A quiet storm is brewing on BBC iPlayer: the entire six-part series of Blackshore, a gripping Irish crime drama that’s been hailed as “excellent,” “a very effective whodunnit,” and “gripping from beginning to end,” has been made available for streaming. Originally premiering on RTÉ in Ireland in February 2024, this atmospheric rural mystery has quietly landed on BBC Four and iPlayer in January 2026, with the first episodes airing on January 17 and the full boxset dropping for binge-watchers—sparking immediate frenzy among viewers and early calls for a second season.
Set in the fictional small town of Blackwater in the west of Ireland—filmed amid the stunning, moody landscapes of the Shannon in Killaloe, County Clare, and Ballina, County Tipperary—Blackshore plunges viewers into a world where tranquil facades hide dark secrets, shame, guilt, and buried trauma. The story centers on DI Fia Lucey (played with fierce intensity by Lisa Dwan), a tough, ambitious Dublin detective whose career is derailed after allegations of excessive force. As punishment—or perhaps a forced reckoning—she’s sent back to her rural hometown, a place she fled years ago after a devastating family tragedy: her father’s brutal murder of her mother and siblings, leaving young Fia orphaned and scarred.
The case that pulls her back in is deceptively simple at first: the disappearance of local woman Róisín Hurley, co-owner of a hotel and a recovering alcoholic with a complicated past. Róisín was last seen arguing with a young woman in a green sweatshirt. What begins as a missing persons inquiry quickly spirals into a full-blown murder investigation, uncovering layers of small-town corruption, long-buried resentments, and connections to Fia’s own haunted history. As the probe deepens, Fia clashes with the tight-knit community that still remembers—and resents—the attention her family’s past brought to their quiet corner of Ireland.
Fia partners uneasily with local detective Cian Furlong (Rory Keenan), whose own secrets and possible involvement in the crime make him both ally and suspect. The supporting cast shines: Stanley Townsend as the powerful local whiskey magnate Bill McGuire, who wields influence like a weapon; Jade Jordan as Donna Walsh; Amy De Bhrún as Niamh Furlong; and others including Orla Charlton, Clara Fitzgerald, and Barry McGovern, bringing depth to a web of characters each hiding something.
What elevates Blackshore beyond standard crime fare is its masterful blend of personal trauma and procedural tension. Created by writer Kate O’Riordan and directed by Dathaí Keane, the series uses the rural Irish setting not just as backdrop but as character—misty rivers, isolated homes, and the weight of history pressing down on every scene. The pacing builds relentlessly: each episode ends on a cliffhanger, with revelations that force Fia (and viewers) to confront uncomfortable truths about misogyny, violence, and the price of success in a close-knit community.
Lisa Dwan delivers a breakout performance as Fia—sandpaper-tough on the surface, but raw and vulnerable underneath. Her portrayal of a woman who breaks noses in Dublin but crumbles when facing her past has viewers calling her “unstoppable” and “haunting.” The show’s atmosphere is thick with dread and beauty: the opening credits, set to Lisa Hannigan’s gorgeous haunting song, pull you in immediately, while the cinematography captures rural Ireland’s wild, windswept beauty alongside its shadowed underbelly.
Fans are raving. On social media and forums, viewers describe bingeing all six hour-long episodes in one sitting, praising the “compelling, meaty plot,” “pockets of action,” and how it “gathers momentum with question after question.” Many compare it to Scandi-noir for its moody setting and pacy plotting, but with an unmistakably Irish flavor—spirited, authentic, and unflinching. Comments flood in: “A very effective whodunnit,” “gripping from beginning to end,” “perfect cozy binge with edge.” The chemistry between Dwan and Keenan crackles, and the ensemble feels lived-in and real.
The series explores heavy themes—guilt, shame, family secrets, the lingering impact of violence—without ever feeling preachy. Instead, it lets the mystery unfold organically, with twists that feel earned rather than forced. By the finale, the truth about Róisín’s fate ties back to Fia’s past in ways that leave viewers stunned, satisfied, and hungry for more.
The early buzz is already translating to action: Blackshore has jumped into BBC iPlayer’s trending charts, with fans clamoring for a Season 2. “There’s massive appetite,” one cast member has hinted in interviews. Whether the story of Blackwater’s dark waters gets another chapter remains to be seen, but for now, this six-part Irish import is quietly dominating winter viewing—proving that the best mysteries often hide in the most unassuming places.
If you’re craving a crime drama with heart, atmosphere, and edge that hooks you from the first frame and leaves you reeling at the last, Blackshore is streaming now on BBC iPlayer. Dive in—dark waters run deep, and once you’re in, you won’t want to surface.
