A deadly accident + dreadfully bad decisions = superb noir thriller, ‘Guilt’, on PBS Masterpiece
Photo: PBS Masterpiece
Set in the Leith district of Edinburgh, Guilt stars Mark Bonnar (Unforgotten, Shetland) and Jamie Sives (Game of Thrones) as a pair of bickering brothers, Max and Jake, in a mischievous yet darkly absorbing tale of deceit. Max is the elder brother—affluent, short-tempered and ruthlessly take-charge while younger brother Jake is the likeable, rumpled ex-musician and record shop owner with a moral conscience.
“It’s not the crime, it’s the cover-up” goes the old saying. But that didn’t stop brothers Max and Jake from hiding their guilt after being thrown together following a deadly accident. When they inadvertently run into an elderly pedestrian during an inebriated drive home from a wedding, the two estranged brothers subsequently attempt a cover-up then make a series of dreadfully bad decisions which lead them into a nightmarish situation where they can trust no one, including each other.
Photo: PBS Masterpiece
Guilt costars Ruth Bradley (Pursuit, Ted Lasso) as Angie, the niece and closest relative of the hit-and-run victim, named Walter. Arriving in Edinburgh from her home in Chicago, Angie meets Max and Jake at Walter’s wake, where they have come to retrieve incriminating evidence. Angie and Jake hit it off, which complicates Max’s plan to escape justice.
Also appearing are Emun Elliott (The Paradise) as Kenny, Max’s alcoholic but newly sober private detective trying to make a comeback; Sian Brooke (Sherlock) as Claire, Max’s suspicious wife; Moyo Akandé (The Hurricane Heist) as Claire’s more-than-gym buddy, Tina; Ellie Haddington (Foyle’s War, Enola Holmes) as Walter’s pathologically vigilant neighbor, Sheila; and Bill Paterson (Fleabag) as Roy, an underworld mob boss in Edinburgh.
Oddly, Guilt is also a celebration of classic rock and roll almost to the extent that the soundtrack should be listed as a co-star. Jake runs an independent record shop called Leith Beats, which boasts having more vinyl than customers. Much like High Fidelity’s Rob Gordon (John Cusack), Jake’s life is a bit idiosyncratic when it comes to music. He adores early Rod Stewart (who can argue with that) but won’t stock Rolling Stones records released after 1981 (ok, I’m going to have to take issue with this one).
Photo: PBS Masterpiece
Guilt costars Ruth Bradley (Pursuit, Ted Lasso) as Angie, the niece and closest relative of the hit-and-run victim, named Walter. Arriving in Edinburgh from her home in Chicago, Angie meets Max and Jake at Walter’s wake, where they have come to retrieve incriminating evidence. Angie and Jake hit it off, which complicates Max’s plan to escape justice.
Angie inherits an extensive record collection from the story’s victim, and she knows a thing or two about music herself. The two attempt to trip each other up on trivia about artists including Sam Cooke, Rick Danko, David Bowie and Bobby Womack.
Airing on Sundays, September 5 and 12 at 9/8c as part of PBS’ Masterpiece series, Guilt checks all the boxes of being a first-rate thriller and black comedy with soundtrack greatness.
In: Mystery
