Move Over Unforgotten: Nicola Walker Shines in the Haunting Detective Drama River — A Must-Watch Series You’ll Binge in One Sitting

Sometimes a TV series grabs you by the collar and refuses to let go, and River is exactly that kind of show. While fans may know Nicola Walker best for her role in Unforgotten, this quietly brilliant six-part detective drama first aired on BBC One in 2015 and is now available to stream on ITVX. Critics and viewers alike agree: once you start watching, you won’t be able to stop.

A Haunting Premise

River introduces Detective Inspector John River (Stellan Skarsgård), a brilliant but deeply isolated detective, and his recently murdered partner, Detective Sergeant Jackie “Stevie” Stevenson (Nicola Walker). The twist? Jackie continues to appear to River as a ghostly presence, offering cryptic insights and challenging him to confront truths about her life—and his own.

As River investigates Stevie’s murder, he is forced to navigate a fragile line between reality and imagination. Other victims begin to haunt him as well, each case revealing deeper psychological and moral complexities. The series expertly blends the police procedural format with a ghost story, creating an atmosphere that is suspenseful, emotional, and psychologically rich.

What Makes River Stand Out

Written by Abi Morgan (The Split), River is not just another crime series. It explores the human psyche, the weight of grief, and the complexities of justice. While the show contains moments of unsettling eeriness, it is also punctuated by tender and witty character interactions, making the narrative both gripping and human.

The official synopsis explains:
“As the investigation into Stevie’s murder begins to reveal her deepest secrets, River has to question everything he thought he knew about his one true friend. Their relationship might have survived her death, but can it survive the truth of who she really was in life?”

Star-Studded Cast

The series boasts a remarkable ensemble:

• Stellan Skarsgård as DI John River

• Nicola Walker as DS Jackie “Stevie” Stevenson

• Adeel Akhtar as DS Ira King

• Lesley Manville as DCI Chrissie Read

• Eddie Marsan as Thomas Neill Cream

• Turlough Convery as Frankie Stevenson

• Sorcha Cusack as Bridie Stevenson

• Owen Teale as PSupt Marcus McDonald

• Michael Maloney as Tom Read

• Jim Norton as Michael Bennigan

• Peter Bankolé as Haider Jamal Abdi

• Adjoa Andoh as Sunday Akentola

…and many more, each contributing to the richly layered world of River.

Critical Reception

Viewers and critics alike have praised River as “exceptionally engaging” and “a masterclass in psychological detective drama.” Skarsgård’s portrayal of a detective grappling with grief and moral ambiguity has been singled out as a highlight, while Walker’s ethereal presence brings depth and emotional resonance to the series.

How to Watch

The entire six-part series is available for streaming on ITVX, making it easy to binge in one sitting. For fans of Nicola Walker, the streaming platform also hosts her other acclaimed dramas, including Unforgotten and The Split.

If you’re a fan of thought-provoking, eerie detective stories with a strong emotional core, River is a series that demands your attention. Watch it, and prepare for a journey into the mind of one of television’s most intriguing detectives.