State of Play has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on BritBox and Stan. The 1-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. 113 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Watch Bill Nighy work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on BritBox.

There is a reason State of Play keeps coming up in conversation. The plotting in State of Play is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. The murder of Sonia Baker, a young political researcher, leads journalist Cal McCaffrey to uncover complex links between government and big business. Bill Nighy and David Morrissey lead a cast that never lets the mystery feel thin. It was aired in 2003. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — State of Play passes that test consistently. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find State of Play proves them wrong. Cross is the obvious comparison, but State of Play earns its own place alongside it. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single week. Watch Bill Nighy work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.

State of Play wrapped up in 2003, created by Paul Abbott — and 1 season is available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.