New BBC drama Virdee could easily rival Luther – but it’s crucial it keeps its brutal scenes
A NEW BBC drama has the potential to be as addictive and dark as crime series Luther.
New Bradford based crime thriller series Virdee aired on BBC, and it's already clear it's addictive viewing.
With all episodes available on BBC iPlayer, it's a bingeworthy series that is unforgettable and with multiple twists and jaw dropping scenes it's already had me praying there's a second series in the works - and that I won't be waiting years for it.
The Bradford-based crime thriller drama follows Detective Harry Virdee (Staz Nair) who has become estranged from his Sikh family after marrying a Muslim woman.
At work, Harry suddenly becomes involved in the hunt for a killer who is targeting the Asian community in Bradford which takes him all over the city.
While Detective Harry Virdee is focused with a major gang investigation, viewers discover that the detective actually has some ties to this underworld of his own.
More on BBC drama
Namely, that one of the city's most successful businessmen - and head of one of the gangs in question - is none other than his brother-in-law and childhood friend, Riaz (Vikash Bhai).
With dark and twisted murders from the get go, the series delivers some painful deaths that are so brutal they stay with you even after the episode airs.
It's not just violent murders but the sick and twisted aftermath including symbolic marking and some sadistic weapons, and it's certainly not shying away from the gory details.
Yet like BBC crime dramas before it including Happy Valley and Luther, this isn't a TV show to try and downplay its darker scenes.
Instead of camera angles hinting at a violent death or letting us think the worst, the viewers see the impact and whilst it's a hard watch, it's necessary.
Graphic and even sickening in some parts, deaths range from a hanging to a sadistic death involving live insects sewn behind eyelids to a slit throat as well as a 'death trap collar' that features rusting nails pointed at the throat.
In Virdee there's no scarcity of blood, violence and gory details, but rather than flinching it's bone chillingly addictive and you'll find it hard to stop watching.
With Game of Thrones’ Staz Nair in the lead role as Harri Virdee, we follow the sick crimes and murders as he finds them and if you wanted a new serial killer to haunt your nightmares this is the one.
If you were ever afraid of spiders, creepie crawlies or any other form of insect, this is the series to truly seal the deal - I for one will be steering clear after watching the whole of the first series in one go.
Even days later it's still firmly in my head and I can't stop thinking about it.
The Virdee book series has more to come, so hopefully that means more drama series to land and I'll be bracing myself for the dark twists whilst being unable to look away.
Virdee airs on BBC1 and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
