British television has a knack for doing more with less, and Reilly: Ace of Spies is a prime example. It is currently available in the US on Britbox Apple TV Channel and PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel, so there is no reason to keep putting it off. A 7/10 rating means the audience agrees — and those who disagree tend to be in a clear minority. The production does not waste your time: every episode earns its place in the run, and the pacing is calibrated to keep you watching rather than checking how much time is left. The run length is exactly right for the story being told. Sam Neill is the anchor, but the depth of the supporting cast is what elevates it. Start it tonight and see for yourself why the ratings are where they are.

The procedural format gives Reilly: Ace of Spies its backbone, but it is the characters you come back for. Reilly, Ace of Spies is a 1983 television miniseries dramatising the life of Sidney Reilly, a Russian Jew who became one of the greatest spies ever to work for the British. Among his exploits, in the early 20th-century, were the infiltration of the German General Staff in 1917 and a near-overthrow of the Bolsheviks in 1918. His reputation with women was as legendary as his genius for espionage. Sam Neill leads a cast that brings real weight to the material. It aired in 1983. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry episodes where the mystery takes a breath — Reilly: Ace of Spies passes that test consistently. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Perfect for viewers who think they have already seen all the great crime dramas. Reilly: Ace of Spies is the one that tends to prove them wrong. The writing earns its twists rather than manufacturing them, and the result is a show where the resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary. Fans of Smiley's People will recognise the tonal balance between tension and character work. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. If you are going to commit to one procedural this month, make it this one.