I really enjoyed this. I've pretty much ran out of new series ( I've been watching all the UK crime ones) and found this last night. I like how they keep you guessing throughout, did he didn't he. Well acted and good script. Stayed up til almost 4am watching all 4. I clapped at the end. Haha. I don't know why but I did. I highly recommend if you are into these type of series. Very good one!
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Headturner123 November 2019
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warrennatalieolson6 February 2018Innocent was shown here (NZ) as a TV mini-series - From the start we are more-or-less assured that David Collins has been falsley incarcerated for 7 years ; accused of his wifes murder. Red herrings are scatterred near and far during the four 1 hour episodes of this well acted drama. There were one or two minor points that could have ben better developed, the baised and mis-placed one eyed opinion of the initial investigator for one. Finally with yet another plot twist all is resolved, but after all the intricacies introduced during the build up I did feel things ended a little too sudden/conveniently which resulted in an 8 rather than a 10 out of 10 for this entertaining whodunnit.
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The first season of Innocent was released in 2018, four episodes of solid writing and acting. I thought it was canceled as I didn't see a season 2 in 2019. Then lo and behold season 2 shows up in 2021. Not totally unusual, the great Swedish police procedural "Beck" started in 1998 and about every two years or so another few episodes come out.
Season 1 & 2 are separate stories with new actors. Hope there is a season 3 next year. -
Sleepin_Dragon18 May 2018Innocent has been well worth watching. A four part story that takes you on a journey of crime, its impact on the guilty, and the innocent. Emotionally charged throughout, it was gripping, engaging and thought provoking. Clues are drip fed through, with the solution delivered late in the day, you're led up several blind alleys, and keep wondering if he's guilty or innocent.
Very well acted, Lee Ingleby is superb, as are Hermione Norris and Adrian Rawlins. How nice to have a drama transmitted over four consecutive nights, the way people view has changed, I'm certainly a binge watcher, this suited me.
I did guess the outcome in episode 1, that's my only criticism, some actors and actresses are type cast in certain roles, this was unfortunately the case. Didn't detract from the enjoyment though.
First class drama, 9/10 -
ksutton7810 February 2018This excellent crime drama has just aired in New Zealand. Each episode keeps moving and new twists to the story introduced. Obviously a tragic situation with a huge impact on the affected family, but the story keeps moving to discover who is the perpetrator. I gave this a 10/10 (which is rare) simply because I was captivated to the end.
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Bertaut21 May 2018Directed by Richard Clark, Innocent is a four-part whodunit that is half by-the-book, paint-by-numbers, nothing-you-haven't-seen-before, and half superbly and realised and expansive family drama. The show begins with David Collins (Lee Ingleby) being acquitted for the murder of his wife, having already spent seven years in jail for the crime. Viewers are never left in any doubt as to Collins's innocence, which does have the unfortunate side-effect of making the characters who are convinced of his guilt seem either naive or antagonistic-by-default. Collins's quest to uncover the truth and learn why people he trusted lied during his trial is never especially gripping, with no real urgency, no major twists, and a decided sense of "is that it?"
Where the show really succeeds, however, is in the depth of Matthew Arlidge and Chris Lang's depiction of the secondary characters whose lives are changed irreparably as the effects of Collins's release ripple outward; his brother Phil (Daniel Ryan), with whom he moves in; his sister-in-law Alice (Hermione Norris), whose testimony that he beat his wife was an important factor in his conviction; her amiable husband Rob (Adrian Rawlins); DCI William Beech (Nigel Lindsay), the original lead investigator, who may (or may not) have suppressed evidence; DI Cathy Hudson (Angel Coulby), the new lead investigator, who also happens to be Beech's girlfriend; Collins's children, Jack (Fionn O'Shea) and Rosie (Eloise Webb), who were adopted by Alice and Rob after the trial; Tom Wilson (Elliot Cowan), Collins's former best friend, whose failure to provide him an alibi led to his conviction; Melissa Wilson (Hannah Britland), Tom's wife, who suspects he knows more than he's letting on; and Louise Wilson (Christine Cole), Tom's ex-wife, who left him after she discovered his affair with Melissa. Each of these characters are given a fair amount of dialogue, screen time, and character development as the show lets the whodunit plot fade somewhat into the background, and it's here where the narrative is at its most enjoyable. It's not going to change your life, but it's worth a look. -
guylyonsntlworldcom28 May 2018Ticked all my boxes, a decent script, well directed, good performances from all. From start to finish it kept me hooked, and the story was plausable, unlike some dramas. Well worth viewing, and I liked the four consecutive night scheduling, as waiting for a month to find the truth, is frustrating for some of us.
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This a fine piece of television with a constantly weaving story line that keeps you rivited to your seat. All the characters are well acted and the direction is top class. Best of all, it keeps us thinking - there is no chance to nod off or or pop out to put the kettle on - you'd miss too much. The atmosphere of the coast comes through really well - Hayling Island near Portsmouth is a relatively unknown place to non-boating folk and has a bit of a reputation as a caravan/holiday camp place yet the atmosphere really comes alive here. Great atmospheric cinematography that never gets in the way - no gimmics just good.
But on UK transmission, something is very wrong with the sound - especially the outdoor scenes. It sounds like it wasn't recorded properly - almost just as though they used the built-in mic on the camera! They've used a lot of compression to try to make it more distinct and ADR people are in the credits so it doesn't make a lot of sence. Oh well, we must not let it spoil a great piece of TV but please ITV, get your quality control working!!!!! -
ruth4414 May 2018We've just finished watching INNOCENT on Israeli cable TV and thoroughly enjoyed this excellent four part mini-series. The first three episodes kept me spellbound and whilst the ending was somewhat contrived, it's still an excellent drama.
The excellent production has a wonderful cast and stars Lee Ingleby and a host of talented British actors. The story is set in beautiful scenery which only adds to the atmosphere. Great TV! -
koatprdns29 September 2018Well written, well performed and a powerful story, with a fantastic ending plus twist.
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orkneyislander19 May 2021Well written drama that didn't have the usual plot holes or unbelievable character actions that seem to plague a lot of these series. Well acted and plausible. Maybe the final disclosure was a bit 'hurried' but none the less all the episodes kept your interest. Recommended viewing for a 'two night' binge.
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Lejink19 May 2018From the no-question mark title it's plain that Lee Ingleby's David Collins character has indeed suffered a miscarriage of justice as this 4 part ITV thriller gets under way with him finally being acquitted after three trials of the violent murder of his wife, the apparently flighty, wilful Tara. There's no flashback sequence at any stage of the proceedings so the viewer is kept in the dark pretty much all the way through as to who was the culprit.
From there on, in time-honoured Agatha Christie fashion, an array of suspects are paraded in full view, all apparently with motive, opportunity and busted alibis before the eventual murderer emerges as if from nowhere (although I correctly called out their identity long before the end).
There are the expected sub-plots required to flesh out the four hour viewing time, including a tug-of-love between Collins and his estranged sister and brother in law over his children who they've more or less adopted as their own in his absence but who also benefited from Tara's demise as it extinguished a debt of money she had lent them for their failed IVF treatment and who also got to live in the dead woman's house, a souring romance between the newly appointed female police investigator and her boyfriend predecessor who is convinced that Collins was guilty all along and the disintegration of a marriage between Collins' philandering ex-best friend (who's had a fling with Tara) and his younger, now pregnant wife.
Like I said I wasn't surprised with the reveal of the murderer's identity, I didn't like the way that the sister and brother in law had the children call them mum and dad nor did I appreciate that cliched relationship between the police detectives which of course doesn't end well.
All that said though, it was quite entertaining, fast moving if old fashioned, reasonably well acted and with a fine brooding soundtrack in the background adding atmosphere. Broadchurch it wasn't however. -
westsideschl21 August 2019If you've seen enough of this type story scenario before then you know that you'll be presented w/characters that at times seem like the guilty party (including our prime suspect who's already spent time for the crime), and as you get tossed back 'n' forth "yes, it's that one, no it's that one) in the back of your mind you wonder "what/who are they not revealing?". Anyway, had to suffer through the lot & didn't really care for any of them; a truly justified ending would be to put them all away including the kids.
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joecummins-5376619 May 2021Just started watching this, one of the best whodunits I've seen in such a long time, only seen the first two episodes of Season two, will definitely be binge watching the first season, everything about it is excellent.
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clairedoobie25 May 2022It's got it all. An unfaithful wife. A grisly murder. A smarmy entitled medical consultant. Sibling rivalry and jealousy. Lots of red herrings. Well acted and great scenery. That's season 1, season 2 isn't on Netflix yet so I can't comment on that.
Not sure I understand the reviewer who said it ticks all the woke boxes. Did they watch a different show? Or was it just the presence of a Black detective? -
I despair of some reviewers - many whom I suspect are young and lack real-life experience - who make flippant, and one-liner putdowns and really don't know what they are talking about.
Was this Season 2 perfect? No.
Did it have plot-holes? Yes. Particularly at the start when it was revealed the initial police investigation was left wanting, and didn't properly question key people. But this is also true of real life as there are numerous cases of gross police incompetency.
That's why being flippant with one's comments is to miss the bigger picture of this excellent production: very accomplished writing, and very well-crafted character development that the viewer can emotionally relate to. All woven together by excellent directing.
There might be many people - who are not gay - who will never understand the shame ( which can manifest into the very serious condition of toxic shame ) to which many gay men ( probably older ) live, and have lived their lives. In a word, it is simply awful. And incredibly sad and painful.
That Sam should have done what he did ( sex with a minor - if Matthew was underage?, murder, and allow his wife to take the blame and be convicted for a crime she didn't commit ) should outrage all of us. But this is to miss the dark and very sad secret that he felt compelled to deny all his life, and to which ultimately - for him - led to the most evil of acts: murder.
And to which all of us should sit up and take notice.... -
So the first season was brilliant great plot and story line.
Second season dramatic drop there was no real story line or build up to the plot it just came out Of know here felt it was rushed. -
kris-gray18 May 2018Still worth the watch, Lee Ingleby is a fine actor, shame George Gently finished I thought a follow up series with Bacchus and Rachel would have been interesting. Still this is a solid drama, sure we've seen similar story lines before but show me something original these days, it's not easy. At least this time the man is innocent instead of the usual stereotype of the bad husband really did it, this time it's a bad wife.
I applied the logic of the likes of Midsomer Murders as to who the real killer was and by episode two I had deducted correctly despite the red herrings. The killer was the only one that wasn't a suspect.
I enjoyed it and was happy with the ending, despite having trouble believing David would have been so forgiving of Alice.
So on to season two, nothing to do with season one so why not call it something else then I could leave a separate review.
Anyway another 9 star review, plenty of red herrings, could have been anyone so the clever dicks who said they guessed from day one, good for you. Bet you didn't guess why! It also ticked every box but one, mixed race couples, one black one Asian tick, tick, Woman top cop, tick, disabled, tick, what's missing? Gay or Lesbian couple, come on ITV couldn't you have crammed that one in?
I so wanted it to be Karen or the obnoxious daughter but no it has to be the man every time. -
davyd-022378 May 2020The "innocent" of the title, as you would expect isn't squeeky clean! The deceased (his wife who was murdered 7 years earlier) also isn't/wasn't. Her family (sister and hubby) are equally not very likeable. Plus to add to that you have another party involved who equally is very unlikeable. Not enough of the Hayling Island location for my liking plus do NOT be deceived by the way the director makes you think about who the real guilty party is - you don't find out until theres about 6 minutes left. Before that, you will (if you fall for it) be guided by the director towards at least 1 major suspect - who then gets released by the police! Cleverly done. Ingelby isn't a likeable lead for this one and Norris (as the female lead) is even less likeable-but then domineering people usually are. Cleverly crafted and very watchable
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untilnow9921 February 2020Even though 1/2 way through I guessed who dunnit, this was such a terrific series (bingewatched) that I was enraptured right up until the very last second.
When the killer was revealed, it was done with colossally first rate acting and dialogue. It was all too horrible and yet heart-rending at the same time. I caught myself sitting with jaw hanging. Fine ending, too.
Well done. Perfectly cast, excellently filmed w/ quality writing/dialogue. Loved it. -
jennfinn1 November 2023SEASON ONE :
I was on the edge of my seat while watching season one of Innocent. With David being innocent there was three likely suspects who had motive and opportunity to kill Tara. I think the writers tried way too hard to give viewers a surprise ending but in order for that to work the twist has to make sense. Alice or Tom being the killer would've been perfect and it would've made sense. Viewers see Phil as nothing but a loving and supportive older brother who's lost everything after standing by David.
It makes no sense whatsoever that suddenly he's always been jealous and because of that he killed Tara. What a coincidence that both Tara and David had older siblings who were jealous of them because they had kids and were wealthy. It's too convenient.
SEASON TWO :
Sally is a teacher who's just been released from prison after serving five years for killing her 16yr old student. A time stamped photo came to light that proves she couldn't have killed Matthew. Another student testified that Sally was having an affair with Matthew at the time of his death.
Sally lost her job, her pregnancy, and her husband when she was wrongly convicted. Her husband Sam is now engaged to someone else.
Again viewers are given four suspects who actually could've killed Matthew and all of them would've been a good pick. Instead of going with a killer that actually makes sense the writers again try to throw in a surprise killer that no one would suspect. -
Laight31 March 2023This seems to happen far too often. The first season of a show is superb -- well acted, well-written, well directed -- and the second season is the opposite. The only problem with this first series is the ending, in which too many complicated actions take place in far too short a time.
Then we get to the second season, which is poorly acted, written as though the writers had only a couple of hours to finish it all, and filled with plot holes that destroy any semblance of reality. Worse, it's so obvious who the villain is you see it coming from the start.
Advice: Indulge in season 1. Ignore season 2. -
tnqnik18 May 2018Didnt get a chance till tonight to sit and start watching Innocent. Couldnt step away and found myself watching 4 shows in a row. Riveting to say the least and was happy with the ending. Just watch it :)
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glenlammas1 June 2020How old was the daughter Rosie meant to be? She was obviously played by a 15/16 year but acted about 9