You Won't Believe What Happens in This Thrilling New ITV Drama

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Protection, the latest ITV crime drama in its ever-growing collection, grips you in an instant.

Let’s take a quick look at the events of witness protection programs. We see a young girl, barely a teenager, defy all safety measures and venture out alone into the dark night. Despite not going far, this action establishes an atmosphere of intense confinement.

Unfortunately, it’s the situation the McLellan family find themselves in while waiting to give evidence at a trial for crime boss Eddie Crowther (Alec Numan), a drug kingpin and leader of a heroin smuggling ring.

Meanwhile, Detective Liz Nyles (played by Siobhan Finneran), keeps a careful watch over the family – the husband, wife, and daughter – who are living in a secure location.

However, she can’t be around 24/7, with her own family and issues to deal with, and soon a leak in the operation causes a devastating tragedy, contract killings, and a weaving tale of corruption unfolding.

People want to know what’s happened, none more so than Liz – who struts onto our screens with a “boss lady” coat and ankle boots so we know she’s means business. But when she realises her married lover, DI Paul Brandice (Barry Ward), is somehow involved, soon she’s on her own personal mission to prove his innocence.

Her shadow investigation is complicated further by DI Wheatley (Katherine Kelly) from Major Investigations being convinced she’s hiding something, and DCI Amanda Kelman (Nadine Marshall) now investigating her entire team as part of the internal corruptions unit.

Needless to say, it’s hard to trust anyone.

Soon, Liz is making a string of terrible decisions in the name of only being able to rely on herself, and to protect the increasingly annoyed 12-year-old Amy, who is kind of fed up of being thrown pillar to post in the protection programme.

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I found myself growing increasingly frustrated with the seemingly illogical actions taken by each character throughout this intriguing six-part series. Despite their understandable emotions and motivations, these instances of apparent lack of intelligence only served to irritate me further as the plot unfolded.

I’m convinced that Wheatley might be onto something with Liz, but her fierce animosity towards that officer rubs me the wrong way. It’s puzzling how Liz continues to stand by her claim that Brandice is being framed, given the overwhelming evidence stacked against it. The fact that she seems to be skating past the potential consequences of her past relationship with Brandice feels unjustified and disheartening from someone who I know is a competent professional.

Amy is quite upset about her circumstances, but she acts in ways that could put her in danger due to her headstrong nature, which can only be excused when exhibited by a child.

Perhaps it seems like the plot is a familiar one, hinting at a sense of tiredness towards crime dramas. The show “Protection” shares certain elements with other popular crime series, and the star-studded cast, who are all well-known figures in British TV, may contribute to a feeling of deja vu due to their frequent appearances in similar shows.

Finneran was in BBC smash Happy Valley; Kelly has been a cop in Liar and Criminal: UK, and a suspect in Innocent for ITV; and Nadine Marshall has just done four episodes in Silent Witness.

While it doesn’t diminish their power to keep you captivated on your screens, there’s an undeniable sense of mass production in the crime dramas they produce that might feel bothersome if you frequently watch such shows.

However, there are some scenes that are both chilling and awe-inspiring, as the creative team skillfully constructs tension and occasionally misleads the audience, which keeps viewers engaged and alert.

The first episode especially brings some true shocks that demand your attention.

Liz’s situation is complex and challenging to decipher, causing us to cheer her on as she exposes a deceit that surpasses her wildest expectations.

Protection is a strong and sturdy thriller that’s perfect for a Sunday evening, and wraps up nearly everything neatly. Finneran and Kelly as the warring women both on a search for answers and justice are the true fires keeping this show’s momentum going, with personality clashes abound that make you want to yell at your TV.

It’s just missing a little bit of a spark to truly set that primetime timeslot alight.

2025-03-16 11:35

You Won’t Believe What Happens in This Thrilling New ITV Drama

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