A BBC series set in Edinburgh has been earning rave reviews from viewers and is now available to stream for free.
Based on the bestselling novels by Sir Ian Rankin, Rebus follows the gritty detective John Rebus as he tackles crimes across the capital. Known for his strong moral compass, Rebus is not afraid to operate in the grey areas of the law to get to the bottom of cases.
The stakes rise when his brother, Michael, crosses the line to provide for his family, pulling Rebus into a violent criminal conflict. Torn between loyalty and duty, Rebus must decide whether to protect his brother, a former soldier, or ensure justice is served, reports the Express.
Working along side him is DC Siobhan Clarke, who approaches investigations with a more modern, by-the-book approach than her colleague. Despite their differing methods and personalities, Rebus and Clarke develop a close partnership, relying on each other both professionally and personally.
The six-part series, which has a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, first aired on BBC one in 2024 and is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer, the Express reports.
Richard Rankin, known for his roles in Outlander and The Replacement, portrays Rebus and Siobhan is played by Lucie Shorthouse, who is known for her roles in Bulletproof and Henpocalypse!.
Thoren Ferguson, Caroline Lee-Johnson, Sean Buchanan, and Michelle Duncan also feature in the series. The BBC hit was confirmed for a second season in July this year.
The series is adapted from the Inspector Rebus novels, which began with Knots and Crosses in 1987. The franchise now includes 24 books, with the most recent, A Heart Full of Headstones, published in 2022.
Rankin’s novels have earned widespread acclaim, selling over 35 million copies worldwide and being translated into more than 36 languages. He is widely regarded as one of the leading authors in the crime genre, with his work inspiring numerous adaptations and projects across different media.
Fans have taken to social media to praise Rebus, with one fan review, reading: “Binged the series. Loved the books, this series is brilliant. Masterpiece.”
“Best show on TV that I have seen in years. Storyline, characters and dialogue, was brilliant. Well done BBC,” another declared.
While another echoed this statement, penning: “As a long time reader of the Rebus books and a couple of not so good non – Rebus books by one of the best ever authors of this genre; Ian Rankin. This BBC production has superb atmospheric, damp , greyish look to Edinburgh with the majority of camera time spent on the dialogue and characters.”
A fourth said: “Rebus – excellent and second series on the way – if you like a dark detective show – a cross between Taggart, Case Histories & Line of Duty.”
While a fifth raved: “Could I please request that my @ BBC TV Licence fee for the next 10 years is spent on Series 2 of Rebus. By far one of the best series I have seen in years. Thank you.”
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