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Catching up on shows I missed during the pandemic, I’ve found my way to The Chelsea Detective. Available now on Acorn TV, it’s a crime drama series set in Chelsea, an affluent part of West London. And Chelsea seems to feature as a character, too, with plenty of establishing shots overhead and street scenes with Detective Inspector Max Arnold (Adrian Scarborough) whizzing around on his bicycle.
The sights take me back to my London trips. I’d order a croissant and tea at a cafe before walking around for a couple of hours while my brother slept in. From Hyde Park, the treks took me through South Kensington to Chelsea and then back up to fetch my well-rested sibling. Seeing so much of London on this show always tempts me to book a UK vacation. Try to resist the travel bug.
On the Chelsea Team
Max sticks out as an interesting detective because his lifestyle clashes with that of Chelsea’s well-to-do. He lives in a houseboat on the river because he’s separated from his wife, Astrid (Anamaria Marinca). Occasionally, his aunt Olivia (Frances Barber) pops by to cheer him up or drop a hint about his murder investigations. Detective Sergeant Priya Shamsie (Sonita Henry), who just returned early from maternity leave, joins Max on the cases.
Max and Priya rely on the sharp skills of their detective constables, Connor Pollock (Peter Bankolé) and Jess Lombard (Lucy Phelps). Pollock and Lombard have great camaraderie and teamwork to chase perps and disprove alibis. Along with Priya, they enjoy poking fun at Max’s eccentricities. Chief Forensics Officer Ashley Wilton (Sophie Stone) rounds out the team with a wry sense of humor, because of which she quickly hit my shortlist of favorite characters.
If you’re a Whitstable Pearl fan, you’ll enjoy seeing Frances Barber playing another supportive relative quite differently. As Olivia, she adds a lot of humor and insight to every scene she’s in, which usually reveals more about Max’s backstory. However, Olivia’s comments or papers sometimes lead Max to solving the case, which is perhaps too much of a coincidence. While Chelsea makes a mere fraction of London’s vastness, is it realistic that Max is bound to run into his aunt that often during an investigation? This doesn’t detract from enjoying Season 1, but it runs the risk of weighing the series down.
Not Your Usual Detective Show
On one of my pre-pandemic London trips, I saw Scarborough performing in Don Juan in Soho in the West End eight years ago. I already thought he was a phenomenal actor back then, so it’s exciting to see more of his television projects gaining attention here in America. He portrays Max, flaws and all, in a sensitive way that keeps him likable throughout the season. At one point, he also articulates Max’s struggle with dyslexia and affection for his late father in a touching way.
Scarborough’s chemistry is on point for Max with other characters, particularly with Henry as Priya and Stone as Ashley. He’s able to tread carefully with Priya’s feelings about first-time parenting without coming across as preachy. On the other end of the spectrum of emotions, the Max-Ashley banter will keep you laughing during the first season. It also cleverly incorporates the fact that Ashley wears a hearing aid in a way that feels natural.
Because the series focuses on juxtaposing Max’s simpler lifestyle with the Chelsea affluent, the murder investigations have a bit of a dark edge to them. There are a lot of dirty secrets being revealed about potential suspects, coming to light through jealousy, revenge, and accidents. Fortunately, the series balances the drama and comedy remarkably well and with thoughtful pacing. I never felt too rushed while I was streaming the show or that it dragged anywhere, a potential trap when dealing with 90-minute episodes.
Overall, Season 1 introduces an amazing set of characters to keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat through these mostly cozy UK mysteries. The Chelsea Detective is available on Acorn TV.
