--- title: "Criminal Record: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/criminal-record/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/criminal-record" critics_score: 85 critics_reviews: 6 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Criminal Record (2024): what the critics said Critics' score 85 from 6 reviews: 6 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. The consensus is firmly positive, with praise clustering around Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo as rival detectives whose tense exchanges give the series much of its force. Most critics also value the way the crime story addresses racism, sexism and institutional failure in policing through characters with competing loyalties and perspectives. The plotting earns praise for its intricacy and tension, while Digital Spy particularly admires the vivid sense of London and the contradictions of working within a flawed Met. Reservations are limited rather than shared across the reviews: Collider cautions that the slow pace may not suit everyone, and Paste finds the subplots less compelling than the central pairing. There is no outright dissent in the supplied reviews, though enthusiasm ranges from solid approval to emphatic praise. The strongest agreement concerns the leads’ layered performances and the series’ willingness to make its policing questions uncomfortable. ## Variety — Aramide Tinubu Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 January 2024. The critic finds the series a compelling and brilliantly twisted crime drama centered on race and legacy in policing. They single out the strong performances by Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo, along with the intricate plotting by the writers and directors. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2024/tv/reviews/criminal-record-apple-tv-review-1235851383/) ## The AV Club — Sarah Shaffi Rating B. 5 January 2024. The critic highlights the strong clash and chemistry between Capaldi and Jumbo's characters as the old guard versus the new, with their layered performances keeping viewers guessing amid an interrogation of modern policing realities. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/criminal-record-review-apple-tv-plus-peter-capaldi-1851137684) ## Evening Standard — William Mata 10 January 2024. The review calls it a gripping, taut London crime thriller with stellar lead performances from Capaldi and Jumbo as rival detectives, anchored by Jumbo's extraordinary work. It singles out the authentic portrayal of Met Police issues like sexism and racism alongside a thrilling storyline. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/criminal-record-review-peter-capaldi-cush-jumbo-b1131036.html) ## The Guardian 10 January 2024. The critic praises Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo as mesmerizing in their roles as rival detectives in this corrupt cop thriller, highlighting their sublime joint performances. It singles out the clever, timely handling of issues like institutional racism and police malpractice through the main characters. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/jan/10/criminal-record-review-peter-capaldi-and-cush-jumbo-are-great-alone-together-theyre-mesmerising) ## Digital Spy — Rebecca Cook Rating 5/5. 10 January 2024. The critic praises the layered, electric performances of Capaldi and Jumbo as adversaries whose scenes sizzle, the vivid portrayal of London as a third character, and how the series captures the contradictions and difficult job of officers in a deeply flawed Met system. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a46327274/criminal-record-review/) ## Collider — Maggie Boccella Rating 9/10. 2 January 2024. The critic praises the series for its intense exploration of race and institutional failure in the justice system, highlighting the electric performances of Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo as the standout element. It singles out the refusal to provide easy answers and the complex, morally gray characters for praise, while noting the slow pace may not appeal to all. [Read the review](https://collider.com/criminal-record-tv-series-review/) ## Paste — Lacy Baugher Milas Rating 8.2/10. 2 January 2024. The critic finds the series a timely and arresting drama that blends crime elements with institutional critique, commending Peter Capaldi’s nuanced performance as the key strength that elevates it beyond expectations. It singles out the tense interplay between the leads and the exploration of flawed systems for praise, while noting subplots are less compelling. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/apple-tv-plus/criminal-record-review) ## Den of Geek — Louisa Mellor Rating 4/5. 10 January 2024. The critic praises the solid, bleak, violent and pacy crime thriller elements with strong genre tension, alongside the intellectually provocative exploration of two differing perspectives on policing shaped by race, gender, and experience. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/criminal-record-review-peter-capaldi-apple-tv-mystery/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/criminal-record.md