New Apple TV crime thriller Down Cemetery Road, based on British author Mick Herron’s debut novel, might not always match the fast-and-dirty fun of Slow Horses, the hit stablemate also derived from Herron’s work.
However, it offers enough intrigue, stellar performances (especially from star Emma Thompson) and dark humor to deserve your attention.
Here’s why you should stream the eight-episode conspiracy thriller.
Down Cemetery Road review: 3 reasons to watch
Over the years, Apple TV has carved out impressive territory in the prestige thriller space. Dark-humored espionage thriller (and Emmy magnet) Slow Horses stands out as a prime example. And as our Down Cemetery Road review notes, the streaming service just added another compelling entry to its lineup.
Down Cemetery Road, which debuted October 29 with its first two episodes, follows art restorer Sarah Trafford (played by Ruth Wilson). She becomes obsessed with finding a missing girl after a house explosion in her Oxford neighborhood. She enlists the help of private investigator Zoë Boehm (Thompson).
What begins as a simple missing persons case quickly spirals into something far more sinister, revealing a complex conspiracy where people believed dead somehow remain live — and many of the living seemingly can’t wait to join the dead.
1. Emma Thompson delivers another performance worthy of a brilliant career
Photo: Apple TV
If there’s one reason alone to tune into Down Cemetery Road, it’s Emma Thompson’s magnetic turn as Zoë Boehm. She’s the sardonic private investigator at the series’ center. Thompson’s delivery of her character’s blistering dialogue is wonderful. Zoë is very straight to the point and doesn’t hold anyone’s hand. The Oscar-winning actress brings a no-more-f*cks-to-give originality to the role. She creates a character who is simultaneously abrasive and vulnerable, cynical yet driven by her own complicated grief.
The show brims with sharp one-liners. Thompson delivers many of them with perfect timing. Her Zoë is a woman perpetually on the move, unable to stay still, and Thompson captures this restless energy brilliantly. Paired with Wilson’s determined Sarah, the two create a dynamic that feels fresh and engaging. Wilson’s performance as an art conservationist drawn into dangerous territory is exceptional. The two leads hold viewers’ interest and then some.
The supporting cast also deserves some props. Darren Boyd,Adeel Akhtar, Tom Riley and Fehinti Balogun all contribute memorable performances.
2. This distinctive thriller brings genuine atmosphere and bite
Photo: Apple TV
Down Cemetery Road distinguishes itself through its peculiar blend of tones and its willingness to explore the darker corners of suburban British life. The series unfolds at a deliberate pace that fits the story’s growing paranoia and mystery. Each episode feels like a progression to a deeper conspiracy. While some viewers may find this measured approach a little slow at times, others will appreciate how the show allows tension to build organically.
So far, the show features bombshells and cliffhangers in each episode, plus some captivating plot twists. The mystery at the heart of Down Cemetery Road involves government cover-ups, doctored evidence and a conspiracy that extends far beyond a simple house explosion. The series becomes a two-hander with Zoë reluctantly teaming up with Sarah to find the abducted child Dinah — orphaned by the house explosion — then expands into a much larger conspiracy mystery.
Distinctive visual style
The show’s visual style contributes significantly to its appeal. Crisp editing and striking use of locales, including the cathedral city of Bristol, the county of Somerset, and the fishing village of Polperro, help (and hat tip to RogerEbert.com for naming the places). Down Cemetery Road creates an atmosphere that’s both beautiful and unsettling. The contrast between picturesque English settings and the violence lurking beneath adds to the show’s distinctive character.
Like Slow Horses, Down Cemetery Road shares Herron’s preoccupation with outsiders and oddballs. Both shows share a hopeful fascination with the heroic potential of oddballs and burnouts, giving us characters who exist on society’s margins but prove surprisingly capable when thrust into dangerous situations. This makes Down Cemetery Road feel like a natural companion piece to Apple TV’s Emmy-winning spy thriller, even as it explores different narrative territory. And both might make Americans wonder, “Wow, do people really get violently killed this often in England? Jeez. I thought that was our thing.”
3. Intelligent writing draws rich characters in Down Cemetery Road
Photo: Apple TV
What ultimately makes Down Cemetery Road worth watching is its commitment to character over spectacle. The characters are so richly drawn that they captivate viewers even when other elements falter. Writer Morwenna Banks, who also worked on Slow Horses, brings intelligence and wit to the adaptation, ensuring that even in slower moments, the dialogue sparkles and the character development continues.
Little, if anything, is ever rushed or skipped over. The mystery is rarely dumped on viewers in expository scenes. The show respects its audience’s intelligence, trusting them to piece together clues and follow complex narrative threads. Scenes and dialogue don’t feel wasted or unnecessary, even if the overall pacing speeds up and slows down in odd fashion at times.
Watch the Down Cemetery Road trailer
The show’s approach to its conspiracy plot feels sophisticated. While the core plot is political, involving government cover-ups of misdeeds, it’s not simple. And it doesn’t specify which political parties have done what. This ambiguity adds layers of complexity and prevents the series from feeling didactic or preachy.
Down Cemetery Road also succeeds in balancing its darker elements with unexpected humor. The series is funny without being glib, and dark without being grim — a tone that requires a real balancing act when tragedies unfold. This reflects Herron’s novels, which balance dark humor with genuine stakes and danger.
It’s worth acknowledging that Down Cemetery Road isn’t perfect. Some reviewers have said its eight episodes, running over 50 minutes each, can feel padded at times. The momentum occasionally meanders, and the broad comedy isn’t always completely at home with the darker thriller elements.
But those who haven’t tried it might do well to take a taste. After all, Slow Horses just aired its season 5 finale the day Down Cemetery Road debuted. So you’re going to have to hunt down other shows to watch.
Watch more thrillers on Apple TV
You can stream Slow Horses, Down Cemetery Road and other thrillers on Apple TV now. Get it by subscription for $12.99 with a seven-day free trial. You can also get it via any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle. Customers who buy a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
