Is the Top Boy star’s new Irish detective drama any good?

Great boy Actress Lisa Dwan is at the center of the new Irish detective drama Blackshore. In her first role since leaving the hit Netflix show In 2022, Dwan plays the role of DI Fia Lucey.

The detective inspector returns uneasily to her hometown, where she must bear the brunt of her late father’s alleged heinous actions and come to terms with the tragic fate of her family.

Amid her personal torment, she is also tasked with investigating the disappearance of local resident Róisín Hurley. Róisín’s case stirs up memories in the town of Fia’s missing babysitter Chloe Whelan, and they implore her to seek answers and fight for justice for both women.

It’s a different setting for Dwan, who has swapped the drug trafficking underworld for a different, grittier, criminal scene. Blackshore also puts Dwan on the opposite side of morality Great boy Character Lizzie, who was knee-deep in corruption. However, one cannot help but notice a strange familiarity between these two very different characters.

Both Lizzie and Fia have reserved personalities that prevent anyone from getting too close or knowing them too well.

While fans of the British crime series will appreciate the way Dwan plays with that similar cool, the two characters couldn’t be more different.

Related: ‘Top Boy’ star to star in UK-set biopic

While Lizzie’s aloof nature was based on self-preservation – on the ruthlessness to survive the criminal underworld in which she had entrenched herself by any means necessary – Fia keeps the world at arm’s length due to unresolved trauma.

This trauma unfolds bit by bit in flashbacks that paint a picture of her past and help the viewer understand why the pain of these historical events sits on the surface and causes her to withdraw from connection.

This further highlights the moments where Dwan’s Fia is able to shed her mask and show true vulnerability, adding depth and intrigue to her character.

Blackshore However, it itself doesn’t have quite the same seductive appeal as its main character. The drama starts off strong, thanks to Fia’s literally forceful opening that lays out her reasons for returning home.

It gains momentum with fascinating themes of regret, loss and repentance, prompting question after question as more and more secrets are uncovered. However, the pace of the show is not maintained. Once the initial setup is complete, the narrative becomes too slow from episode to episode and the development of the cases proceeds without much suspense.

When there are storylines – be they combat or just compelling, meaty storylines – they really work, and that’s largely due to the cast, their chemistry and their commitment to the story. The characters feel alive and add authenticity to a world with interesting layers that make you want to sit through even longer episodes.

Dwan and co-star Rory Keenan make the perfect duo. Keenan plays Fia’s underling Cian Furlong, and while they don’t gel with each other in a yin-and-yang way – nor do they have any witty banter – their friction, their distrust of each other, and their need to dominate the other is just the same interesting.

It’s a difficult partnership that requires care and time, which makes their moments of connection special. Much like the show itself, patience is required to get to the good stuff, which, like Fia and Cian, has substance underneath.

Blackshore can be seen on UKTV on Saturday October 19th.

TV Writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her master’s degree in magazine journalism in 2013 and has since continued to grow professionally in the industry. She spent six years honing her analytical review skills at the Good Housekeeping Institute, eventually becoming assistant director of food testing. From 2013 to 2020, she also freelanced in film and television journalism, interviewing A-list stars such as Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021, she joined Digital Spy as a TV writer, where she can delve deeper into what she loves by watching tons of TV in the name of her work. Since taking on the role, she has done red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed on BBC Radio and London Live. In her free time she also publishes the book “Gothic Angel”.