The Victim

A Tense and Thoughtful Exploration of Justice and Identity

The Victim is a gripping four part British television drama that premiered on BBC One in 2019. Created by Rob Williams and directed by Niall MacCormick, the series explores the complex relationship between justice, revenge, and forgiveness. Starring Kelly Macdonald and James Harkness, it presents a morally ambiguous story that challenges viewers to question their own assumptions about guilt, victimhood, and the true cost of crime. With its emotionally charged performances and smart storytelling, The Victim stands out as a compelling and thought provoking legal thriller.

The story is set in Scotland and revolves around Anna Dean, a grieving mother whose nine year old son was brutally murdered fifteen years earlier. Convinced she knows the identity of her child’s killer, Anna posts the man’s name and address online. The man she accuses is Craig Myers, a mild mannered husband and father who is attacked and left for dead after being identified. The series begins with Anna on trial, not for murder, but for inciting violence and potentially ruining an innocent man’s life. What follows is a tense courtroom drama that gradually unpacks the characters’ pasts, their motivations, and the blurry line between justice and vengeance.

One of the series’ greatest strengths lies in its refusal to present a simple narrative. The audience is kept in suspense about Craig Myers’ true identity. Is he really the child murderer who served time under a different name, or is he genuinely a victim of mistaken identity? Anna, played brilliantly by Kelly Macdonald, is portrayed as both sympathetic and deeply flawed. Her grief is raw and understandable, yet her pursuit of retribution puts her on dangerous moral ground. James Harkness delivers a powerful performance as Craig, capturing both the confusion of a man under siege and the fear of a hidden past catching up to him.

The series skillfully avoids melodrama, choosing instead to focus on psychological depth and ethical dilemmas. It poses challenging questions: Can a person ever truly change? Should the public have the right to know if a child killer lives among them? What does justice look like for victims and for those who have already served their time? These themes are explored through nuanced writing and layered performances, making The Victim as much a character study as it is a legal drama.

Visually, the series uses the Scottish landscape to great effect, enhancing the emotional weight of the story with its stark beauty and quiet intensity. The courtroom scenes are interwoven with flashbacks and personal moments, allowing viewers to piece together the truth alongside the characters. The pacing is tight, building tension across all four episodes without ever feeling rushed or dragging.

The Victim is a thoughtful and emotionally resonant series that leaves no easy answers. It forces viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about crime, punishment, and how society treats both its victims and its perpetrators. By the end, it becomes clear that everyone in the story carries some form of pain or guilt, and that justice is rarely black and white. For anyone interested in crime drama with depth and emotional complexity, The Victim is a must watch.