TV Pick of the Week: Redemption - Review by Yvette Huddleston

Then she gets a phone call that turns her whole life upside down. She is contacted by a Dublin detective who says he is sorry to inform her of the death of Stacey Lockley. Colette is puzzled, she doesn’t know anyone of that name, the detective replies that she is named as the next of kin. In shock she leaves the office and heads straight over to Ireland. The young woman who has died – an apparent suicide – is in fact Colette’s estranged daughter Kate who she hasn’t seen for over twenty years. She then discovers she also has two teenaged grandchildren Cara (Abby Fitz) and Liam (Evan O’Connor) she has never met. Her daughter has named Colette as guardian in her will, so she applies for a transfer to the Irish Garda, initially for six months, in order to be able to stay in Dublin and look after Cara and Liam.

But Colette also wants to investigate Stacey’s death further – she is not convinced that her daughter, a hardworking and dedicated nurse, killed herself. Then she discovers that shortly before her death Stacey had been suspended from the hospital on suspicion of having stolen prescription drugs. None of her colleagues believe she could have done that, but Colette discovers a bag hidden in Stacey’s house that is full of money and prescription drugs. She also learns some disturbing facts about Stacey’s boyfriend whose links with a notorious drug-running criminal gang may have had something to do with her death.

While this is a compelling and well-constructed six-part crime thriller that keeps the plot twists and turns coming thick and fast, there is much more to it than that. The script also deals with the themes of loss, grief, regret and the complex dynamics of family relationships. Malcolmson is magnificent in the central role – giving a totally believable, unshowy performance as a woman whose personal strength and resilience has been built out of a lot of pain. Plus, there is a great cameo from Derry Girls’ Siobhan McSweeney as Colette’s strictly by the book boss Jane who is none too impressed by Colette’s maverick ways.