David Collins experiences devastating losses: his wife and then, following a conviction, custody of his children. He’s had considerable time for introspection after that, and initially believed he would remain incarcerated for the rest of his days. His sudden release prompts a distinct shift in perspective, which I found compelling to observe both on a psychological level and in terms of how it manifests physically. It will require substantial effort to alter people's perceptions of him, even if concrete proof emerges. Sometimes, regardless of innocence, the damage is already done. Directed by Richard Clark, _Innocent_ presents itself as a four-part mystery that’s simultaneously conventional and predictable, alongside being exceptionally well-crafted and expansive in its portrayal of family dynamics. The series opens with David Collins (Lee Ingleby) being found not guilty of murdering his wife, after having already served seven years behind bars for the crime. There's no ambiguity for viewers regarding Collins's innocence; this unfortunately leads to characters who are certain of his guilt appearing either unsophisticated or inherently obstructive. Collins’s attempts to discover the truth and understand why people he trusted fabricated stories during his trial aren’t consistently engaging, lacking a sense of urgency, significant surprises, and an overall feeling of “is that all there is?” The show truly shines in how Matthew Arlidge and Chris Lang develop the secondary characters whose lives are profoundly altered by the repercussions of Collins's release. These include his brother Phil (Daniel Ryan), with whom he resides; his sister-in-law Alice Moffat (Hermione Norris), whose testimony about him beating his wife contributed to his conviction; her kind husband Rob (Adrian Rawlins); DCI William Beech (Nigel Lindsay), the initial lead investigator, who possibly withheld evidence; DI Cathy Hudson (Angel Coulby), the new lead investigator and Beech’s girlfriend; Collins's children, Jack (Fionn O'Shea) and Rosie (Eloise Webb), raised by Alice and Rob after the trial; Tom Wilson (Elliot Cowan), Collins's former close friend, whose failure to provide an alibi resulted in his conviction; Melissa (Hannah Britland), Tom’s wife, who suspects he knows more than he admits; and Louise (Christine Cole), Tom’s ex-wife, who left him after learning about his affair with Melissa. Each of these characters are given ample dialogue, screen time, and opportunities for growth as the central mystery plot recedes somewhat into the background, which is where the narrative proves most enjoyable. It's not a life-altering experience, but it’s worth watching.

Source on TMDB