Tin Star, exciting new Brit Thriller set in the Canadian Rockies, TV series

'It's blood law - to free your soul from the pain.' And there's lots of pain to go around in this sparkling British thriller set in the stunning scenery of the Canadian Rockies.

Jim Worth (played by Tim Roth), a recovering alcoholic from England, moves to Alberta with his family to become police chief of a small town. The idea was that he might make a fresh start here, leaving behind his violent and troubled alter ego, Jack Devlin and the stresses of being a police officer in London. After all, what kind of crime could you reasonably expect in the Canadian Rockies – a brawl by some drunken lumberjacks or an attack by a bear?  

 

I’ve moved around a lot, but I’ve never managed to leave my demons behind, and I’d be surprised if you haven’t come to a similar conclusion. So when an oil conglomerate builds a controversial refinery next to the town, bringing chaos and trouble to this sleepy little community, and Jim’s family is viciously attacked, his precarious sobriety starts to crack, allowing his demons to surface. Scary, vengeful demons.I've only watched a few episodes so far, but I can foresee a problem if the main protagonist turns out to be a total jerk. I, for one, lose sympathy with characters I don't like. On the other hand, if there is redemption in the end, it will be all the more powerful. 

The forces of chaos are ably represented by Christine Hendricks (of Mad Men) and the enigmatic young British sociopath Whitey (played by Oliver Coopersmith), not to forget the menacing French Canadian Gagnon (Christopher Heyerdahl). Not all teenagers can hold their own in such company, but the young Abigail Lawrie does a cracking job with Jim Worth’s home-sick daughter Anna. The Irish actress Genevieve O'Reilly has come a long way from playing scifi parts to being Jim's long-suffering wife (and no, he really doesn't deserve her). 

The juxtaposition of the natural beauty of the location and the darkness of the human heart, makes for interesting viewing. The creator Rowan Joffe doesn’t pull any punches and I challenge you to not love it. The first series has 10 parts and the second has already been commissioned. Available on Sky Atlantic.