This article contains spoilers for Criminal Record Season 2 Episode 1.
The second season of Criminal Record returns to Apple TV continuing its focus on the instability of truth within modern policing, where every decision carries political and moral weight. Set in London and created by BAFTA nominee Paul Rutman, the series follows detectives June Lenker (Cush Jumbo) and Daniel Hegarty (Peter Capaldi), whose uneasy dynamic is once again tested when a routine investigation escalates far beyond its original scope.
In season two, the murder of a young man at a political rally pulls both officers into a case that quickly expands into something larger and more dangerous than a single act of violence. From there, “Is It Him?” wastes no time getting started.
The episode opens with a protest in full political fervor, where Arabic chants and speeches against the American military presence in the Persian Gulf and other countries are constantly translated in real time for the police. Every new line — including calls for “vengeance” and “retaliation” — is instantly filtered and debated inside the command room, where the focus is not only on the political content, but on the legal threshold of each expression.
The direction frames this moment with precision, constantly cutting between the chaos on the streets and the cold control of the command center. The presence of June Lenker in the field contrasts sharply with the cautious bureaucracy trying to define what actually qualifies as a credible threat.
The situation quickly spirals out of control when a group of masked extremist counter-protesters breaks through the police barrier and storms into the demonstration. Within seconds, what was once an organized protest collapses into total chaos: shoving, screaming, and physical violence spread across the square. Police struggle to contain both sides at once, but coordination breaks down as communication is lost in the confusion.
In the midst of the escalation, a teenage protester named Rohaan is stabbed during the violence and collapses to the ground, critically injured. June moves in and tries to stabilize the situation while the boy, already fading, calls out for his mother. The scene slows for a brief moment amid the chaos before he dies there, surrounded by disorder the police were unable to control.
The episode delivers a suffocating, chaotic sequence — one that carries weight not only because of its immediate impact, but because of the sense of collective collapse and institutional failure. The series does not soften the blow; instead, it emphasizes how this could have been avoided.
From there, “Is It Him?” shifts pace but not intensity. The investigation begins under immediate public and political pressure, with direct criticism aimed at police handling of the incident. This layer adds weight to the narrative and prevents the series from becoming just another procedural.
June stands out as the emotional core of the episode. After the incident, she visits the victim’s family, but is met with hostility and rejection. The guilt she carries is not expressed through dramatic outbursts, but through restrained, quieter gestures — discomfort, silence, and a failed attempt to explain what happened. Cush Jumbo delivers a contained yet emotionally charged performance, one that elevates the material even when the script slows down.
Meanwhile, Daniel Hegarty begins to operate on a different thread of the investigation. His introduction brings new information that expands the scope of the case, particularly the revelation involving Billy Fielding, whose escape and possible connection to the protest suggest that what initially seemed like an isolated incident may actually be part of something larger. The dynamic between June and Hegarty — always defined by mistrust — continues to drive the series, especially now that they are, at least temporarily, aligned.
By exploring extremism, operational failures, and the limits of policing in real time, the season reinforces that it is more than a standard crime drama. This approach may not work for everyone, but it makes the narrative more layered and, at times, uncomfortably grounded in reality.
In the end, the season two premiere reaffirms what made Criminal Record stand out in the first place: a dense narrative, complex characters, and a willingness to operate in morally grey territory. The episode sets a strong foundation for what promises to be an even more intense season.
