Marcella (2016)
A haunted detective returns to London's Murder Squad after her marriage implodes, hunting killers while battling the darkest corners of her own mind.
Marcella - Series Information
- Original Title: Marcella
- First Air Year: 2016
- Last Air Year: 2021
- Created by: Hans Rosenfeldt
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Crime, Drama
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (45 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 3
- Number of Episodes: 24
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: April 4, 2016 (United States - TV-MA), April 4, 2016 (United Kingdom - 15), April 4, 2016 (Germany - 18), April 4, 2016 (France - 16), April 4, 2016 (Australia - MA 15+), April 4, 2016 (Spain - 18), April 4, 2016 (South Korea - 19)
- Networks: ITV1
- Alternative Titles: Marcella (DE)
- Production Companies: Buccaneer Media
- Production Countries: United Kingdom
Marcella - Plot
Marcella is shocked to the core of her being when her husband Jason leaves her unexpectedly, confessing he no longer loves her. Heartbroken, Marcella returns to the Met's Murder Squad. Ten years ago Marcella gave up her fast-tracked police career to marry and devote her life to her family. With the abrupt end to her marriage and isolated from her 13 year old daughter and 10 year old son, Marcella throws herself into work to stop herself from falling apart.
Marcella - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see what awaits in this dark British crime drama.
Detective. Witness. Suspect.
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Marcella - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Hans Rosenfeldt
Main Cast
- Anna Friel
- Nicholas Pinnock
- Ray Panthaki
- Sinéad Cusack
- Nina Sosanya
- Jamie Bamber
- Harry Lloyd
- Ian Puleston-Davies
- Robert Whitelock
- Laura Carmichael
Writers
- Hans Rosenfeldt
- Nicola Larder
- Tim Loane
- David Allison
- Marston Bloom
Marcella - FAQs
Where can you stream Marcella online?
Marcella is available to stream on Netflix and Netflix Standard with Ads. You can also buy or rent it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. Hoopla offers free access as well, depending on your region and library membership.
Who plays the lead role in Marcella?
Anna Friel leads the series as Marcella Backland, a detective whose marriage collapses and who throws herself back into police work. Her raw, intense performance earned widespread praise and is widely considered one of the finest of her career.
Does Marcella have blackouts and what do they mean?
Marcella experiences dissociative blackouts throughout the series, waking with no memory of her actions. These episodes create a chilling ambiguity — she may be a witness, a victim, or even a perpetrator. The blackouts are central to the show's psychological tension and drive much of its narrative mystery.
Is Marcella based on a true story?
Marcella is not based on a specific true story. Creator Hans Rosenfeldt, known for the Scandinavian noir series The Bridge, crafted an original narrative blending British crime procedural elements with psychological drama. The character and cases are entirely fictional, though grounded in realistic police investigation.
How many seasons and episodes does Marcella have?
Marcella ran for three seasons, each containing eight episodes, for a total of 24 episodes. Season 1 and Season 2 are set in London, while Season 3 takes a bold new direction, relocating Marcella to Belfast under a new identity in a completely different environment.
Why did Marcella move to Belfast in Season 3?
Season 3 sees Marcella go undercover in Belfast, adopting a new identity as 'Keira.' The dramatic shift was a creative reinvention of the series, placing the character in a new city, a new social world, and a new set of dangers — separating her entirely from her London life and past.
Who created the Marcella TV series?
Marcella was created by Hans Rosenfeldt, the Swedish screenwriter behind the acclaimed Scandinavian crime series The Bridge. Rosenfeldt brought his signature dark, psychologically complex storytelling to a British setting, collaborating with a team of writers across the show's three-season run.
Is Marcella worth watching for crime drama fans?
Absolutely. Marcella delivers a compelling mix of gritty procedural plotting and raw psychological character study. Anna Friel's performance is magnetic, and the show's willingness to keep its lead morally ambiguous sets it apart from conventional detective dramas. Fans of dark British crime series will find plenty to admire.
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