Redemption

An excellent show with a good plot, great characters and outstanding acting. The show had a few good twists and turns. I would love to see a second season to allow some of the character relationships to develop further.

At the beginning of the first episode, Detective Collette, who is reportedly highly experienced, knowledgeable, efficient as a detective, is in charge of a raid looking for a wanted suspect. The suspect is confronted, runs, is caught after a struggle. As the officers are holding him, he continues struggling. It apparently never occurs to any of the officers, of any rank, to handcuff him. Instead they scold him and advise him of his "right to remain silent"; which is NOT required to be given immediately upon arrest. The suspect continues struggling, breaks away and runs again.

The efficient, professional detective finds a bag of drugs and and money in her deceased daughter's bedroom. There is no apparent good reason for her to hang on to this bag of loot, yet at the risk of her job, her safety, her life, she doesn't immediately call the police station to report it and have them pick up the bag.

C'mon; I know it's a TV show, but please, a little more realism, especially consistent with the quality of officer they're trying to convey here.

Redemption traces the experiences of Detective Inspector Collette Cunningham (Paula Malcolmson), a successful Liverpool Serious Crime Squad senior detective called back to her native Dublin by the Irish Garda (Police) due to the untimely death of her daughter Stacey (Rachel O'Byrne) from whom she'd been estranged for over 35 years. Collette is named as guardian of two unknown grandchildren, 16 year old Cara (Abby Fitz) and 14 year old Liam (Evan O'Connor), who have an absent father Eoin (Moe Dunford). To care for her grandkids and to more fully investigate the suspicious circumstances of her daughter's death, Collette swings a 6 month transfer as a junior DI with the Dublin Garda.

What emerges is a thoroughly gripping drama with a taut and intense story line over 6 episodes as Collette begins to unravel what really happened to her daughter against the backdrop of Dublin's organized crime syndicates whilst trying to develop a relationship with grieving teenagers with complex lives and zero history with their grandma. The show features excellent Irish acting talent and provides a view into modern Irish policing which makes for some fascinating and distinct cultural and procedural/legal differences from the far more common UK police dramas. Collette's quirky partner Siobhan (Thadea Graham), down to earth colleague Patrick (Keith McEarlean) and acerbic boss Jane (famous Irish actress Siobhan McSweeney) are magnificently cast. Of particular note were the fantastic and intense performances of the two young stars, 21 year old Fitz and only 15 year old O'Connor, both novice actors with prior experience only in more minor roles.

I'm surprised at some of the negative reviews as this series was a great showcase of Irish acting talent which meant this was not just a regional variation of a British cop show.

Enjoyed this series but it's not in the league as Happy Vally or Vera. Paula Malcomson was excellent in this, wouldn't have worked without her as the lead detective as she has a real onscreen presence, she's so naturally beautiful, sweet but tough. She plays the role of a successful detective who is also a mother estranged from her daughter who has just met her teen grandkids for the first time. Getting to know them while solving crimes and looking into the death of her daughter. Interesting story line, particularly with showing the reality of motherhood and how imperfect mums can be. Some of the supporting cast were very good such as the two teen actors that played collettes grandkids however the actors that played her workmates had weaker roles or maybe it was just weak scripts? In particular the actress who played her Boss, what a very boring actress and the two lead detectives that worked in the drug dept. Those 3 actors had zero spark. The two actors that played her main colleagues - the young girl and the bloke she drank with had bit more charisma. I think the script / storyline built up well but sort of fizzled out. Although the ending came together nicely- bit soppy. I watched this on Britbox. The UK has so many good crime dramas.

I watched the first episode of season one, and I rate Paula Malcomson's performance as up there with Sarah Lancashire of the BBC's "Happy Valley", another wonderful crime/drama featuring a strong female lead. I look forward to seeing the rest of the series!