Crime drama perfect for Killing Eve fans is streaming free on Channel 4

Two Finnish women. A secret investigative group. A dangerous political campaign. And a fight against criminals who believe they are beyond the reach of the law.

If you enjoy female-led thrillers with morally complicated characters, Cold Courage could be an intriguing addition to your watchlist. The 2020 crime drama, based on Pekka Hiltunen’s Studio book series, follows two women whose lives collide in London before drawing them into a clandestine operation targeting powerful and dangerous figures.

All eight episodes are now available to stream for free on Channel 4 in the UK, making it an easy choice for anyone looking for a compact thriller to binge.

A secret group takes justice into its own hands

Set predominantly in London, Cold Courage centres on Mari, played by Pihla Viitala, and Lia, portrayed by Sofia Pekkari.

Mari leads the Studio, a secretive group created to pursue people who appear to have escaped justice. Lia is brought into the organisation and asked to infiltrate the campaign of a right-wing political leader.

The Studio operates outside conventional law enforcement, targeting exploitation, violence, corruption and people who believe their wealth or influence puts them beyond consequences.

That puts the series in a morally uncertain space. The group may be fighting people who deserve to be stopped, but its methods are not always conventional — raising the question of how far its members should go in the name of justice.

Lia’s personal connection makes the mission even more dangerous

For Lia, the investigation is not simply an assignment.

She is concerned about a friend who works as a sex worker for an abusive crime lord. When a body is discovered, Lia fears that her friend could be the victim.

Driven by anger and a desire for revenge, she becomes involved in the Studio’s efforts to identify the person responsible and prevent further women from being harmed.

Meanwhile, Mari remains focused on the growing threat posed by the political campaign she is determined to infiltrate. The official premise describes the two women as being drawn together through the Studio while its battle against exploitation, violence and corporate greed becomes increasingly complicated.

A strong female-led cast

The series puts Pihla Viitala and Sofia Pekkari firmly at its centre.

Viitala plays Mari, the determined leader of the Studio, while Pekkari portrays Lia, whose journey brings her deeper into the organisation’s dangerous world.

The cast also includes John Simm as Arthur Fried, the political figure at the centre of Mari’s investigation, alongside Peter Coonan as Paddy, the Studio’s investigator. Arsher Ali, Caroline Goodall, Jakob Eklund and Matteo Simoni also feature.

Simm may be particularly familiar to British viewers from Life on Mars and Doctor Who, making his appearance another draw for fans of British crime and thriller dramas.

Based on Pekka Hiltunen’s bestselling books

Cold Courage is adapted from Finnish writer Pekka Hiltunen’s Studio series, which began with Cold Courage in 2011. The books follow two Finnish women living in London and explore the darker side of modern crime and justice.

The television adaptation was written by David Joss Buckley and Brendan Foley and directed by Agneta Fagerström-Olsson and Kadir Ferati Balci. It was produced as an eight-part international drama.

The series also preserves one of the books’ most distinctive ideas: a group of intelligent, highly capable people attempting to challenge those who seem untouchable without necessarily following the rules themselves.

Viewers have praised its twists and performances

Although the series has received a mixed response, some viewers have been particularly enthusiastic about its story and cast.

One viewer described Cold Courage as “thrilling” and argued that the show deserved a much higher rating, praising its storyline, surprises and ending.

Another viewer said they had hoped the adaptation would live up to the books — and felt that it did, highlighting the production and script.

The performances have also attracted praise, with one viewer singling out Pekkari and Viitala and calling them the elements that “stole the show.”

Another fan was so absorbed by the drama that they said they had watched all eight episodes almost immediately and were already hoping for another season.

Just eight episodes to binge

With only eight episodes, Cold Courage offers a relatively quick binge for viewers who want a complete crime story without committing to a long-running series.

The first season consists of eight episodes, each running roughly 45 minutes.

There has been no season two announcement mentioned in the original report, leaving fans who enjoyed the first instalment wanting more.

For viewers drawn to tense investigations, morally complicated characters and female-led crime stories, Cold Courage offers a different take on the genre — one that combines political intrigue with a secret organisation determined to confront people operating beyond the law.

All eight episodes are available to stream for free on Channel 4 in the UK, while the series can also be rented through YouTube and Apple TV in the UK.