Death Valley season 2 review: Timothy Spall elevates this cosy crime drama

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A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Retired actor John Chapel (Timothy Spall) sees solving crimes as surprisingly similar to directing a play. He views suspects as characters, and their reasons for acting as carefully plotted storylines. He’s definitely full of himself, and can be quite arrogant, but frustratingly, he’s also good at what he does.

When a car dealer doing community service falls—or is he thrown?—from a 12th-century castle, newly promoted DI Janie Mallowan is told to ask for help from Chapel again. Janie isn’t happy about it. They’ve been avoiding each other ever since she found out he was having an affair with her mother, Yvonne.

Chapel can’t resist being the center of attention. He enthusiastically puts on a bright safety vest and immerses himself in the investigation, going undercover with a group of people doing community service as part of their court sentence.

This show offers the kind of cheerful, gentle entertainment that’s unique to its time slot on BBC One. It’s a comforting break before the week begins, with programs like Countryfile and Antiques Roadshow providing a relaxing escape, completely free of negativity.

Death Valley is surprisingly cozy and engaging, largely thanks to Spall’s strong performance, which prevents the film from becoming forgettable.

While the season 2 premiere is generally strong, the central mystery isn’t as captivating as the beautiful Welsh scenery. The reason behind the events feels weak, the lack of clues is noticeable, and the lead detective’s quick conclusions might make her seem a little lost, even with her moments of self-aware humor.

Fortunately, performances by Jane Horrocks, Hammed Animashaun, and Hannah Daniel add a much-needed sense of mystery. Timothy Spall continues to impress, moving in and out of scenes with his signature style and grace.

Chapel always acts as if he’s above the situation, like a highly skilled actor feels put out by helping the police – it’s as ridiculous to him as making an Olympic athlete run an egg-and-spoon race.

He’s obviously enjoying the opportunity to talk about his past work, especially his role in the BBC detective drama Caesar, which was very popular around the same time as ITV’s Lewis – though he quickly adds that he and Kevin Whately are good friends. This friendly jab playfully references the on-screen camaraderie between Spall and Whately when they starred together in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.

Writer Paul Doolan playfully pokes fun at actors through the character Chapel’s resume, which reveals a dramatically over-the-top documentary Chapel made in 2003 – filmed at the very castle where the current crime is taking place. The documentary features Timothy Spall, looking wild with long hair, enthusiastically overacting in silly historical scenes. Watching himself, Chapel thoughtfully comments it feels “very Roger Corman,” but admits he wasn’t very convincing back then.

He might come across as arrogant, but it’s really enjoyable to watch that arrogance get deflated. The most memorable image is of Chapel dramatically reciting poetry while using a trash picker like a sword – performing for a group of criminals who weren’t interested at all, yet somehow managing to be the most captivating person there.

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Death Valley is available on BBC iPlayer. Season 2 premieres on Sunday 17 May 2026.

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Authors

David BrownDeputy Previews Editor, TopMob

I really enjoy following David Brown’s work! He’s the Deputy Previews Editor at TopMob, and he’s got amazing taste in TV – especially when it comes to crime dramas and fantasy shows. I’ve even seen him sharing his insights on BBC News, Sky News, and Radio 4’s Front Row. Plus, his writing has appeared in some major publications like the Guardian, the Sunday Times, and the i newspaper. It’s cool to know he’s also been involved behind the scenes with things like the National Television Awards and documentaries about people like Lenny Henry, Billy Connolly, and Take That – he clearly knows his stuff!

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2026-05-17 23:34