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Trailer

River

2015Show1 season6 episodesTV-MA

CrimeDrama
91
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.9Metacritic–8.3Rotten Tomatoes100%94%

A deeply moving, profoundly sad crime series about the mind and crime, with standout performances and characters.

Good for friends night · binge-friendly · thought-provoking

Skip it if you want something to laugh at · you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, laughs or comfort.

Shows with

Episodes

1 season · 6 episodes · best: S1E6 "Episode #1.6" 8.5

Episodes

8.0

Story

Respected police officer John River, a gifted cop with a troubled mind, struggles to come to terms with the recent loss of a colleague, and chases a suspect across London - with tragic consequences. Now at odds with the authorities, River ends up in a precarious position as he seeks to bring closure to the mother of murdered teenager, who blames him for failing to keep his promise.

Feels like

  • Psychological Crime Drama
  • Grief and Trauma
  • Unreliable Narrator
  • London Noir
  • Emotionally Heavy
  • Character Study
  • Supernatural Ambiguity
  • Melancholic Atmosphere

Cast

24 of 48 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Tim Fywell, Richard Laxton, Jessica Hobbs
Written by
Abi Morgan
Produced by
Chris Carey
Music by
Harry Escott

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 13, 2015 · November 17, 2015 · Ended

First aired
October 13, 2015
Last aired
November 17, 2015
Status
Ended
Length
1 season · 6 episodes
Age rating
TV-MA
Content
Violence, Suicide Themes, Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language
Genres
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Original language
English
Made in
United Kingdom
Available in
14 countries

Tropes

White Sheep, Cannot Spit It Out, Ambiguous Situation +9

  • White Sheep
  • Cannot Spit It Out
  • Ambiguous Situation
  • Da Chief
  • The Dying Walk
  • Afraid to Hold the Baby
  • Dead All Along
  • Rewind, Replay, Repeat
  • Reasonable Authority Figure
  • Family Versus Career
  • Deadpan Snarker
  • Bookends

12 of 29 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream River?"

Questions about River

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is River worth watching?

91
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 91 (IMDb 7.9 and Rotten Tomatoes 100%). Critics rate it higher (100 out of 100) than audiences (85).

Will I feel good after watching River?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 9 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Is River plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does River use?

White SheepCannot Spit It OutAmbiguous SituationDa ChiefThe Dying WalkAfraid to Hold the BabyDead All AlongRewind, Replay, RepeatReasonable Authority FigureFamily Versus CareerDeadpan SnarkerBookendsand 17 more

TV Tropes lists 29 tropes for it, including White Sheep, Cannot Spit It Out, and Ambiguous Situation.