Chris Brandon is the creator of this British miniseries and writes all four episodes of Bloodlands and joins forces with his mentor, the successful Jed Mercurio, who serves as one of the producers and whom many of us know for being the creator of the sensational Line of Duty series.

But if you've been following Jed Mercurio's career, you'll know that he was the mind behind the critically acclaimed miniseries Bodyguard, which won several international awards.

Brandon has carved out a career as an actor, but now he's also focused on being a screenwriter, and seeing what he's done with this series, he has a great future as a creator of high-quality productions.

The miniseries is set in Belfast and is a police thriller that will surprise for its story, which involves real events from Ireland's past, when the IRA sowed terror with their terrorist attacks and that there are still wounds within that society, which are very difficult to heal.

DCI Tom Brannick and DS Niamh McGovern are assigned to investigate the possible kidnapping of Pat Keenan, a Belfast businessman, who in the past was a member of the IRA and still has connections to the criminal world. In the investigation they will find a postcard, which will upset Brannick, reminding him of the Goliath Case of more than twenty years ago, when the peace agreement with the IRA was signed, in which a murderer, who was never caught and whom the police suspect, kidnapped and murdered four people, some related to the IRA, but whose bodies have not been found. All with the aim of sabotaging the peace treaty. The events were covered up by the security forces. What does Brannick have to do with this? One of the missing was his wife, who was a member of the intelligence corps. Everything seems to indicate that someone wants to dig up the case from the past. Will it be the murderer? Who is really Goliath?

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For twenty years Tom Brannick is a tormented man, after the disappearance and possible death of his wife, he had to take care of his daughter, who is now a young medical student.

Keenan's kidnapping has indications of being carried out by Goliath, or by someone who knows a lot about that case, which was kept hidden from public opinion. Those were other times, the peace treaty signed in 1994 was of vital importance, and Brannick himself and his boss Jackie Twomey had to keep quiet.

Trust no one and believe nothing you see. The miniseries has its moments that will surprise you, with some twists in the story, that will change the perception you have of some of its characters.

Jackie Twomey takes over the case when Brannick disobeys orders and continues to investigate Goliath. DS Niamh McGovern is a young but astute policewoman, who will also start investigating on her own because there are things that don't add up about the whole case.

The victims' relatives, who in the past were involved with the IRA, also seem to be hiding something. Goliath has covered his tracks for more than twenty years, even whole files have disappeared from the police headquarters. The person who committed these crimes is not willing to be discovered and will do everything possible to keep everything hidden.

There is another character, named Tori Matthews, a doctor who will meet Brannick by accident and who happens to teach Izzi, the policeman's daughter. She seems to take an interest in him, will befriend Izzi, who wants her father to rebuild his life. Her mother disappeared when she was a child and she just wants her father to be happy again.

But Brannick doesn't seem to be interested in anyone else, he spends his days watching an old video of his wife when Izzi was a child. Something gnaws at him inside, that tragic past that now someone seems to want to bring to light.

The answer will be surprising. And it won't take long to find out, it is a four-episode miniseries, which develops the story calmly, but providing twists in the plot, which will cause surprise in the viewers.

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Something that makes the series attractive is the political ingredient, all the facts have to do with the peace agreement with the IRA. We are shown how open wounds still remain within society. You can feel the tension when the police have to go to areas where people who were part of the terrorist group in the past live.

The setting in Belfast, with cold tones, creates powerful images that will keep us attentive to everything that happens. Those landscapes full of history, legends and sad memories for some characters, are an element that elevates the quality of the miniseries.

The cinematography is in charge of the Icelandic Árni Filippusson, who brings that style we have seen in Nordic productions. Although the miniseries is set in Ireland, at times it looks like a Nordic noir. This talented cinematographer has also worked on The Valhalla Murders series and has extensive experience in films and series. You can see all of his work at this link He also has contact information, in case you are interested in hiring him for your film project.

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To direct the series, they hired British filmmaker Pete Travis, whose last TV hit was the six-episode miniseries Fearless. If you don't know who he is yet, here's a hint, he directed the excellent remake of Judge Dredd, starring Karl Urban. Although the director has some somewhat uneven films, especially City of Tiny Lights, it was with the Dredd remake that he came to my attention and I remember him for that excellent work.

He has found in the miniseries, a style of work that he is very good at, and here he does it to perfection, maintaining the tension as we discover things in the story, but taking his time to tell us everything. Without needing to speed up the pace, he hooks us with this police thriller.

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Actor James Nesbitt plays Tom Brennick, the 20-year-old cop haunted by the disappearance of his wife. Keenan's kidnapping will bring back all the ghosts of the past. He goes back to investigate everything about Goliath. But from the beginning, it seems there is something else haunting him. What is Brennick hiding from us?

I love several British actors and James Nesbitt is one of them. He has an admirable career, I remember him from the movie Bloody Sunday, but in more recent years, he was one of the leads in the first season of The Missing, playing the father whose son is kidnapped and won't rest until he finds him. I recommend watching that first season, Nesbitt gives a great performance. I also recommend watching the movie Waking Ned, an adorable movie where the actor plays another memorable role. Many will recognize him from The Hobbit movies.

In Bloodlands he plays a character that suits him wonderfully, it seems tailor-made for him. Besides the story, he is the other compelling reason to enjoy the miniseries.

The other actors in the cast are also big names in British film and television.

Charlene McKenna plays DS Niamh McGovern, Brennick's partner, who will single-handedly investigate a lead she has on the possible identity of Goliath. The actress made a name for herself in the series Pure Mule and recently appeared in the series Ripper Street.

Veteran actor Lorcan Cranitch plays DCS Jackie Twomey, the head of the investigation who seems to be hiding a lot of secrets. Actress Lisa Dwan plays Dr. Tori Matthews, who shows an interest in Brennick, but is actually hiding her true intentions. Lola Petticrew plays Izzi Brennick, Tom's daughter who doesn't remember her mother, because she disappeared when she was a child. And the excellent actor Michael Smiley plays Dinger, a medical examiner who will help Niamh in the investigation.

If you want to know who makes up the rest of the cast and crew, check out the miniseries on IMDB: Link

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