The New 'Lynley' Is Upstaged By His Sidekick & the Scenery

BritBox’s newest reboot of a classic detective series, Lynley, premiering this month on both sides of the Atlantic, boasts a formidable cast led by Leo Suter (Sanditon) as the titular aristocratic DI Tommy Lynley and Sofia Barclay (Prime Target) as his working-class sidekick Barbara Havers. Elizabeth George, on whose novels the series was based, is part of Lynsley’s creative team, headed by Sherlock writer Steve Thompson and directed by Ed Bazalgette (Marie Antoinette). The team has updated the series to reflect the present (particularly in terms of technology) and filmed it in Ireland, which gives a remarkably good imitation of Norfolk. However, the show is missing one key ingredient. 

The good news is that the show is unreservedly gorgeous to watch (as are its two leads). With only four episodes to prove its worth until next time, and some variable pacing as elaborate plots unfold, it’s a mixed pleasure. 

The title character, Thomas Lynley, is in line to inherit an Earldom, with a background and personality that both over- and under-qualify him for police work: a Law Degree from Balliol, Oxford, fast-track officer training at Hendon Police College, and a stint at the Met in London. Now he’s in rural Norfolk, to work with DS Barbara Havers, who is not pleased about becoming “... nursemaid to some fresh-faced city boy who doesn’t know his arse from his elbow.” Naturally, he overhears this within his first minute in the office; it’s pretty much a convention of the genre.

The problem is that Havers is a far more interesting character than her aristocratic boss. She is troublesome, working-class, and mixed race, still living at home with her parents in a house shadowed by grief for their lost son/brother, and her father’s poor health. She tells Lynley her family is in iron and steel, but not as his class might recognize it – her mum irons, her dad steals. Working with Lynley is her last gasp at saving her career (ironically, he’s pretty much in the same position). She has a track record of insubordination and unprofessionalism in a primarily male and white environment. Her only ally is tech specialist Tony Bekele (Michael Workeye), who is aware that her reputation could damage his. 

(Ed note: There was a recent interview where One Day star Ambika Mod complained that she's still being offered detective sidekick roles to boring white male leads, and though she didn't name Lynley, it's tough to watch the series and not come to the conclusion she was talking about this one.)

As for our boring white male lead, Lynley is so effortlessly upper-class it makes you cringe and gasp in admiration, often simultaneously. He has, as they say, lovely manners, which may or may not disguise insolence, in addition to knowing what fork to use. He drives a Jensen Interceptor (a what? A very posh car most of us haven’t heard of), wears expensive and elegant tailored clothes (that cashmere coat!), and lives in an architecturally splendid, if sterile, glass and stone man-cave on the coast. He belongs to the Oxbridge Mafia, who are still the ruling class of Britain in the mid-2020s. Heck, even his Wellington boots shout lineage and old money! 

The series reveals the differences between Lynley and Havers, and then – and this is the strength of the series – goes on to reveal their similarities and bonds. It’s all about two proud, isolated individuals discovering they have more in common with each other than with anyone else. But we’re here for the crime, don’t forget, and that brings us to their superior officer, DCI Brian Nies (Daniel Mays). 

He and Lynley have history, having worked together at the Met, and not amicably. Early on, he offers Lynley a fresh start to their relationship, reminding him he could make his life “uncomfortable.” He has a nasty habit of luring Havers into his office, seductively offering espresso, and demanding dirt on Lynley. Lynley and Havers, both smart and confident, intimidate Brian. He can bluff, but he isn’t the most clever cop in the shop anymore.

The show opens with a genuinely stunning setting, an island accessible only by boat or ferry. Its owner, Guy Brouard (Dave Anders), found dead on the shore, imagines himself a modern Emperor Tiberius on Capri, living in a huge mansion full of classical statuary and indulging himself with willing sexual partners. (In a way, it’s disturbingly reminiscent of Saltburn.) Brouard’s wife lies on her deathbed, and a nubile team of archaeologists working on an excavation is available for his sexual fun and games, joining family and servants on the suspect list. The fragile professional relationship between Havers and Lynley is strained when she accuses him of showing preferential treatment to a female Cambridge graduate.

Lynley’s tendency to gravitate to his Oxbridge tribe creates a new dimension in his relationship with Havers when Helen Clyde (Niamh Walsh), from his Oxford days and now a successful realtor, comes into the picture. She had a crush on him, and Havers smirks when his college nickname is revealed – Prince Charming of Balliol. “Did you shag her?” Havers asks, not one for subtlety. (The answer to that should be “not yet” since it’s fairly clear Helen has designs on Lynley as a suitable partner.)

Meanwhile, Havers' personal life also keeps intruding. In one episode, during a stakeout, she starts receiving calls from the hospital where her father’s emphysema is being treated. Her mother sounds progressively anxious, and Havers finally rushes off to the hospital. When Tony arrives, he finds the suspect she was supposed to be watching has been attacked and is badly injured, which could mean the end of their jobs. However, the suspect has been taken to the same hospital as Havers’ father, and once he finds her, he takes responsibility, telling Havers she’s now in charge. 

Naturally, Brian uses the situation to announce to the team that he’s taking over the case. He tells Havers in private to keep her mouth shut for the sake of her career and puts Lynley on restricted duty, giving the two the chance to play maverick cops. (It's worth it when Havers finally bellows at Brian, “You’re missing the point, sir,” and watch him cringe away from her.)

There are good aspects to the series; it deals with real issues: online stalking, misuse of dating apps and social media, teenage trauma, self-harm, murder, sexual obsession, etc. Unfortunately, multiple episodes are also an exercise in utilizing a considerable cast of guest stars, few of whom we get to know or feel sympathy for. 

It’s also hard to sympathize with Lynley’s relationship with Helen, who goes through a terrifying experience and is almost killed during one episode. Anticipating his career change from cop to Earl, she never expected to come into brutal contact with his work. Instead, she keeps dropping loud circular hints that they “talk about monogamy” and possibly stop seeing other people, and hints Lynley should buy a house and “put down roots.” She shrugs off his discomfort, just as she treats his work as a necessary but unpleasant stop toward his “real job” as a member of the aristocracy. 

(It’s disappointing that he’s so complicit, but at least this version of Helen isn’t nearly as annoying as the original character in the books and the earlier TV serialization.)

Lynley, of course, there's always a season-long arc, in this case, police corruption, and no surprise, Brian is complicit. He's furious that Lynley's do-gooder mentality ruined a perfectly good system of using informants to create an acceptable crime-solving rate, with the understanding that other activities would be ignored. But now perhaps he'll have to sit down and keep quiet if he wants to keep his job.

Lynley and Havers have come a long way by the end of the series, but once again, it's all due to her that he's been given any chance to be interesting. They remain the odd couple who sit in a corner at the pub, while their colleagues gather together, openly making rude comments about them. Like it or not, they are a team, and they'll probably be back for Season 2 soon enough. At least the scenery is worth watching, even if Suter chooses not to chew it.

Lynley Season 1 continues with new episodes releasing every Thursday through September 25, 2025. Season 2 has not yet been greenlit. The Inspector Lynley Mysteries is also available to stream on BritBox.