Hard Sun

Two detectives with opposing viewpoints are partnered together five years before the Apocalypse.

Hard Sun is a British crime drama that aired on BBC One in 2018, created by Neil Cross. Detective Charlie Hicks (Jim Sturgess) and Detective Elaine Renko (Agyness Deyn) are partnered together despite fundamentally opposing views on how policing should be done, and their uneasy alliance becomes the engine of the show. Each case they take on tests their trust in one another and in the institutions around them, while a looming global catastrophe hangs over every investigation. Supporting roles include Nikki Amuka-Bird as Grace Morrigan, Derek Riddell as DCS Roland Bell, and Aisling Bea as Mari Butler. The story unfolds across a single six-episode season of one-hour episodes, a serialized British police thriller with a grounded procedural texture. Set in contemporary Britain, the series builds an atmosphere of paranoia and dread, where ordinary investigative work carries the weight of a world nearing its end. Fans of Line of Duty, True Detective and The Last of Us will find resonance in its mix of gritty crime, morally compromised policing and apocalyptic unease.

Audience reception is mixed, with the single season praised for its premise and cast while its ambition and execution divide viewers.

• The Last of Usapocalyptic backdrop intruding on a gritty police procedural, dark tone, partnered detectives
• Line of DutyBritish crime drama with a tense, grounded tone and a shared sense of institutional pressure
• True Detectivepartnered detectives with clashing methods in a dark, serialized crime setting

Created by

Neil Cross

Release Date

2018-01-06

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

6.6 / 10 (71)

What is Hard Sun about?

Two opposed detectives are forced into partnership as they investigate crimes five years before the Apocalypse.

What is Hard Sun like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Hard Sun as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.

Is Hard Sun violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Hard Sun as moderate.

What did critics think of Hard Sun?

Audience reception is mixed, with the single season praised for its premise and cast while its ambition and execution divide viewers.

Which shows are like Hard Sun?

Shows with a similar feel include The Last of Us, Line of Duty, and True Detective.

How long is Hard Sun?

Hard Sun: 1 season, 6 episodes.

Is Hard Sun still running?

No, Hard Sun was canceled.

Where can I watch Hard Sun?

In United States, Hard Sun streams on Hulu.