A Review of ‘Inspector Ellis’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Still from ‘Inspector Ellis’ Courtesy of Acorn TV.

For decades on end now, crime stories on television have followed a specific structure in how they present their world to an audience. In that, they must be gritty, to really showcase the gravity of crime and its impact upon people. Plus, they have to be intense in nature and feature incredible investigators that process the case and the evidence in a manner as fast as the story itself, and well, there’s nothing wrong with this. Because it has given rise to some powerhouse storytelling over the years, the kind that really does showcase a world we know little of and how ugly it can be because of the dark choices that people make.
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If anything, the only issue that one can take up with such stories, is that… there are simply too many of them on the networks. Because truly, everywhere you turn it’s the next great slick crime drama debuting and well… audiences love a little variety. That’s why it should come as no surprise that we are in the midst of a diversification of the genre. Wherein creatives are working to bring forth cozy mysteries that intrigue but are never overwhelming. Or we are seeing shows that harken back to a different age of crime dramas, where the investigator is a touch quirkier in nature to shake things up. Or… we are simply seeing revolutionary crime dramas through and through. Ones that accomplish wonders through new ideas and bold choices, such as Inspector Ellis on Acorn TV.

For this particular series, really is a refreshing crime drama that accomplishes so much. Courtesy of a simple yet impactful premise. Wherein we meet Inspector Ellis. An officer of the law that has seen some things in the course of her career, and is brilliant as well, and serves the police in a manner that isn’t traditional. For Ellis is the go-to investigator when cases are moving along slowly or seemingly cannot be solved. For she has that unique vision and understanding of murder and that leads her on some fascinating adventures that ponder upon some dark corners of the human condition. The kind others would shy away from, but Ellis will not. For she knows she is that last line of defense for justice, and well… that really does give rise to a vastly different type of show in this vein.

Because Ellis isn’t grizzled or some kind of bitter wunderkind. She’s a well-rounded person, with a keen intellect and magnificent observation skills, and she harbors no nonsense regarding her cases. She only wants justice, and she isn’t tied to a specific community… which only adds to the purity of her quest for justice. Making her a gumshoe unlike any other we’ve seen in this genre, and that alone is worth the price of admission… but the show continues to impress beyond that. Since the cases are engaging and powerful, and truly ponder upon the darkness we harbor and what brings it into the light. All of which makes for a captivating watch, one that truly satisfies courtesy of some amazing writing and some amazing performances, with Sharon D Clarke leading the way as Inspector Ellis.

Since she brings incredible gravitas to the role and plays Ellis with an honesty that you rarely find in crime dramas. Which only adds to the majesty of this incredible series, one that also… is progressive in nature. Because make no mistake about it, it’s a huge deal that this series features a Black female lead. For that is rare in this genre and rare in television in general, but we have that here and that’s wondrous. Since it is indeed representation at its finest, and the good news is that you can begin the journey with Inspector Ellis right now. For the first episode is available on Acorn TV, and we cannot wait for you to see it, to geek out with you about it, and to share our interview with Sharon D Clarke, to celebrate the release of this important new series.

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