British television stands out for a number of reasons: the setting, the culture (cup of tea, anyone?) and, let's face it, the accents. Mix all these positives with a thrilling plot and you have a phenomenal combination that can fill an entire weekend.
You’ll find some of the best British thriller TV series on Netflix. Although these series were produced in the UK, they have won over audiences all over the world, and for good reason: they’re brilliant. You’ll find gangsters, spies, killers, stalkers, and more in this list. These British thrillers are truly brilliant and will definitely leave you thrilled (see what I did there?).
'Peaky Blinders'
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We start our list with “Peaky Blinders,” which stars the incredible Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby, a soldier who returns to Birmingham after World War I. Along with his family, he leads the gang called the Peaky Blinders. The series features an incredible cast with Paul Anderson as the older brother, Arthur Shelby; Sophie Rundle as their sister, Ada Shelby; and the late Helen McCrory as their aunt, Polly Gray.
However, the series goes way beyond what you would expect from a typical gangster plot. It makes you experience what it is like to recover from the horrors of war. The creators of the series also take incredible care in showcasing realistic dialogues and emotional scenes that capture the hearts of the characters. “Peaky Blinders” is a thriller that you should not miss.
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“Kill Eve”
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Sandra Oh may be Canadian and famous for her roles in American films and series, but her most acclaimed work is in this cat-and-mouse thriller. Eve Polastri is a British intelligence agent who is bored with her desk job and longs for a much more exciting career. She is then tasked with capturing the ruthless assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer) and the chase becomes an obsession for both women.
In case you were wondering, Eve spent a good chunk of her childhood in the US and then moved back to the UK, which explains why Eve doesn't have a British accent (although it would have been nice to hear her try). The ending of the series did generate some disappointed reactions, but that doesn't take away from the experience of watching the first two seasons (written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Emerald Fennell respectively). They are worth watching on their own.
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“Baby Reindeer”
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Typically, in stalker stories, the man is the stalker and the woman is the victim. This miniseries reverses that narrative and turns the tables. Richard Gadd plays Donny Dunn, who meets Martha Scott (Jessica Gunning) in a London pub where he works as a barmaid. To cheer her up, he offers her a cup of tea, and Martha develops an unhealthy obsession with Donny.
While the film is peppered with dark humor, it is much more of a thriller and much darker than one might expect. Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning both play broken characters whose connection creates an emotional roller coaster. Gadd has a troubled past that impacts his life and often leads him down dark paths that will have you screaming at him while you watch. What makes this film so incredible is that it is based on a true story and is adapted from Gadd's one-man show.
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“A Good Girl's Guide to Murder”
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One of the most recent entries in Netflix's thriller category is based on the young adult novel of the same name by Holly Jackson, “A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.” It follows Pip Fitz-Amobi (Emma Myers) as she tries to solve a murder-suicide committed five years ago by Salil Singh (Rahul Pattni) against his girlfriend Andie Bell (India Lillie Davies). Pip incorporates the case into her school project and, as the investigation progresses, becomes convinced that Salil was wrongly accused.
This six-part series follows the books pretty well, although some fans may feel it's not as incredible (but isn't that almost always the case?). As Pip, American actress Emma Myers manages to do a British accent, even if it's not perfect.
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“Behind his eyes”
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The last novel on our list is “Behind Her Eyes,” a psychological thriller based on a book of the same name. Louise (Simona Brown) begins a relationship with a man who also happens to be her new boss, David (Tom Bateman). Complicated? Very. What makes things even stranger is that she also begins a friendship with his wife, Adele (Eve Hewson). Thus begins a strange love triangle that we wouldn’t wish on our worst enemy.
This series will captivate you immediately. The unexpected ending, which received mixed reviews, will stay with you long after it ends. Rewatching the series is a great experience, as you'll notice clues you missed on your first viewing.
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