River (2015) User Reviews

One of the best miniseries we've seen in years

[donOdon · 9/10 · 19 November 2015]

Beautifully done -- writing, acting, direction, everything. Unlike some other reviewers, my wife and I found the stretching of our perceptions that River's hallucinations required of us only deepened our immersion in the emotional truth of the story. It made River's journey all the more moving.

Special praise must go to the superb ensemble of actors, especially Stellan Skarsgård and Nicola Walker. Such beautifully nuanced performances!

We sincerely hope there will be another case that will allow us to join River on another journey.

Nicola singing is the bomb

[ishtapaz · 9/10 · 23 November 2015]

Nicola Walker singing. Of course I would love this. She always had too serious roles (not that this one isn't ) but never smiling. I was surprised how she lifts the room when she smiles. Stellan of course is a heavy duty actor so hard to fault him here. As usual British police shows are stories that you have to focus on. And their actors are all top notch and schooled yet they really convey real life quite well. Plus the solution is found in humanity not in the supernatural.

I love the supporting cast. the new partner is not to be dismissed as well.

There is a reason that British show own this genre. Always had.

Surprisingly humane and moving

[fraser-simons · 9/10 · 13 September 2021]

I hesitated on this one because generally depictions of mentally ill people are pretty bad. While I cannot in anyway say I'm an authority or have lived experience with this kind of mental illness, I do know that, while also solving a fairly interesting and complex case, in which River's partner was murdered-it also manages to paint a humane portrait of a mental ill person. He is ostracized but highly functional and empathetic and kind, while also having to contend with his illness.

The production values are great. The acting is solid. Locations and cinematography and wardrobe are great. Best of all though, as is rarely the case, the script is great. The plot feels fresh, as do the beats. It has a lot of breathing room, as most British drama does. Some of which always feels like it could be truncated, tbh. But it undeniably strikes a chord; far more so than American conventions manage. It's subversive of the genre and of stereotyping the mentally ill.

It's just solid all around, really. That, plus, the audacity of subject matter and unconventional protagonist and emotional portrayal, make it almost perfect, for me. Highly recommend it.

Truly Original

[judy-12380 · 10/10 · 9 November 2015]

Having used IMDb for years, it took this programme to make me sign up and register to leave a review. As of the time of writing, the series is 2/3 of the way through and I am already mourning the end, though certain that I will not be able to second-guess how everything is resolved (if, indeed, it is). The central character is John River, a Detective Inspector with the Police working in the East End of London. He is a genuinely complicated man, and we are only drip-fed clues to his (Swedish) background, but he has obvious mental health issues he fights to control. In the hands of most actors, I might have been sceptical, but played by the magnificent Stellan Skarsgard, I have been totally drawn into his world and left praying that everything will work out for him. I have never wanted to be able to hug a character in a programme before, but River goes through so many emotions that it is impossible not to be swept along with him. The supporting cast are also excellent - Nicola Walker and Adeel Akhtar as his partners, Lesley Manville as his immediate superior; all warm, likable and believable characters. Finally, mention has to be made of Abi Morgan, who created the series. I can only hope that she can come up with a satisfying conclusion to the series that does not slam the door on a possible second series - but only if the magnificent Stellan Skarsgard can be persuaded to return. I have already begun to delve into his back catalogue and am more impressed with every film I see.

Love love loved River!!!!

[abondgirl · 10/10 · 22 November 2015]

I have to admit that I wasn't expecting great things. I channel surfed on Net Flix and saw that this was a BBC Detective mystery. The BBC Seems to consistently deliver quality programs, so I thought "Why not?" After the first 5 minutes, when River's partner Stevie sang joyfully to Tina Charles song "I love to love", I was transfixed. I watched all 6 episodes yesterday - a Saturday with 14 inches of snow piling up outside.

This series made me laugh and cry more than any other series I've ever watched. It was heartwarming, dramatic and suspenseful. I fell in love with Stevie and River and felt empathy for most of the other characters.

I loved this series more than I can say. I plan to watch the whole series again over Thanksgiving when my mom comes to visit.

If I could give this an 11, I would. Please ignore the haters. You really can't please everyone.

I plan to watch everything Nicola Walker ever did. She is the most amazing actress I've ever watched. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

A joy

[callalou1 · 10/10 · 5 November 2015]

I missed the first episode of River, as, from a trailer, it appeared to be the bog standard detective mini-series. It was only on another well-loved, armchair TV critic show, Gogglebox, that its surprising secret and fascination were revealed as episode 1 was critiqued.

That revelation led me to quickly catch up and to become hooked on what must be one of the more unusual detective series to have ever graced our screens.

Quite apart from the plot's twist, the characters are believable and well rounded, and our hero, River, is the kind of gentle cop we thought we'd seen the last of in the 1970s. His sidekick provides the grounded, more robust cop we know today.

Sub-plots examine love and personal relationships, race relations and mental health and all are handled with equal dignity and are thought provoking.

River has become required viewing and I cannot wait to reach the climax of this intriguing story.

blew me away

[Br4ve-trave1or · 10/10 · 2 December 2015]

you know if Netflix presents it, it must be good. wrong. its incredible. the most original detective story I've come across thus far. Stellan Skarsgård knocks it out of the park with his sad eyes alone. his facial expressions speaks volumes. No other actor could have made this character so humanely profound as he does. He struggles with so many issues. I went into this knowing very little and was blown away. I was hooked almost immediately after I found out the first twist within the first 15 min. I love the way his mental decline or status is examined and how its not over the top at all but very real and we accept he's not mad. this is a must watch and very intriguing and is heartbreakingly incredible. It's art disguised as a TV series. IT'S THAT PERFECT! i don't want to spoil anything just WATCH THIS SHOW IMMEDIATELY you'll thank me

Fantastic

[sgazza-78890 · 9 February 2016]

I was recommended to watch this by a fellow English person and knowing I was a big fan of both Stellan S and Nicola Walker I knew I would enjoy this. Went in not knowing anything but after the first twist I was hooked. This has a bit of a feel of The Sixth Sense with Profiler. Absolutely loved it. Put mental health on the map but in such a clever way. Stellan was pure perfection acting this unique part which is clearly what drew him to the challenge. The entire cast are genius but his relationship with Nicola Walker's character was beautiful and heart wrenching, they had great chemistry. Another standout is his new partner who is so understanding and compliments their relationship. Definitely recommend this to anyone who likes a bit of supernatural even though it's not in that category. Very clever and the acting is sensational. Not to mention fantastic sound track you'll all recognise!!! Oh....I love to love....

ENJOY!!!

A great Stellan Skarsgard

[DLochner · 7/10 · 17 March 2022]

An intensely told story with a great Stellan Skarsgard. A crime mini-series of a different kind. However, the whole thing sometimes seems a bit long-winded and a lot could definitely be shortened. All in all, however, it is anything but a typical crime series worth seeing.

Stellan Skarsgård is absolutely brilliant

[dagallop · 10/10 · 5 December 2015]

This is by far the best thing that ever happened to Netflix. After watching a very disappointing Marvel series (you can guess the what) I wasn't holding much hope out for this. Oh brother, I was blown away!

Stellan Skarsgård is, as ever, brilliant! I am sure that he could carry any part to its limits and beyond, this simply confirms my confidence. Who would have thought Nicola Walker and Stellan Skarsgård would be so powerful a pairing but they are.

I could go on about how great the directing is and the story line, effects and everything else about the production, but frankly I'm only a viewer and lack the technical knowledge to define in a meaningful way just how 'impressed' I was.

Adeel Akhtar could be a lead and should be, but the complimentary support is outstanding.

In my opinion this is a must watch series.

A distinct series with a strong leading performance, yet over-sophisticated

[BeneCumb · 7/10 · 20 March 2016]

This series has a great benchmark - British production together with a male lead coming from Sweden... So it should be a good mix of British/Scandinavian film noir, with a distinguishable angle - in the form Nicola Walker as DS Jackie "Stevie" Stevenson - but the overall plot and crime-related events are too much subject to mental issues of DI John River (otherwise solidly performed by Stellan Skarsgård). All this accentuates the gloomy mood and enhances tense, but diminishes realism as one could hardly imagine a policeman with such a state in mind continually active in service...

So the promising beginning faded more or less into a psychological horror where the criminal investigation receded into the background too much. The ending solution was a bit far-fetched as well, although no minus points for this from me as I did not guess who the real wrongdoer was.

However, in spite of Mr Skarsgård's great efforts, the series in question is more like Bosch rather than Broadchurch or What remains, for example. But I can easily imagine that River has and will have its loyal and admiring audience.

Stellan Skarsgård plays a detective with a difference

[Tweekums · 10/10 · 18 November 2015]

Protagonist DI John River is a policeman determined to solve the murder of his partner, DS Jackie 'Stevie' Stevenson. Many TV detectives have issues… in his case they probably count as a serious mental health issue. He continues to have conversations with Stevie and other dead people; he doesn't believe them to be ghosts, instead he refers to them as 'manifests'. It is no secret that he has problems and after a suspect dies while fleeing arrest River is told that he must see the police psychiatrist. As the case progresses he learns more about Stevie; he knew that her family operated on the wrong side of the law but clues suggest she had secrets too… was she involved in an unofficial investigation or was she corrupt? Either way it is hard for River to learn that his partner was keeping secrets.

When I saw the trailer for this series I was intrigued… and having watched it must say I wasn't disappointed. Stellan Skarsgård excels as the eponymous River and Nicola Walker is great as Stevie; their scenes together are a delight… I loved her singing disco classic 'I Love to Love' as they drove along… a song we later hear him singing in a more poignant scene. The rest of the cast are also impressive. While Stevie is probably the most important manifest River sees others are impotent too; most notably Victorian poisoner Thomas Cream, played in a distinctly creepy manner by Eddie Marsan. Writer Abi Morgan's story nicely interweaves the mystery of who killed Stevie with the question of whether or not River's issues will ultimately lead to his suspension or worse.

A lot of series do well but fail at the final hurdle with a poor resolution… thankfully this was not one of them; the answer to the questions 'who killed Stevie' and 'what was her secret' are answered in a way that I hadn't seen coming. This could have given the series a rather downbeat end but instead we get one final bittersweet scene between River and Stevie's manifest that was an utter joy; it is obvious that as much as this was a mystery series it was also a love story. Overall I found this series to be a real delight and strongly recommend it to anybody looking for a mystery with a difference.

Well acted and intriguing on many levels, yet...

[musickrev · 6/10 · 28 March 2022]

Kind of a very serious "Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)", this show is well acted and has a convoluted and involving plot line. Yet the main premise that the lead character's severe mental illness, confounding, muddling and sometimes helpful, is sustainable in his work role is simply very difficult to believe. If you can put that aside, it does stand as an original and brave effort to subvert the usual police procedural stereotype. It doesn't work for me overall, but I enjoyed finding that out over the course of the season. Worth watching.

Decent story implausibly developed; a River of no return.

[john-70-690278 · 5/10 · 22 November 2015]

This BBC series began promisingly enough, with the title character, a somewhat humourless police officer, looking for the murderer of his colleague 'Stevie'. So far so good. Not terribly original but at least as solid starting point. Sadly, and despite good performances from the majority of the cast, it then descends further and further into the realms of implausibility.

River turns out to be a man haunted by visions from his past, principally of his murdered colleague, an excellent Nicola Walker, but also of assorted villains whom he's encountered. His current colleagues not only know of his obvious mental instability but seem quite happy to accept it, all that is except the boss, an in-out performance from Owen Teale. Teale wants River gone and refers him to the force's psychiatrist who turns out to be a most understanding and sympathetic girl; inevitably she comes down on River's side, seemingly finding his incredible behaviour nothing out of the ordinary for a police officer.

Episode by episode, the story becomes less believable. River's behaviour becomes more and more eccentric. A judge who just happens to be the husband of River's immediate superior (Lesley Manville) is implicated and things go from bad to worse. The murdered colleague is discovered to have been a rather less 'nice' person than River believed, or fantasized, and the final 20 minutes descend into something like a parody of 'The Singing Detective'.

For the overall performances, this would rate a decent score, as it would for the principal storyline, but the utter implausibility of a middle-aged police officer charging around the streets talking to himself, not to say assaulting passers by, makes it too daft for words.

When Mercedes Benz arrived in America...

[A_Different_Drummer · 10/10 · 30 November 2015]

Bear with this cranky old reviewer for a moment.

In the 1960s, Consumers Union, the only car magazine in America that actually purchased the cars they reviewed (and resold them after) got their hands on a Mercedes sedan. It was culture shock for all concerned. When the review hit the newsstands -- crammed in among raves for Firebirds and Mustangs -- the editors said that for the first time in their careers (the magazine had been out for well over a decade) they were obliged to give a perfect score ... because the car was ... perfect.

So here I go, pushing toward some 1000 reviews for the IMDb (for which I get a X-Mas card each year from the founder and heartfelt good e-wishes) and I too am compelled to give this series a perfect score.

Because -- and pardon me while I hide behind the complex technical lingo of the professional reviewer -- it is perfect.

From the opening sequence which riffs off a popular song, to the closing bit which riffs off that same song. Perfect.

To the acting, which makes Bruce Willis' performance in a similar American vehicle look like sleepwalking.

And most of all, the scripts. Scripts to die for. Scripts by Abi Morgan (of THE HOUR fame). Scripts so well constructed they could make even Steven Moffat have a rare moment of insecurity, and wonder if perhaps he should have become an accountant.

Perfect.

Just perfect.

((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Pure Cinema even if it is a "tv" show

[MudFlapp · 10/10 · 24 November 2015]

The new wave of cinema seems to be TV and Netflix is the new HBO, for better and worse. River, is everything True Detective should of been but didn't have the strength to achieve. River is Netflix equivalent of the Wire. I would not be surprised if it isn't received just as the Wire did when it was in its original show run.

River has a cast that is primarily over the age of 40, not supermodel attractive (but very appealing), and a story that does not hold your hand. I am a guy. A guys guy. A flaming heterosexual, not there is anything wrong with anything, but...I cried like a baby at the last ten mins of this show. For the story, the acting, the music, and underneath that is really in your face, one of the most touching, beautiful and heartbreaking love stories I have ever witnessed in a piece of art disguised as a TV show, and I generally do not like love stories...I almost do not want a second season, I want to back in the new new wave of cinema, live reel to reel in the real world of River.

D.I River chooses life despite everything.

[ianlouisiana · 10/10 · 15 October 2015]

Mr S.Skarsgard has the brooding presence of Mr J Wayne as Ethan Edwards in "The Searchers",and the voice of Mr O.Welles as Harry Lime in "The Third Man". He is a detective obsessed with finding the murderer of his partner Miss N.Walker who was shot in front of him apparently at random. Nothing unusual about that you might think,but Miss Walker appears,as chirpy and irrepressible as she presumably was in life,next to him in his car,in his office and just about anywhere else she chooses,to chide him along,goad him and join him in a karaoke bar,singing joyfully and generally being very annoying,albeit rather endearing. A young girl living in his flat that you might think is his daughter turns out to be the victim of a murder he is investigating and a young man he sees and suspects of being Miss Walkers killer jumps off a balcony and kills himself before revealing to the Inspector that in fact he was innocent. So we can see Mr Skarsgard has a problem with dead people. Additionally he is visited by the ghost of Victorian serial - killer Neil Cream who gives him philosophical insights into the criminal mind. This from a man who,just before he was dropped to hell from the scaffold, shouted "I am Jack the ...." So he needs to be selective in the advice he takes there. If this all seems like a bit of a melange...well,it is,but a brilliant melange. Filmed in what might be called "Scandi - Noir" style,it deals with love and grief in a grown up way,with the scene where Inspector River goes to his late partner's flat and curls up on her bed hugging her pillow was genuinely moving. Even without knowing whether they were having an affair(and I rather think not as she treats him like a teenager might treat a favourite uncle)it is clear he loved her. So accept that this bear of a man,decent and compassionate,is living with ghosts,go along with the fact that his partner has a huge exit wound in the back of her head but still sings her socks off,and wish that guys like D.I. River didn't go out with Brylcreem and Crombie overcoats. Most of all,watch this joyful affirmation of what it means to be alive and how preferable it is to the alternative.

Awesome

[grasswhisperer · 10/10 · 23 November 2015]

I had read about this series and was able to find a way to stream it and

I was so glad I did. There is a difference between American and British

Police procedurals that I have come to love. British shows like this are

so straightforward. They just tell the story. In a series like this you

get the entire story. Nothing is resolved in an hour (well, 45 minutes

with commercials) so you get a much more complete story. And there are so

many twists and turns, always making you think you have the answer but

you find out that that there is a new addition to complicate things. I

loved the interaction with River and Stevie (yes I know she was a

"manifest" as river called her) but their connection as actors makes the

story real, even if you have to suspend reality to absorb it. Skarsgard

plays River to a tee. So sad, so alone, missing his partner so much

that his occasional smiles and moments of joy are so sweet. I have

watched all of the episodes and the range of emotions that I had were

from A to Z. The ending was a surprise and so sad, but to see how River

has grown made me smile and tear up a little. I would recommend this to

everyone. If you judge it by only the first episode or two, you will

miss a great ride. Thumbs up to all of those involved in this

production. It was worth every minute of my time

its good not great

[backnblack-06123 · 7/10 · 13 July 2021]

The acting is fantastic, writing okay just a few to many redundant parts and the male character isn't very likable.

This was wonderful television!!!

[annetteduff-56850 · 10/10 · 19 November 2015]

I never write reviews, but felt I had to after watching the last episode of River.

This is television at its best. All the actors were good, but the acting and relationship between Nicola Walker and Stella Skarsgard was so poignant and so well done.

You truly felt their relationship through all six episodes.

The end of the last episode where they reenacted their last night together and danced to Tina Charles was so well acted, I bet no-one could watch without a tear!

Pity they don't give Oscars for this!!

Fantastic telly!!!

Slow developing but worth it. Lesley Manville steals the show.

[jimparrett · 15 April 2017]

This series took me three episodes before it sunk in. The first two episodes teetered between M. Night Shyamalan ridiculousness and Terrence Malick pompous creepiness. Episode three cuts back on the silly voice overs and laughable conversations with dead people, giving this series some serious mojo. Combine that with some top notch writing, stellar acting from Skarsgård and crisp direction and you have an intriguing and engrossing show. But best of all, Manville's strong but vulnerable boss illuminates the series with some revelatory chops that make everything seem more real and more involving with every show. By the conclusion, I was hooked and wanting more. Television shows don't get much more substantive than this.

River Great actors, sad story line

[bennieandlindaj · 6/10 · 24 September 2020]

The acting in this is great but the story line is sad. The male leads situation is sad and since a couple of key people causing this sadness are dead, it will not get better.

The impact of this show is astonishing

[athenamuses-308-200437 · 10/10 · 4 December 2018]

Boy did this show take me by surprise. All I can say is don't miss it. It's so much more than a detective series and Stellan Skarsgård gives a performance that will take your breath away. Nicola Walker is of course magnificent as well. The whole cast just puts this story together into a piece of poetry. There was a moment near the end - an unexpected moment - that touched me in a way that nothing ever has. Nothing. I burst into tears, the choking, primal, emptying out of the soul tears, that brings you so close to something in yourself that you've been trying to reach for years - and there it is, on the screen in front of you. Mr. Skarsgård's performance reaches into you like a fish hook. Every one of these performances shines like a diamond.

Engaging, although a bit gimmicky

[grammarchris-84180 · 7/10 · 10 January 2024]

The premise is unusual, although not original, and it gets worked pretty hard, to the point that it dominates the narrative, perhaps more than it should. Certain of the apparitions work very well, the little guy with the moustache gets annoying (which I suppose was the point), and Nicola Walker is good but not up to her usual standard.

As a whodunnit, it's a bit weak, the twists and turns are a little predictable. Overall, it feels like something based on a graphic novel.

Having said that, Stellan Skarsgård, as the tormented sleuth, is pretty good, and I'd like to see him in something more conventional and less gimmicky. Lesley Manville, as River's boss, gives a very strong performance.

So, pretty good, not first class, but with enough to make it worth 6 episodes of your time (unless you hate graphic novels, in which case you'll hate it).

River of no return

[Prismark10 · 4/10 · 12 January 2016]

River started with great promise starring the legendary Stellan Skarsgard a Swedish actor who appears absolutely anywhere I once saw him in a Merchant/Ivory Bollywood film made in the late 1980s!

The first episode was intriguing, River is talking to his partner Stevie (Nicola Walker) but it turns out she is dead, murdered actually.

River is haunted by past visions, manifestations as he calls them who constantly talk to him and even grate him which he tries to ignore but sometimes talks back to them like Stevie.

River is certainly a cop on the edge. His new partner wants to get to know him even be respected by him but River just ignores him. His superiors want him to see the resident shrink which he does so reluctantly. All the time River wants to find out who killed Stevie and their is also a sub-plot about illegal migrants.

The drama like other Scandi crime dramas is a slow burn although in this case some of the episodes did end with a nice disco song which offset the colourless and humourless River.

However as each episode went on and as River's behaviour becomes even more erratic and I really found the series to be hard going. Although the series was multi layered I did find the conclusion unsatisfactory apart from River will just have to live with his manifestations and that he may not had really known Stevie as well as he thought.