ITVX has quietly unleashed a chilling gem with The River, a six-part detective thriller created by Abi Morgan of The Split fame, starring Nicola Walker alongside Stellan Skarsgård. Premiering in 2025, this slow-burn masterpiece has fans raving, calling it “creepier than Broadchurch,” “smarter than The Split,” and “more addictive than Annika.” The series dives into a storm of murder, grief, and buried secrets, pushing Walker to new emotional depths in what critics hail as her most unforgettable role yet. If you thought her work in Unforgotten or Annika was peak, The River proves otherwise—raw, dark, and impossible to shake.
In The River, Walker plays DS Jackie “Stevie” Stevenson, a vibrant detective whose murder haunts her partner, DI John River (Skarsgård), a brilliant but fragile cop plagued by hallucinations of the dead. As River investigates Stevie’s killing, the story unravels a web of deception, personal loss, and psychological torment set against London’s gritty underbelly. Skarsgård’s portrayal of River’s fractured mind is mesmerizing, switching from fury to vulnerability in an instant, while Walker’s posthumous presence as Stevie’s “manifest” adds layers of wit and heartbreak. The ensemble, including Adeel Akhtar as DS Ira King and Lesley Manville as Chief Inspector Chrissie Read, elevates the tension, with Eddie Marsan delivering a chilling turn as a suspect.
Abi Morgan’s script masterfully blends procedural elements with profound explorations of grief and isolation, making The River a standout in the genre. Fans on X (#TheRiverITVX) devoured the episodes in one sitting, praising its “superlatively creepy” atmosphere and emotional punch. The series’ innovative use of hallucinations—filmed with Walker on set first, then Skarsgård reacting to empty space—creates visually stunning, intimate moments. While some note its 2015 origins, the 2025 ITVX drop feels fresh, outpacing modern rivals with its depth. Stream The River now for a binge that redefines detective thrillers, leaving you haunted long after the credits roll.
