'Exceptional' Northern Irish BBC crime drama quietly added to Netflix

A deeply moving masterpiece featuring a Northern Irish crime story has quietly arrived on Netflix. The Woman in the Wall, initially broadcast on BBC One in 2023, is a six-part series that has been characterised as "a deeply moving masterpiece" and has already climbed into the most-watched rankings.

The drama follows sleepwalker Lorna Brady, portrayed by Ruth Wilson, who awakens to discover a deceased woman in her house. While Detective Colman Akande, played by Daryl McCormack, travels from Dublin to investigate an unconnected case of a priest, their journeys soon intersect. Beyond the enigma surrounding the dead woman, Lorna's history as a survivor of a Magdalene Laundry emerges, exploring how her infant was cruelly removed from her.

Filmed across Northern Ireland, including the town of Portaferry in County Down, the series stars Ruth Wilson, recognised for her roles in The Affair, His Dark Materials, Luther, Mrs Wilson and Down Cemetery Road. She is accompanied by Daryl McCormack, known for Bad Sisters, The Lesson, Twisters and his role as Isaiah Jesus.

Viewers have praised the production extensively. One IMDb user declared: "For acting skill and chemistry this is the best series since Happy Valley. Ruth Wilson and Daryl McCormack are absolutely top." Another proclaimed it was "exceptional", continuing: "The acting the music the overall feel it's absolutely gripping."

A fellow audience member branded it "haunting moving and outstanding drama" while another declared it was "one of the best things I have seen on in a long time." One viewer added: "It is gripping and heartbreaking in turns. Quite simply British drama at its best. A must watch."

The series' critical and popular reception underscores its quality as a standout drama offering from the streaming platform.