Watch Hinterland

Hinterland is a Welsh noir crime drama series that premiered on S4C in 2013, and ran for three seasons until 2016. The show is set in and around the coastal town of Aberystwyth in West Wales, and follows Detective Chief Inspector Tom Mathias (Richard Harrington), a brooding and complex character with a troubled past, as he leads a team of detectives in solving a range of complex and often gruesome crimes.

The show's premise is unique in that it is filmed twice, once in Welsh and once in English, and it is the Welsh version of the show that first airs on S4C. This allows for it to be accessible to Welsh-speaking audiences as well as English-speaking viewers on the BBC. The show has garnered substantial critical acclaim since its release, with particular praise being directed towards its evocative and atmospheric direction, as well as the strong performances from its cast.

Hinterland's narrative is marked by a moody tone, driven by the natural beauty of the Welsh countryside, which serves as both a backdrop and key plot point. The show's creators have called this use of location as a major character in the drama "Y Gwyll," or "The Dusk," which not only lends the show a unique sense of atmosphere but also references the interplay between darkness and light at the core of the show's themes.

The series explores both the personal and professional lives of the team of detectives, focusing intensely on lead investigator Tom Mathias, whose own character serves as a lens through which the audience is able to gain insight into the dark and often twisted world of Welsh crime. Despite his stoic exterior, Mathias is depicted as a deeply vulnerable and empathetic character, haunted by personal demons and driven by an innate sense of justice.

Another crucial figure in the series is Mathias' second-in-command, Detective Sergeant Mared Rhys (Mali Harries), who operates as a voice of reason within the team and often finds herself at odds with the impulsive and reclusive Mathias. As the show progresses, Rhys emerges as a fully-developed character in her own right, with her own personal and professional struggles that are explored in equal depth to those of her boss.

Other members of the investigative team include Detective Sergeant Siân Owens (Hannah Daniel), a young and ambitious investigator who is desperate to prove her worth; DC Lloyd Elis (Alex Harries), an affable but often inept officer who is often used for comedic relief; and a number of other minor characters whose roles fluctuate depending on the demands of the story.

The show's mysteries cover a wide range of crimes, including murder, abduction, arson, and drug trafficking, among others. The crimes are often woven into a broader narrative that explores themes of class, identity, and Welsh nationalism, which are foregrounded against the backdrop of a hostile and unforgiving natural world. The show's antagonists are often morally ambiguous, with many of them motivated by their own traumatic pasts, making it difficult for audiences to categorize the show's villains as purely evil.

Throughout its run, Hinterland has consistently delivered engrossing, character-driven crime stories that have resonated both with Welsh-speaking and English-speaking audiences. Its unique use of location, complex characters, and subtle exploration of the complexities of the human condition make it an essential watch for fans of noir and crime dramas alike. If you're looking for a moody, atmospheric, and thought-provoking drama, Hinterland is definitely worth checking out.

Hinterland is a series that ran for 3 seasons (24 episodes) between October 29, 2013 and on S4C