Dead Still
There’s weird, and then there’s posing dead people for photographs. That was a real job in the Victorian era and this 2020 series puts a unique spin on it. Brock Blennerhasset (Michael Smiley) is a photographer who partakes in these strange “memorial” photos but when a murder occurs connected to his work, a Dublin detective pulls him into the case.
The pair are soon on a unique partnership as Brock’s eye for detail lets him spot clues to a case while the detective wonders if Brock or one of his aides is involved in the murders. The Victorian period gives it a nice aura with some dark humor and comes together into a compelling picture of a moody murder mystery.
Dead Still is available to stream on Acorn TV.
Love/Hate
This show rose from a cult series to a major success in Ireland that ran for five seasons. It starts with Robert Sheehan, a former Irish thug who returns to Dublin after years of living in Spain. When a good friend is killed, he reunites with his old mates to get payback, which soon leads them deep into the Irish underworld and possible gang war.
The show is packed with now-famous names like Barry Keoghan, Ruth Negga, Aidan Gillen, and more. They help sell the epic clashes as the gang may be outnumbered and outgunned but not willing to back down against the more ruthless gangsters. With major character deaths amid some wild turns, this gripping tale is one to love.
Love/Hate is on BritBox.
Clean Sweep
This 2023 series opens looking like a typical Irish dramedy with Charlene McKenna as Shelly Mohan, your normal suburban mom. That’s until someone comes to her door, accusing her of being someone else and Shelly kills him. Now she has to cover it up, complicated by the fact the lead detective on the case just happens to be her husband.
As Shelly tries to keep a step ahead, the mystery remains on who she is and why she did this. The twists get wilder as the show goes on with McKenna showing more facets of this quiet woman with a darker side than anyone expected. The stunning conclusion is a great wrap-up to this underrated thriller.
Clean Sweep is available on AMC+.