Shetland star Douglas Henshall’s ‘gritty’ crime drama is available to binge-watch for free

Calling all Douglas Henshall fans! While you may have already binge-watched all available episodes of Shetland, as well as the Scottish actor’s latest drama, The Revenge Club, have you seen his gritty Nordic crime drama, The Darkness? 

The six-part series, which originally aired on SkyShowtime in 2024, is currently available to stream for free on Channel 4. Billed as a gritty crime noir, the story follows a veteran detective who becomes consumed by a chilling cold case, one year after her daughter’s death. 

With the same moody atmosphere and dramatic scenery as Shetland, but with a more intense, dark and fast-paced plot, fans of the hit BBC drama might want to check it out. 

Before you get binge-watching, find out all you need to know about the show below…

What is The Darkness about? 

Based on the Ragnar Jónasson novel of the same name, the Icelandic-American series centres on dedicated detective, Hulda Hermannsdóttir, who is about to retire when the body of a young Russian asylum seeker is discovered frozen in an Icelandic glacier.

© SkyShowtime

While investigating the shocking murder case alongside her new English partner Lukas, Hulda is forced to come to terms with her own personal traumas, including her daughter’s death a year before. 

The Channel 4 logline asks: “Can she find the killer without crumbling under the weight of her own demons?”

Who stars in The Darkness? 

Lena Olin (Chocolat, Riviera) leads the cast as Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir, alongside Jack Bannon (Endeavour, Pennyworth) as Lukas and Douglas Henshall (Shetland, Murder Is Easy) as Petur, Hulda’s neighbour.

© SkyShowtime

Björn Hlynur Haraldsson (A Gentleman in Moscow) and Thorsteinn Bachmann (Katla) also star. 

What have viewers said about the show?

Viewers have praised the series as “suspenseful” and “emotional” in online reviews. 

One person described the series as “captivating,” adding, “It hooked me in and kept me watching.”

© SkyShowtime

A second viewer hailed the series as a “gripping” and “fast-paced” thriller, adding: “It wasn’t perfect, but certainly kept me watching. Great cinematography and some gritty performances,” while a third wrote: “The twists and turns throughout the story are incredibly satisfying, keeping you on the edge of your seat without feeling cheap or overly convoluted.”

How to watch The Darkness

The Darkness is currently available to stream on Channel 4. There are six episodes of the drama, which are all about 45 minutes each in length. 

The Darkness is available to stream on Channel 4 no