Sherwood
Sherwood
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Sherwood

6.9
Yr 2022
Status Returning Series
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

Old grudges, new rivalries. A tangled web of murder and revenge spirals in a fractured Nottinghamshire mining community. Powerful drama with Lesley Manville and David Morrissey.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 93 /100

Sherwood received widespread critical acclaim, with reviewers widely declaring it one of the cleverest and most compelling television dramas of 2022. Written by James Graham, the series was applauded for defying expectations of the crime thriller genre. Critics noted that while it opens with a pair of murders, it quickly expands into a rich, multi-layered state-of-the-nation drama exploring historical trauma, political fractures, and community tension in Nottinghamshire.

Reviewers consistently praised the show's intricate plotting, precise sense of place, and exceptional ensemble cast. The finale was met with equal enthusiasm, with outlets highlighting its emotional weight and authentic character work. Although a rare dissenting voice felt the narrative occasionally flirted with soap opera elements, the overwhelming consensus hailed Sherwood as a gripping, top-tier drama.

“the cleverest, most compelling show I’ve seen in years”

“A stunning cast and precise sense of place elevate this BBC series”

“one of the most compelling dramas of 2022”

“It began with two murders and set itself up as a brooding thriller, yet it danced around the edges of what we might anticipate from that genre.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Hoopla
US • CA
Show 4 more
Why fans love it

Sherwood grounds its investigation in the bruised landscape of a Nottinghamshire mining community. The series avoids the standard procedural beats of modern crime fiction, choosing instead to focus on how historical grievances fuel modern tension. A public manhunt serves as the catalyst, but the true subject is the splintered loyalties of neighbors who have lived side by side for decades.

Lesley Manville leads a dense ensemble cast that emphasizes collective history over individual heroics. The narrative treats the mystery not merely as a puzzle to be solved, but as a byproduct of a town struggling with its own identity. By tying the central killings to the long-reaching aftershocks of a strike, the show frames criminal behavior as a symptom of a much deeper, pervasive social fracture.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 65
Regulars 16
Longest run 11 eps
Show 57 more
Philip Jackson as Mickey Sparrow David Morrissey as DCS Ian St Clair Claire Rushbrook as Cathy Rowley 7 episodes Michael Balogun as Harry Summers Christine Bottomley as Rachel Crossley Stephen Dillane as Roy Branson Monica Dolan as Ann Branson Robert Emms as Samuel Warner David Harewood as Denis Bottomley 6 episodes Aisling Loftus as Sandy Waters 6 episodes Jorden Myrie as Marcus Clarke 6 episodes Sharlene Whyte as Pam Bottomley 6 episodes Bethany Asher as Stephie Bottomley 6 episodes Stephen Tompkinson as Warnock 1 episode Bally Gill as Neel Fisher 5 episodes Terence Maynard as DS Cleaver 6 episodes Andrea Lowe as DI Taylor 6 episodes Safia Oakley-Green as Cinderella Jackson 4 episodes Chanel Cresswell as Rosie Jackson 1 episode Bill Jones as Ronan Sparrow 11 episodes Tyrese Eaton-Dyce as Jordan 6 episodes Sean Gilder as Dean Simmons 4 episodes Don Gilet as Jacob Harris 2 episodes Leah Walker as Young Jenny 6 episodes Lindsay Duncan as Jennifer Hale 1 episode Mark Addy as Ron St Clair 3 episodes Christopher Fairbank as Bill Raggett 1 episode Charles Dale as Leonard Gibson 5 episodes Mark Frost as Martin St Clair 3 episodes Alun Armstrong as Gary Jackson 1 episode Joanne Froggatt as Sarah Vincent 3 episodes Clare Holman as Helen St Clair 3 episodes Stephen Whitfield as Cleaner Thomas 1 episode Oliver Huntingdon as Ryan Bottomley 1 episode Robert Lindsay as Franklin Warner 1 episode Ria Zmitrowicz as Lisa Waters 1 episode Ramy Ben Fredj as Miles 1 episode Paul Slack as Labour Councillor 1 episode Augustina Amoa as Chair Person 1 episode Sam Buchanan as Nicky Branson 1 episode Liam Hawkins-Finnegan as Young Detectorist 1 episode Tinashe Darikwa as Mitchell 1 episode Josh Rowland as Dale 1 episode Dena Smiles as Denise 1 episode Mark Oliver as Marco 1 episode George Harrison as Nikko 1 episode Andrew Gower as Jamie 1 episode Jennifer Hennessy as Chief Constable 1 episode Conor Deane as Kyre Branson 1 episode Sarah Priddy as Magistrate 1 episode Anthony Burrows as Local Ashfield Resident 1 episode Kieron Brook as Bar Staff 1 episode Roger Conneff as Safehouse Neighbour 1 episode Pip Torrens as Commissioner Charles Dawes 3 episodes Phaldut Sharma as Chief Constable Fraser 4 episodes Kwame Bentil as Jonathan Ryan 2 episodes Arthur Scargill as Self- Archive Footage 1 episode
Production Board

Crew

Director of Photography
Additional Music
Music Arranger
Writer
Costume Designer
Signal Match

Similarity

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

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

manhunt
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
June 13, 2022
Status
Returning Series
Origin
GB
TMDB Votes
87