A total of 5,145 potential victims were referred into the system in 2017, marking a 35 per cent increase compared to the previous year, and the National Crime Agency (NCA) anticipates this number will continue to rise. Suspected labour exploitation was the most common reason for referrals, accounting for 2,352 cases—nearly half of all instances. Other reports involved suspected sexual exploitation (1,744) and domestic servitude (488). Nelson "Nelly" Rowe (Lennie James), a self-styled womanizer living on a Deptford council estate in London, finds his life disrupted when he's arrested on suspicion of kidnapping his thirteen-year-old daughter Jody (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness), whom he hasn’t seen for ten years. After convincing the police of his innocence and feeling frustrated with their progress, Nelly decides to begin searching for Jody himself. The initial episodes of _Save Me_'s first season unfold slowly, but effectively establish a realistic setting through small details. The Deptford housing estate feels like an actual place where people live, and glimpses of daily life contribute to this sense—from tai chi on a balcony to kids playing football, a lesbian couple kissing, a meditating Buddhist, a dancing couple, a woman in a burka with a skateboard, and older residents observing it all. The series emphasizes the importance of community. A difficult scene depicting sexual assault appears later in the season, but its impact comes from exploring power dynamics rather than sensationalism. Lennie James, who also wrote the show, delivers an engaging performance, conveying a barely suppressed anger. Stephen Graham portrays Fabio "Melon" Melonzola, a convicted sex offender seeking redemption, showcasing his versatility in a challenging role. Suranne Jones as Claire McGory, Jody's mother, doesn’t have many substantial scenes beyond portraying a concerned parent, but she performs the part well with restraint and shock rather than melodrama. A subplot involving her husband Barry (Barry Ward) is abruptly abandoned near the end of the season. Despite these shortcomings, the season combines a realistic style reminiscent of Ken Loach with a thriller-like narrative, skillfully directed by Nick Murphy. Eighteen months after the first season’s conclusion, _Save Me Too_ also begins slowly, gradually building tension, and again, the final two episodes are exceptional. With directorial duties shared between Jim Loach (Ken Loach's son) and Coky Giedroyc, the show’s visual style becomes slightly more experimental—one episode is primarily a flashback, while others offer a subjective perspective into Nelly's thoughts—but this doesn’t detract from the focus on realistic characters. As with the first season, character development takes precedence over plot in the second season, and James and Graham are again outstanding. James fully embraces Nelly’s impulsive nature, making him even less appealing than he was previously. While he still retains a certain charm, the events of the past year have clearly affected him. His habit of speaking before thinking is more noticeable now. Although some characters like Claire and Barry fade into the background, others emerge to expand the setting: Tam (Jason Flemyng), Nelly’s kind-hearted cross-dressing friend; Bernie (Alice May Feetham), Melon's conflicted wife; Stace (Susan Lynch, whose feelings for Nelly are unclear); Zita (Camilla Beeput), Nelly's girlfriend; and especially Grace (Olive Gray, in a remarkable and emotionally devastating performance), who was once held captive by the same people who took Jody.

Source on TMDB