's darkest criminal minds."
Adapting Lynda La Plante's gritty novels, Above Suspicion arrived on ITV1 as a successor to the hard-boiled crime tradition. The series follows DC Anna Travis, portrayed by Kelly Reilly, as she navigates a professional landscape dominated by the formidable DCS James Langton. Its legacy lies in the cold, clinical depiction of forensic investigations and the complex power dynamics between mentor and protégé. Unlike standard procedurals, the show utilized multi-part arcs to explore the psychological toll of hunting serial killers. It remains a significant entry in British television history for its refusal to sanitize the grim realities of detective work, cementing Reilly's status as a leading talent while maintaining the sharp, uncompromising edge characteristic of La Plante's storied career in the genre.
| Watched? | # | Air Date | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | Jan 09, 2012 | Silent Scream (1) | |
| E2 | Jan 16, 2012 | Silent Scream (2) | |
| E3 | Jan 23, 2012 | Silent Scream (3) |
Franchise Status: Completed; no current revival plans or spin-offs announced since the series conclusion in 2012.
Above Suspicion (2009) remains a definitive pillar of British police procedural television, having concluded its influential run on ITV. Adapted from the novels by Lynda La Plante, the series carved out a niche by blending gritty forensic realism with the complex psychological evolution of its protagonist, DC Anna Travis. Its legacy is rooted in the stark, uncompromising portrayal of the criminal justice system and the mentorship dynamic between Travis and the formidable James Langton, which provided a blueprint for many modern character-driven crime dramas.
The show remains a rewatch staple for fans due to its tight pacing and the high-stakes tension found within its multi-part story arcs. Unlike episodic procedurals of the era, its commitment to serialized investigations allowed for deep dives into the macabre, ensuring each case felt significant and earned. By focusing on the professional growth of a woman in a male-dominated field without sacrificing the dark atmosphere of its source material, the series continues to hold a respected position in the canon of UK television history.