Shetland

Set on a windswept archipelago that feels a world apart, Shetland follows DI Tosh McIntosh and her colleagues as they investigate crimes that shake a close knit island community. In a place where everyone knows each other, officers must labor through streets and stories as much as clues, reading people and motives with care. The team relies on a locally grounded sense of policing that blends patience, persistence, and intuition rather than flashy tactics. Weather and landscape thread through every case, from the familiar lanes to the remote shorelines, shaping how evidence is gathered and loyalties tested. The show balances procedural twists with intimate character moments, slowly uncovering how secrets simmer beneath polite exteriors, and how rumors can tilt investigations.

Directed by Ruth Paxton, the series reimagines Ann Cleeves' Shetland novels for television, merging a remote island atmosphere with sharp investigative storytelling. It was released in 2013 and benefits from on location filming across Shetland and a tight creative team. Produced by BBC Scotland, it leans into practical policing challenges like weather delays and limited resources, while the ensemble cast brings warmth and grit to the island's daily life. The show also found homes on streaming platforms, widening its audience beyond traditional broadcasts.

Set on a real but remote island, the show helps spotlight Shetland's stark beauty and tight knit communities beyond the usual city crime dramas. Its grounded, atmospheric storytelling and strong ensemble performances influenced later regional dramas and contributed to a broader interest in Scottish crime storytelling.

Critics praised the series for its patient pace and believable sense of place, focusing on how isolation and community ties shape investigation. Themes of trust, memory and the moral weight of decisions run through the cases and character arcs, giving the show a humane, thoughtful tone. Its emphasis on place and people helped reshape regional storytelling and inspired similar shows.