Sherwood

Set in a close-knit Nottinghamshire mining community, Sherwood starts when a violent death cracks open long-buried resentments and rivalries. As the police investigate, neighbors, ex-miners and families are forced to answer painful questions about loyalty, past grievances and where blame should fall. The show follows local people whose relationships and reputations are tested by suspicion, while a detective tries to piece together motive and truth without letting the town tear itself apart. The series keeps its focus on character conflicts and moral choices, keeping key twists under wraps while showing how a single crime can expose deep social fault lines.

Released in 2022, Sherwood was created by James Graham and directed by Clio Bernard, featuring Lesley Manville and David Morrissey in lead roles. It debuted as a BBC drama and was promoted as a hard-hitting regional crime story.

The series didn't dominate major awards seasons, though reviewers repeatedly praised Manville's performance and the script's level of detail. Industry conversation around the show highlighted the acting and writing even where big prize nominations were limited.

Sherwood sparked discussion in the UK about the legacy of mining communities, policing and local divisions, with viewers and commentators noting how the setting and backstories felt authentic. Several scenes, particularly those set around funerals and community gatherings, became focal points in reviews and social media threads about social memory and class in post-industrial towns.

Critics gave the show generally positive reviews, noting strong performances and a steady, thoughtful pace. On viewer-rated platforms it holds an average around 6.96 out of 10 from dozens of ratings, reflecting some division over tone and resolution. The series centers on themes of grief, loyalty, accountability and the long shadow of economic decline, asking uncomfortable questions about who gets blamed when a community fractures and how truth and justice can diverge.