The Responder

Chris Carson is a worn, short-tempered night-shift police officer working Liverpool's streets, juggling volatile incidents and a private life that's beginning to fall apart. When he's partnered with a green patrol officer, their clashing temperaments and different outlooks turn routine calls into pressure tests. As they respond to domestic disputes, drug-related scenes and desperate calls for help, small decisions stack into bigger consequences for everyone involved. The series keeps the focus tight on those long nights, showing how chronic stress, moral ambiguity and fractured relationships shape choices without resolving every loose end.

Created by Tony Schumacher and released in 2022, the series stars Martin Freeman as Chris Carson and features a strong supporting cast. It was filmed on location in Liverpool and built a gritty, authentic urban atmosphere tied closely to the city.

The show drew notable critical attention in the UK and earned several television award nominations and industry recognition, especially highlighting Freeman's central performance and the script's sharp, character-driven scenes.

The Responder's portrayal of night-time policing and officer burnout has prompted wider conversations about mental health in frontline services. Key scenes and Freeman's nuanced, abrasive lead role have been widely shared and discussed online, helping the series reach audiences beyond typical crime drama viewers.

Critical response has been generally positive, reflected in average viewer ratings near 7.1 out of 10. Reviewers praised its raw, unglamorous tone and moral complexity, and commentators often point to themes of trauma, class pressures and the personal cost of public service. The show leans into ambiguity, asking hard questions about judgement, loyalty and survival without handing out easy answers.