Grace
Grace
Now Showing

Grace

"Bright lights, dark secrets."

6.7
Yr 2021
Rt 90m
Status Returning Series
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

Brighton based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is a hard-working police officer who has given his life to the job, but his career is currently at rock bottom. He’s fixated by the disappearance of his beloved wife, Sandy, and running enquiries into long forgotten cold cases with little prospect of success. Following another reprimand for his unorthodox police methods, Grace is walking a career tightrope and risks being moved from the job he loves most.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 68 /100

Critical reception for Grace is largely positive, with many reviewers praising it as a superior entry in the crowded British police procedural genre. Critics highlighted John Simm's compelling lead performance as DS Roy Grace and commended the show's tight pacing and standalone cinematic feel. Outlets such as The Independent and The Telegraph commended the drama for rising above standard TV crime fare to deliver an engaging, twisty narrative.

While reviewers acknowledged occasional weaknesses—such as clunky scripting during dream sequences or cold-case subplots—the overall consensus was that the compelling story engine and strong cast easily outweighed these minor flaws. The atmospheric Brighton setting and fine supporting performances were also called out as strong assets.

However, critical response has not been entirely uniform throughout its run. Some reviewers expressed sharp disappointment as the show progressed across multiple series, feeling that despite a talented cast and strong source material, the adaptation ultimately failed to live up to its initial promise.

“Grace grows into something a cut above the average detective drama.”

“yes, it's yet another detective drama – but it's a good'un”

“The engine stutters, but it purrs along so smoothly the rest of the time that it hardly matters.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Why fans love it

This 2021 crime drama grounds its law enforcement story in a deeply personal mystery. Adapted from a book, the series follows Brighton Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, played by John Simm, a committed officer whose career has hit rock bottom. Facing reprimands for his unorthodox methods and pushed toward forgotten cold cases, Grace remains haunted by the unexplained disappearance of his wife, Sandy.

Fans appreciate how the series contrasts traditional police protocol with Grace's unconventional instincts. The constant threat to his career creates a tense, mysterious atmosphere that sets it apart from standard police procedurals. Between the cold cases on his desk and the unresolved tragedy in his past, the show delivers a steady investigation led by a detective walking a tightrope.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 10
Longest run 20 eps
Show 67 more
Sam Hoare as ACC Cassian Pewe 10 episodes Clare Calbraith as Sandy 10 episodes Karl Farrer as C.I.D 1 episode Silas Carson as Richard Charwell QC 1 episode Alexander Cobb as Kevin Spinella 6 episodes Tom Weston-Jones as Michael Neward 1 episode Alisha Bailey as Ashley Haynes 1 episode Matt Wakeford as Robbo 1 episode Matt Stokoe as Mark B. Warden 1 episode Charlie Suff as Luke Jones 1 episode Akshay Khanna as Josh Sayed 1 episode Rupert Holliday-Evans as Phil Marshbrook 1 episode Cian Binchy as Davey Marshbrook 1 episode Catherine Bailey as Francine 1 episode Maggie O'Neill as Gill Neward 1 episode Tiana Khan as Zoe Sayed 1 episode Vinny Dhillon as Woman Speaker 1 episode Natasha Joseph as Willa 1 episode Tim Treloar as Sean Stourton 1 episode Adrian Rawlins as Harry Frame 2 episodes Rebecca Scroggs as Ari Branson 10 episodes Diarmaid Murtagh as Vic 1 episode Amit Shah as Zack Bryce 1 episode Christina Chong as Sophie Bryce 1 episode James Tarpey as Andy Gilney 1 episode Kristy Philipps as Janie Stretton 1 episode Michael D. Xavier as Martin Broom 1 episode Mitchell Hunt as Rufus Fletcher 1 episode Alex Price as Chris Webb 1 episode Sally Edwards as Elaine Dupont 1 episode Owen Roberts as Reggie D'Eath 1 episode Sidney Kean as Mr. Seiler 1 episode William Andrews as Joe Tindall 2 episodes Callum Coates as Professor Otto Johansson 1 episode Steven Elder as Philip Stretton 1 episode Darren Tighe as DS John Rye 1 episode Matt Barkley as David Lee 1 episode Boo Golding as Joolz 1 episode Lauren O'Neil as Claire 1 episode Nicholas Khan as Erridge 1 episode Louis Boyer as Ricky 1 episode Austin Hardiman as Anton 1 episode Robyn Ashwood as Mandy 1 episode Katie Brayben as WPC Danni Brown 1 episode James Barriscale as Carl Smith 1 episode Tom Christian as Darren Wardle 1 episode Arthur Darvill as Kit Bishop / Jecks 1 episode Jessye Romeo as Sophie Carrington 1 episode Michael D'Cruze as Counsellor 1 episode Shonagh Marie as Beth 1 episode Joshua J. Parker as Skunk 1 episode Carolina Valdés as Nadiuska De Sancha 11 episodes Rosa Coduri-Fulford as Holly 1 episode Ben Lambert as Barty Chancellor 1 episode Kelly Gough as Roberta Vernon 1 episode Amelia Armande as Lorna 1 episode Gwyneth Powell as Joan Talbot 1 episode James D'Arcy as DSI Cassian Pewe 1 episode Margot Leicester as Margot Balkwill 4 episodes Ernest Gromov as Detective Marcel Kullen 3 episodes Henry Miller as Dr. Fraser Theobald 3 episodes Niall Greig Fulton as Alvin Smallbone 3 episodes James Corrigan as Tooth 2 episodes Kemal Shah as Mortician 2 episodes Jan Le as Siobhan Sheldrake 2 episodes Finn Guegan as Bruno 4 episodes Juliette Motamed as DC Vee Wilde 3 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Second Assistant Director
Second Assistant "B" Camera
Casting Associate
Visual Effects
Stunt Coordinator
Creator
Director of Photography
Camera Trainee
Stunt Driver
Focus Puller
Assistant Camera
Stunt Double
Still Photographer
Electrician
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Grace overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

based on novel or book law enforcement miscegenation mysterious
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
March 14, 2021
Status
Returning Series
Episode Runtime
90 minutes
Origin
GB
TMDB Votes
81