The following contains major spoilers for Inspector Ellis Season 1, Episode 1, "Hanmore," now streaming on Acorn TV. It also contains discussion of violence and sexual assault.

Acorn TV's Inspector Ellis is the latest entry in British television's long list of crime dramas, and it will immediately grab viewers' attention because of who's in the title role. Sharon D Clarke is a powerhouse, with three Olivier Awards and a Tony Award nomination under her belt, to name just a small cross-section of her acclaim. It's kind of surprising that no one has cast her as the lead of a series like this yet, but her performance as Detective Chief Inspector Ellis is everything viewers could possibly ask for.

The rest of Inspector Ellis, though, doesn't rise up to Clarke's level. Series creators Paul Logue and Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre have crafted a show that is completely outshined by its lead actor. Season 1, Episode 1, "Hanmore,...