Four detectives. One Body. Different Timelines. A time-hopping drama that clicks despite glitches

You will be left with some unanswered questions. The writers have taken liberty with time-travel paradoxes but it’s one of the zaniest British television series. And, it’s truly one of a kind.

There are everyday thrillers. And, then there is ‘Bodies’!

The Netflix series is a compelling science-fiction drama that will keep you hooked from the start. The show’s mind-bending plot revolves around a single murder that is solved by four detectives, but all in different timelines, ranging from the 18th century to 50 years into the 21st century. The series is based on the late Si Spencer’s graphic novel from 2015.

The show’s high-concept idea is both thrilling and intense at the same time. The series pays tribute to its comic origins with the occasional transition of scenes through split screens that divide up device frames to present different eras like in the panels of a comic book.

The show’s lead, Stephen Graham, appears to be the key to it all, although where and when he appears is a crucial part of the mystery. The series is a genre-defying production that covers a whole lot of genres, from sci-fi, thriller, and crime to drama and history. The show’s unique concept and execution make it one of the best British crime thrillers of 2023.

The opening scene of the series shows the dead body of the lead scientist, Gabriel Defoe, being found in the street by the detective in the present day. The discovery of Mannix’s body sets off a chain of events that leads to the four detectives in different timelines spanning over a period of 150 years investigating the same murder.

The detectives probing the death of the same person on the same street are: Alfred Hillinghead, Charles Whiteman, Shahara Hasan, and Iris Maplewood. Each detective investigates the bizarre murder in their respective timelines, and their investigations are interconnected. The victim appears to have been shot in the eye and is completely naked. He is found lying on his stomach on the same street in different circumstances creating a web of interconnected events that jump through timelines to lead up to a future. 

Alfred Hillinghead’s investigation takes place in 1890, when he discovers the body Defoe in Longharvest Lane. Charles Whiteman’s investigation takes place in 1941, where he is investigating the same murder case as Hillinghead. Shahara Hasan’s investigation takes place in 2023, where she finds herself chasing a rioter right up to the same place where the murder being solved by Hillinghead and Whiteman takes place. Iris Maplewood’s investigation takes place in 2053, where she discovers the same body as Hillinghead, Whiteman, and Hasan.

The detectives’ investigations are all interconnected, and they must work together to solve the murder case and save London from heading into predestination and near-catastrophic destruction.

The high-concept mini-series will keep you munching on the popcorn over the weekend. The show’s bold and time-hopping narrative is a must-watch for fans of science-fiction dramas.

The main investigator is Hasaan, a smart cop with a high emotional quotient in the present day. She uncovers the chain of similar murders that have predated her existence. While she unravels the baffling death in different centuries, it is Charles Whiteman, played by Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, a morally dubious detective sergeant living in 1941, who is the key to bringing the story to a fitting conclusion that is equally fulfilling. Charles’ investigation is crucial to the plot as he discovers a vital piece of evidence that helps the detectives spread across the timeline to solve the case. The dialogues add to the sci-fi flavour without trying to be overtly geek. They take you through the fast-paced story without challenging your wisdom in science fiction. The closing remarks of Charle’s handler over the phone, singing off with the warning, “know that you are loved!” drives an icicle down your spine in a chilling example of kick-ass storytelling. 

Go watch the series. You will be left with some unanswered questions. The writers have taken liberty with time-travel paradoxes but it’s one of the zaniest British television series. And, it’s truly one of a kind.