Criminal Record Dominates Streaming After Season 2 Premiere

Apparently, all it took was one episode for 'Criminal Record' Season 2 to muscle its way into Apple TV's Top 10 – and that goes for both the U.S. and the international charts. Not bad for a British crime drama that quietly landed on the platform back in January 2024 and is now, frankly, making a much louder noise.

The Showdown: Capaldi vs. Jumbo

For anyone who missed the first season (which, by the way, scored a hefty 90% on Rotten Tomatoes), 'Criminal Record' comes from Paul Rutman and is all about two detectives who do not exactly see eye to eye. Peter Capaldi is your classic hardened DCI, Daniel Hegarty. He’s intense, experienced, probably not someone you’d invite to brunch. Cush Jumbo, meanwhile, plays DS June Lenker, younger, ambitious, definitely not here to play by anybody else’s rules. The story proper kicks off when the pair is forced to work together thanks to one ominous anonymous phone call, dragging them into a cold case that gets increasingly messy and political the deeper they go.

Season 2: Apparently, It Gets Even Better

The second season just dropped on April 22, and if the reviews are to be trusted, it’s already outdoing the first run. Rotten Tomatoes has the new batch of episodes sitting at a flawless 100% – which is downright rare for any show, never mind one that’s only just begun.

Archi Sengupta called the new season 'both unsettling and quite slow,' pointing out that the slow-burn mystery from season one has made way for a bigger, more political story. Ricky Valero went all-in with his praise, calling it 'an absolute treat' and mentioning the 'perfect balance of acting, writing, and execution' – which, let’s be honest, is basically the formula every showrunner is chasing. Lacy Baugher at Digital Spy summed it up pretty well: if last season was about poking at internal police failures, this time the show points its lens outwards, with the characters facing choices that are more complicated (and morally grey) than ever.

'If you were a fan of Criminal Record Season 1, you are in for an absolute treat with an even better second season. The perfect balance of acting, writing, and execution.'

Critics are clearly impressed. The only catch? The audience rating at Rotten Tomatoes isn’t set yet—there just aren’t enough reviews. IMDb has its own verdict for now: 7.1/10 from viewers, which is solidly “worth your time” territory.

Apple TV: Not Just for Sci-Fi Nerds

If you thought Apple TV was all about space colonies and killer robots, you might have missed the memo: they’re quietly building a collection of strong crime thrillers. ‘Criminal Record’ now joins the likes of the (rightfully) hyped ‘Slow Horses’, the legal drama ‘Presumed Innocent’, and the fresh-out-of-the-oven ‘Smoke’. Oh, and if you’re counting down days for the new ‘Cape Fear’—that’s landing June 5, so clear your calendars.

The Cast: Not Just Capaldi’s Show

• Peter Capaldi as DCI Daniel Hegarty (grizzled, jaded, probably drinks his coffee black)
• Cush Jumbo as DS June Lenker (ambitious, not afraid to go toe-to-toe with her boss)
• Zoë Wanamaker
• Charlie Creed-Miles
• Cathy Tyson

Streaming Numbers & Release Schedule

Right now, according to Flix Patrol, the second season of 'Criminal Record' is sitting at #5 on both the U.S. and international Top 10 charts for streaming TV. With new episodes rolling out weekly until June 10, there’s a decent chance this one will stay in high rotation—though whether it goes higher is anyone’s guess. Either way, for Apple TV, this one’s already pegged as a legit hit.

Long story short: If you like your crime dramas tense and your detectives at each other's throats, 'Criminal Record' should be in your watchlist. Season 2 is upping the stakes, and the critics—and, soon, probably a lot more fans—are all in.