Down Cemetery Road Review: Apple’s New Thriller Wastes a Stellar Cast

by

Inspired by a Phillip Larkin poem, the series centers around the unlikely pairing of tough investigator Zoë Boehm (Emma Thompson) and museum worker Sarah Tucker (Ruth Wilson). They’re thrown together when a mysterious explosion occurs, and quickly become entangled in a dangerous mystery spanning the Scottish Highlands and the Houses of Parliament. Over eight episodes, they uncover clues surrounding a disappearance, putting themselves in increasing danger and revealing a web of complicity, all crafted by thriller author Mick Herron.

Apple, hoping for another hit like its previous successes, has adapted Down Cemetery Road with writer Morwenna Banks (known for Slow Horses). The series boasts a strong cast, including Oscar winner Emma Thompson and BAFTA nominee Daniel Wilson, plus rising stars Fehinti Balogun (I May Destroy You) and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Black Doves), suggesting a captivating new show. However, the series quickly falters, leading to questions about whether Apple has overextended itself and if Down Cemetery Road was a project too ambitious to pull off.

Even With Emma Thompson on Board, Down Cemetery Road Struggles

Emma Thompson is a celebrated actress – a two-time Oscar winner known for her roles in period dramas and her expertise on Jane Austen. Her new film, Down Cemetery Road, presents a different kind of challenge. Thompson plays Zoë Boehm, a sharp-tongued, unconventional investigator, and fully commits to the role with a tough look, including boots and messy grey hair. While audiences anticipate Boehm to be central to the story, the film unfortunately doesn’t give this compelling character the focus she deserves due to a disjointed plot.

Despite its potential, this adaptation struggles to fully realize a compelling story. It has all the elements that made Slow Horses work, but feels sluggish and lacks drive. Zoë Wanamaker often seems wasted, and doesn’t get enough screen time early on to truly shine. Considering her strong background in films like The Tall Guy and her later Oscar success, her performance here is unfortunately held back by unevenness in the show’s tone.

Viewers hoping for a standout performance from Emma Thompson may find this show underwhelming. While she nails the character’s mannerisms and comedic timing, Down Cemetery Road doesn’t deliver many memorable jokes and struggles to truly engage the audience. A key issue is the lack of empathy from Zoë, the anti-heroine, making her difficult to connect with. It’s a standard murder mystery, and while comparisons to characters like Jackson Lamb and Sir Gary Oldman are natural, the lack of chemistry between Ruth Wilson and Emma Thompson adds another hurdle for some viewers.

Despite Top Tier Character Actors, This Mick Herron Thriller Feels Like a Wasted Opportunity

I’ve been a fan of Ruth Wilson for ages, and she’s always incredible at getting under the skin of complex characters – whether it was Emily Maitlis in A Very Royal Scandal or the chilling Mrs. Coulter. But honestly, even her talent couldn’t save Apple’s Down Cemetery Road. I was really hoping to see her and Tom Thompson play off each other, but they barely shared any scenes, and it just didn’t click. My biggest issue was with her character, Sarah Tucker. She didn’t have enough to do, and it was hard to really care about what happened to her. It’s a shame, because I always expect great things from Ruth, but this one just didn’t quite work.

Although the show was promoted based on the chemistry between Ruth Wilson and Emma Thompson, some of Wilson’s strongest scenes involve a different co-star. Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, as Downey, makes a memorable impact when he meets Sarah. Their connection is unusual and briefly energizes the show’s mix of murder mystery and drama. Because Zoë and Sarah are separated for much of the series, their eventual team-up feels rushed and doesn’t quite deliver. While Thompson and Wilson both perform well, certain plot points don’t quite come together. Additionally, some supporting actors struggle to make an impression, with their performances feeling lackluster.

Adeel Akhtar, known from previous roles, plays Hamza, a character who starts as a simple office worker and becomes a political assistant. While he’s meant to be a somewhat pathetic but funny figure alongside Darren Boyd’s cold and detached character ‘C’, Akhtar’s performance comes across as bland. The script intended for Hamza’s clumsiness to be endearing and suggest hidden moral struggles, but this doesn’t quite land. This issue stems from the show’s overall structure, as Down Cemetery Road frequently struggles to commit to a single genre – it’s unclear whether it’s aiming to be a thriller, a drama, or something else entirely.

Cemetery Road Owes This Ensemble a Debt of Gratitude

Fehinti Balogun is a standout in this show, delivering a chilling and subtly threatening performance. He plays Amos, a mercenary motivated solely by revenge, who operates near the orbit of Lydia Leonard’s compelling Defense Minister, Talia Ross. It’s telling that the supporting cast often feels more captivating than the show’s main stars, highlighting the series’ fractured and complex world.

While Down Cemetery Road relies heavily on its supporting cast, there’s still enjoyment to be found for viewers who connect with those characters. Darren Boyd delivers a delightfully cool performance as C, remaining composed even when questioned, and Pip Torrens is sadly underused as Dr. Isaac Wright. Both actors are talented enough to shine with minimal material. However, the show ultimately needs a stronger core story and more developed characters beyond these performers to truly succeed.

Does Down Cemetery Road Deserve Season 2?

Despite some predictable plot points and story issues, Down Cemetery Road is still an enjoyable watch. It doesn’t quite capture the same energy as Slow Horses and lacks some of its surprising twists, but it’s not without merit. Viewers will likely be pleased to see Emma Thompson in a television role, playing a complex and compelling character. She skillfully embodies the spirit of actors like Gary Oldman, bringing a memorable performance to life from the source material.

Zoë Boehm’s character feels genuinely unique and is clearly searching for a compelling story. Despite a troubled past and personal demons, she’s a resilient and engaging lead. Unfortunately, the lack of connection with Wilson diminishes her impact, making Sarah feel underdeveloped and ultimately hurting the show. While she maintains an air of mystery, her character doesn’t undergo significant growth, and she rarely gets a chance to truly shine.

While it had a promising cast and creative team, Down Cemetery Road unfortunately doesn’t live up to expectations. Following the success of Slow Horses, Apple TV+ had many options with Mick Herron’s work, and assembled a talented group of actors – even an Oscar winner as a producer. Given the team’s experience with Slow Horses, a strong adaptation seemed likely, but the result is a fairly unremarkable murder mystery that doesn’t fully develop its storylines.

Giving Zoë Boehm and Sarah Tucker’s characters more attention from the start would have likely improved the show. Despite some strong performances from the supporting cast and a good overall story, it’s frustrating that this series might not get a chance to develop. It risks being cancelled after only one season, before viewers can even decide if they enjoy it. However, if Apple decides to invest in a second season, and audiences connect with Zoë Boehm as a complex, flawed protagonist, there’s still hope Emma Thompson will return. Considering The Agency was renewed on Paramount+, this show still holds a lot of promise.

Down Cemetery Road premieres on Oct. 29, airing new episodes weekly.

Read More

2025-10-29 23:10