Netflix’s Collateral: The Four-Part Detective Thriller With Carey Mulligan, Nicola Walker And Billie Piper

Sometimes the best crime dramas are the ones that can be finished in a single night. Collateral is exactly that kind of series: a tightly paced four-part thriller with an impressive British cast and a mystery that quickly expands far beyond a single murder.

Originally released in 2018, the Netflix drama stars Carey Mulligan, Nicola Walker, John Simm and Billie Piper in a story set across present-day south London.

A Pizza Delivery Murder Opens A Much Bigger Mystery

The story begins with the shooting of a pizza delivery driver by an unidentified attacker.

DI Kip Glaspie, played by Mulligan, takes charge of the investigation and soon discovers that the victim was not originally supposed to make that particular delivery. The regular driver had been replaced by Syrian refugee Abdullah Asif, played by Sam Otto.

That seemingly small detail sends the investigation in a completely different direction.

As Kip digs deeper, the case becomes connected to a local Labour politician, played by John Simm, his former wife Karen Mars, played by Billie Piper, and vicar Jane Oliver, portrayed by Nicola Walker.

Jane’s connection to the case is particularly mysterious, leaving Kip with another question to answer: why has this apparently unrelated woman become caught up in the investigation?

What initially looks like a straightforward act of violence soon raises far more complicated possibilities.

Was the killing random, or was someone deliberately targeting the victim?

A Thriller That Goes Beyond The Usual Murder Mystery

Written by acclaimed playwright David Hare, Collateral deliberately avoids being a conventional whodunnit.

Hare described the series as a “whydunnit”, placing greater emphasis on understanding who is involved and why rather than simply identifying the killer.

As the investigation develops, the drama moves into politically charged territory, exploring issues surrounding illegal immigration and detention centres while also bringing the church, Parliament, the army and the police into the wider story.

That broader scope is what gives Collateral its distinctive edge. The murder is only the starting point for a much larger examination of power, politics and the people caught between them.

What Did Critics And Viewers Think?

The series received strong reviews when it first premiered.

The Guardian awarded it four stars and described it as a “damaging political drama”. On Rotten Tomatoes, it currently holds a 79% Tomatometer score.

Viewers have also praised the show’s ability to maintain tension throughout its four episodes, with one describing it as “gripping to the end”.

Another viewer highlighted the strength of its female characters, praising the series for avoiding familiar crime-drama stereotypes and giving its women greater complexity and vitality.

A Four-Part Netflix Binge

With Carey Mulligan leading the investigation alongside performances from Nicola Walker, John Simm and Billie Piper, Collateral offers a compact mystery that gradually becomes something much larger.

If you’re looking for a British crime thriller that combines murder, politics, immigration, institutional power and complicated personal relationships, this four-part drama is well worth adding to your watchlist.

Collateral is available to stream on Netflix now.