A series labelled as the ‘perfect example’ of the true crime genre, The Pembrokeshire Murders, is now streaming on . after originally airing on ITV a few years ago.
This gripping three-part series delves into two unsolved double murders from the 1980s that haunted the Dyfed Powys police force. In 2006, newly promoted Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins made the decision to reopen both cases.
Utilising groundbreaking forensic techniques, Wilkins and his selected team discovered microscopic DNA and fibres that potentially connected the murders to a series of burglaries committed in the 80s and 90s.
Luke Evans, renowned for his roles in The Hobbit trilogy and the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, portrays Steve Wilson. Keith Allen embodies the role of serial killer John Cooper, in a performance that garnered much acclaim.
The series was praised as a perfect example of true crime (Image: ITV)
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First aired in 2021, the series is based on real events involving Cooper and his eventual capture. This includes his appearance on the TV gameshow Bullseye, which aided authorities in matching him to sketches created from witness descriptions, reports .
The series is based on the book penned by the actual detective who worked on the case. When the series initially premiered, critics lavished praise upon it, and expectations are now high that an entirely new viewership will get hooked after its launch on
The Guardian’s critique celebrated the show for its adept storytelling, articulating: “The Pembrokeshire Murders is a perfect example of how to do it well. It is sensitive when it needs to be, and never loses sight of who suffered.”
Keith Allen played the infamous serial killer (Image: ITV)
Simultaneously, the New Statesman applauded the stellar performances from Evans and Allen, highlighting: “Evans has a face, strong and kind, that’s built for compassion, and a voice that makes instant poetry of everything… But it was Keith Allen who stole the show as Cooper.”
Audience reactions mirrored the critical acclaim, with one viewer enthusiastically posting online: “This is, by far, one of the BEST ‘true’ crime limited series that I’ve ever seen. The acting is outstanding, the writing is brilliant and the cinematography is breath taking. It was shot in Wales. Authenticity was a top priority.”
The scant number of episodes has been the sole issue among fans, with one commenting: “Excellent. This is one of those rare good examples of the ‘based on ‘true’ story’ crime dramas. The only complaint I have is that it was too short. For me, only three episodes was not enough to tell the story of operation Ottawa.”
“It seemed like this was a quick abstract of a much longer story with much more details. Ottawa lasted for full three years. Be that as it may, the dramatic tension was well though out, and the resolution felt very satisfying. It was very well done.”
The Pembrokeshire Murders is streaming on and ITVX