---
title: "Down Cemetery Road: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/tv/down-cemetery-road/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/tv/down-cemetery-road"
critics_score: 83
critics_reviews: 7
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."
---

# Down Cemetery Road (2025): what the critics said

Critics' score 83 from 7 reviews: 7 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative.

Most critics agree that Down Cemetery Road combines a confident conspiracy thriller with dry, often pitch-black British humour. Praise centres on Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson, whose performances and chemistry give the mystery a human grounding while making its odd-couple comedy work. The reviews also welcome the surprising plot turns and the balance of wit and suspense, with several finding shared strengths with Slow Horses. Variety singles out the Oxford setting and finds the action gripping once the plot heats up.

Reservations are limited rather than widely shared: Collider notes occasional pacing drags within an otherwise assured slow-burning mystery. All seven reviews are positive, and scores cluster closely apart from The Guardian’s more enthusiastic assessment, which finds no wasted moments or words. There is no dissenting review here; the difference is chiefly how strongly critics praise the execution.

## The Guardian — Lucy Mangan

Rating 5/5. 29 October 2025. 

The critic praises the series as great stuff with no wasted moments or words, highlighting Emma Thompson's magnificent performance as the no-nonsense private investigator Zoë Boehm alongside Ruth Wilson.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/oct/29/down-cemetery-road-review-emma-thompson-thriller-apple-tv)

## The Telegraph — Benji Wilson

Rating 4/5. 29 October 2025. 

The critic calls it another thoroughbred from the Slow Horses stable, praising the confident thriller with brilliant central performances from Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson and strong British wit.

[Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/down-cemetery-road-apple-tv-review/)

## The Times — Tim Glanfield

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2025. 

The critic highlights Emma Thompson's superb performance as a private investigator in this adaptation of Mick Herron's novel, noting its jet-black humour and ties to the Slow Horses world alongside Ruth Wilson's fine work.

[Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/down-cemetery-road-review-emma-thompson-szg6q6lm2)

## Variety — Alison Herman

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2025. 

The critic finds the series shares positive qualities with Slow Horses, including mordant wit and riveting action once the plot heats up, and praises the distinct Oxford setting along with strong turns from Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/tv/reviews/down-cemetery-road-review-emma-thompson-slow-horses-1236563977/)

## The AV Club — Tim Lowery

Rating B. 29 October 2025. 

The series hits a sweet spot of thrills and odd-couple comedy as an adaptation of Mick Herron's novel. It stands out for its surprising twists, strong casting including Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson, and mix of humor with suspenseful government conspiracy elements.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/down-cemetery-road-review-apple-tv)

## Collider — Tania Hussain

Rating 8/10. 29 October 2025. 

The critic praises the series as a confident, twisted, slow-burning mystery with strong performances from Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson, highlighting its dry wit and moral ambiguity. They single out the leads' chemistry and the grounded, human approach to the conspiracy plot for praise, while noting occasional pacing drags.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/down-cemetery-road-review-apple-tv-emma-thompson/)

## Digital Spy — David Opie

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2025. 

The bold thriller from the Slow Horses team delivers shocking early twists and pitch-black humor that make it a must-see. It excels through its explosive plot turns, strong performances from Ruth Wilson and Emma Thompson, and engaging character-driven mystery.

[Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a69173066/down-cemetery-road-review/)

---
© 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/down-cemetery-road.md