Trial & Retribution

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, Trial & Retribution is available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video and Hoopla, and in the US on Britbox Apple TV Channel and Hoopla right now. 12 seasons of it means there is plenty to get through without ever feeling padded. 13 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. David Hayman's performance alone is worth the time investment. Available now on Amazon Prime Video — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason Trial & Retribution keeps coming up in conversation. The plotting in Trial & Retribution is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. Devised and written by Lynda La Plante as a follow-on from her successful television series Prime Suspect, this vast police procedural follows police detectives in England as they investigate crimes and the trials that come about as a result. Credit to David Hayman and Victoria Smurfit for grounding it — this is a cast that earns the twists. Across 12 seasons (1997–2009), it never lost the thread that made it worth starting. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — Trial & Retribution passes that test consistently. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, Trial & Retribution delivers. The tonal similarities to Criminal Record are real, though Trial & Retribution carves out its own identity quickly. At 12 seasons, this is a genuine commitment — one that pays off. David Hayman carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.

Trial & Retribution wrapped up in 2009, created by Lynda La Plante — and 12 seasons are 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.