Virdee

Thrilling, intriguing, and more importantly, incredibly heartwarming, Virdee is a story of family and enduring love in the face of crime, danger, culture clash and antagonising in-laws. It stars Staz Nair as DCI Harry Virdee who is investigating a series of kidnappings and killings related to the drug trade in Bradford. Behind the scenes, he’s aided by his brother-in-law Vikash who is deep into the criminal and gang activities of the city. Meanwhile, Harry faces the problem of his Sikh father’s strong disapproval of his Muslim wife, Saima. As the two worlds of his work and home life collide and complications arise, Harry must bear the burden of not just the heart-wrenching desperation of his father’s approval, but also doing the right thing for his job, and keeping his loved ones safe from the danger that’s plaguing the city.

While the first episode begins with a gripping chase sequence, the true appeal of Virdee overall is in the slow and meticulous process of unravelling the mystery behind the killer. It’s fascinating to witness Harry work through evidence, photographs and different pieces of random information, putting it all together and seeing how all these different parts connect and create a bigger picture. Every episode is full of intrigue, new questions and suspects, and every time the viewers think they know the answer, a new twist is revealed. All of this is aided by interesting cinematography work that makes use of different camera angles – specifically close-up shots from above or below – to enhance the intensity of the actors’ expressions. The series also utilises off-centre framing to create the illusion that something is coming right around the corner, adding to the anxiety and anticipation.

Another highlight of the show is this strong focus on family, specifically Harry and Saima’s relationship and how all-encompassing their dynamic is. Everything Harry does somehow connects to Saima, whether it’s interviewing suspects in the hospital she works at, seeking her brother for more information, or even dealing with his side of the family and their extreme contempt for Saima. There’s something very delicate and beautiful about their love for each other, contrasting with the intensity of Harry’s work. It’s a wonderful relationship portrayed splendidly by Nair and Aysha Kala. Nair maintains the balance of a serious and extremely commanding presence befitting of an excellent detective, but also the softness and vulnerability of an insecure man who just wants to do what’s right for his family. This complements Kala’s excellent performance of Saima who is a strong and assertive woman, very sure of herself and extremely protective of her family, yet troubled by the uncertainty of the choices she makes.

What unfortunately holds Virdee back from true excellence is its lacklustre visuals, especially in the action and danger sequences. While there are a few scenic and stunning shots – the wedding sequence in the first episode, the anniversary dinner with Saima’s father as she reconnects with her brother – they are overshadowed by some of the messier, more action-packed parts that contain somewhat questionable visual effects. Furthermore, the handling of themes in Virdee regarding race and culture clashes can sometimes feel a little surface-level. There is an obvious effort to handle these topics with grace. However, up against the mystery aspect and the complete focus on Harry and Saima’s relationship dynamic, the writing for these themes feels underdeveloped.

Fascinating in its behind-the-scenes look into crime investigation, and beautiful in its showcase of true and unyielding love and the importance of family, Virdee is an exciting new series that offers lots of intrigue and tension, drama and difficult choices. While not quite perfect in execution, Virdee does have a very addictive quality to it that’ll leave the audience craving for more with each new episode.

Mae Trumata

Virdee is released on BBC iPlayer on 10^th February 2025.

Watch the trailer for Virdee here: