Lynley comes to BritBox with a high bar to meet—British TV has perfected the art of the two-hander mystery show. The format of two usually contrasting detectives solving crimes is its own subgenre, and one that the UK does miles better than most US shows. Lynley takes that tried and true template and elevates it further, thanks to some excellent casting.

Longtime fans will remember that the series is based on Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley novels, which were then previously adapted into The Inspector Lynley Mysteries from 2001 to 2008. However, Lynley is not a revival of that classic crime show; this is a new version with a clean slate. There will be an innate urge to compare it, both to that first series and to the books, and the creative team seems to be fully aware of that in the four-episode series. All four episodes make an attempt to appeal both to those familiar with the characters, and viewers who are completely new.

For the established audience, certain key character elements remain the same, most notably Thomas Lynley’s back and forth with his new partner, Barbara Havers. There’s that classic “upstairs, downstairs” dynamic, as he happens to be the Earl of Asherton and Havers is rough around the edges, to put it lightly. (The way Lynley introduces both characters is brilliant—it sums both Havers and Lynley up as individuals and sets the tone for their partnership in one honestly hilarious sequence of events.) And some familiar faces from canon also turn up in this version.

But what makes the series work is that the dynamic between Lynley and Havers transcends the quippy back and forth that populates so many of these types of shows. There’s a mutual respect between them that is always apparent on screen, thanks to the performances of actors Leo Suter and Sofia Barclay. The characters are still very different, and still perplex one another, but they always feel like a team. Daniel Mays portrays their boss Brian Nies, and fills the role more than admirably—perhaps because he’s played so many cops (see: Des, Line of Duty, even Code 404), he gives the “supervisor” archetype real personality. There are moments where he seems like he’s having the best time, even if Nies isn’t doing anything important.

That spark is what sets Lynley apart from other series in this subgenre, and explains why the property is worth revisiting. Writer Steve Thompson (Doctor Who) has penned four teleplays that have solid whodunits; fans of The Inspector Lynley Mysteries or any other British crime show will be satisfied by the plots. But Lynley also feels fresh because of that element of lightness. It injects its dramatic happenings with some life, so that there’s more to look forward to than just bad guys being caught. When so many procedurals claim to be character-driven, this one actually is. And by the end of the season, four episodes doesn’t feel like enough. There’s no reason this version of Lynley can’t be solving crimes just as long as his predecessor.

Lynley premieres Thursday, Sept. 4 on BritBox, with new episodes weekly. Photo Credit: Courtesy of BritBox.

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