BritBox’s ‘Suspect’ is a Star Turn for James Nesbitt, But Fails to Satisfy

BritBox’s Suspect is not your typical British TV crime series. It’s the latest English language remake from Walter’s Choice head, Walter Iuzzolino’s production company, Eagle Eye Drama, a remake of the Danish series Face to Face (Forhøret), the original which debuted on PBS Passport in December 2022. Adapted by Matt Baker (who wrote the Walter’s Choice Before We Die remake) and directed by Dries Vos (who directed the Walter’s Choice hit Professor T remake), it stars James Nesbitt (Bloodlands), who headlines an exceptional cast as cop Danny Frater.

Grim, chaotic, and painful, there are rarely more than two characters on camera at one time, adding to the atmosphere of paranoia and claustrophobia that characterizes the series. But sadly, like previous Walter’s Choice remakes, it doesn’t really work, presenting us with a morass of details and distractions that limp to a long-overdue conclusion that doesn’t make us feel justice has been done.

The series opens with Danny in a hospital mortuary where he’s on a routine call to drop off some paperwork concerning the recently-found body of a young woman. Neither he nor pathologist Jackie (Joely Richardson) are much concerned about the suicide victim’s identity until Jackie shares a few details — the quantity of hesitation cuts, excessive bleeding, and death by hanging — and receives a terrible shock when he uncovers his daughter Christina (Imogen King), from whom he’s been estranged for several years. His emotional outburst is such Jackie summons Danny’s boss Richard (Ben Miller), for help.