The central character of the British criminal drama series “Happy Valley” is West Yorkshire police sergeant Catherine Cawood. Catherine is a single mother of two children and the grandmother of a grandson who was born after her eldest daughter, who was the leader of the squad of police officers, committed suicide. Sally Wainwright is the author and creator of the show, which follows her tense relationship with felon Tommy Lee Royce.
Talented actors like Sarah Lancashire, Siobhan Finneran, Charlie Murphy, James Norton, George Costigan, and others give riveting performances that propel the narrative along. Since its debut in 2014, it has received a tonne of praise from critics and has gone on to win numerous BAFTA awards. Here is a list of suggestions that we think you will like if this is the type of show you like to watch. The majority of these ‘Happy Valley’-inspired shows are available on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
Broadchurch (2013-2017)
A young boy’s dead body, apparently murdered, is found in the early morning hours in a small beach town. Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) are tasked with cracking the case. Unbeknownst to Hardy, the small town harbours some important secrets that could come to light if the case were to be solved.
Chris Chibnall’s television series is based in a small town where everyone seems to be connected in some way, similar to how supposedly innocent West Yorkshire inhabitants were implicated in criminal activity in “Happy Valley.”
Detective Inspector Irene Huss (2007-2011)
Irene Huss (Angela Kovacs), a detective working on high-stakes murder investigations while frantically attempting to preserve a regular family life at the same time, is the subject of the Swedish crime thriller “Detective Inspector Irene Huss.” The drama, which is based on Helene Tursten’s ‘Irene Huss Investigation’ book series, is comparable to ‘Happy Valley’ in that both Irene and Catherine make an effort to keep their work from interfering with their already tense personal lives.
Four Lives (2022)
Based on the real-life murders of four gay men in East London, “Four Lives” centres on the families of the victims and their fight for retribution against the murderer as well as the flawed police investigation that allowed him to escape. The mini-series, which was created by Neil McKay, is reminiscent of “Happy Valley” in that the serial murderer lurks in plain sight as the authorities pursue the incorrect leads.
Motive (2013-2016)
Daniel Cerone’s television series “Motive” centres on Detective Angie Flynn (Kristin Lehman), who investigates crimes in an effort to identify the killer. The show, like “Happy Valley,” gives away who the offender is to the audience up front, and the mystery surrounding the police investigation serves to heighten the tension.
Sherwood (2022-)
James Graham’s “Sherwood,” which explores two murder cases in a small mining village, is based on actual occurrences. DCI Ian St Clair (David Morrissey) and DI Kevin Salisbury (Robert Glenister) are in charge of the inquiry. The series is comparable to “Happy Valley” in that it is set in a small town and that a police officer who is a familiar face in the neighbourhood investigates crimes.
The Fall (2013-2016)
Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) is the focus of “The Fall” as she tracks down a serial killer who appears to target only young women. Similar to Royce in “Happy Valley,” Allan Cubitt’s antagonist in “The Fall” primarily targets women.
The Killing (2007-2012)
Inspector Sarah Lund (Sofie Grbl) is the main character in the Danish police procedural series “The Killing,” which follows her as she becomes embroiled in an investigation into the horrific death of a little girl. In this Sven Sveistrup production, the police follow a single, overarching case throughout the course of a single season as opposed to a fresh occurrence every episode, much as in “Happy Valley.”
The Responder (2022-)
An emergency response officer in Liverpool who works the night shift is Chris Carson (Martin Freeman). In a stressful and chaotic work, Carson’s main source of relief is a drug addict he’s trying to help. Similar to “Happy Valley,” the Tony Schumacher-created series illustrates how police officers’ mental health is impacted by their demanding employment and how it spills over into their personal life.
Unforgiven (2009)
Ruth Slater (Suranne Jones), who was convicted of killing two police officers as a teenager and has just been freed from jail, is the subject of “Unforgiven,” a movie. Ruth looks for her younger sister, who was adopted soon after she was imprisoned, as she struggles with guilt over her deeds. Ruth is unaware that the children of the police officers she killed are seeking retribution against her. This Yorkshire-based drama series, which was also written and produced by Sally Wainwright, explores themes of family and retribution similar to those in “Happy Valley,” albeit with a different tone.
Vera (2011-)
The television series “Vera,” created by Ann Cleeves, centres on the eponymous character, a detective chief inspector who is almost ready to retire but refuses to give up on her job or her coworkers. Vera is an older character, similar to Catherine in “Happy Valley,” which is highly unusual in most crime-related television and film productions.
