Des

The story of one of the most infamous cases in UK criminal history, that of serial killer Dennis Nilsen. Told through the prism of three men, the series explores the personal and professional consequences of coming into contact with a man like Nilsen.

Des (2020) is a British true crime miniseries created by Lewis Arnold and Luke Neal for ITV1. Over three forty-eight-minute episodes it dramatizes the case of serial killer Dennis Nilsen, played by David Tennant, whose quiet, sociable manner masked a string of murders in London. The story unfolds through three men who come into contact with him: detective chief inspector Peter Jay (Daniel Mays), whose investigation drives the procedural thread, writer Brian Masters (Jason Watkins), who becomes entangled in Nilsen's world, and the wider police team around them. Rather than a conventional whodunit, the series concentrates on the personal and professional toll of proximity to a man like Nilsen, with each episode tightening the pressure on the men who find themselves unable to look away. Set in 1980s London, it is a limited series with a grounded, austere look, its tone dark and unsettling, with dread built from the ordinariness of everyday settings. Fans of Mindhunter, The Fall and Dahmer will find resonance in its study of a killer and the people circling him. Its bleak, carefully paced treatment makes it a sobering, unflinching watch.

Audiences rated the miniseries positively, admiring its grim true-crime account of the Dennis Nilsen case and the lead performance, while the show's tone is widely seen as bleak and unrelenting.

• Mindhuntershared true crime dramatization of a real British serial killer, procedural investigation tone
• The Fallshared british true crime drama, bleak tone, real-life murder case told through investigators
• Dahmershared dramatized true crime, psychological cat and mouse with a killer, serial murder focus

Created by

Lewis Arnold, Luke Neal

Release Date

2020-09-14

Episode runtime

48 min

Rating

7.6 / 10 (217)

What is Des about?

A three-part British drama dramatizing the Dennis Nilsen murders through the men pulled into his orbit.

What is Des like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Des as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Des violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Des as moderate.

What did critics think of Des?

Audiences rated the miniseries positively, admiring its grim true-crime account of the Dennis Nilsen case and the lead performance, while the show's tone is widely seen as bleak and unrelenting.

Which shows are like Des?

Shows with a similar feel include Mindhunter, The Fall, and Dahmer.

How long is Des?

Des: 1 season, 3 episodes.

Is Des still running?

No, Des has ended.

Where can I watch Des?

In United States, Des streams on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, Britbox Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now, BritBox, BritBox Amazon Channel, Spectrum On Demand, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel.