Skip to content
MovieCove
Annika

Annika

2021–2023Ended2 seasons12 episodesTV-14Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

The sharp, witty and enigmatic DI Annika Strandhed, as she heads up a new specialist Marine Homicide Unit (MHU) that is tasked with investigating the unexplained, brutal, and seemingly unfathomable murders.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Annika?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Annika streaming on PBS Masterpiece via Prime Video and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

via Prime Video

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Annika?

Annika earns 4 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Preferred by US Viewers.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Annika worth watching?

Annika's Midcredits score is the 67th percentile of all shows, from 12K ratings across 2 sources. 81% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

67th percentile

Better received than 67% of shows

64th percentile among Crime72nd percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)57th
Approval (how many liked it)74th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

72 /100

57th percentile of all shows

57th percentile among Crime62nd percentile among 2020s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

81% liked it

74th percentile of all shows

66th percentile among Crime78th percentile among 2020s
81% rated it 7–1019% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

87th percentile

12K ratings across platforms

78th percentile among Crime89th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 32% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A quirky, lightweight police procedural that prioritizes character charm over gritty realism.

Fans praised

  • Nicola Walker's charismatic, witty performance anchors the series
  • Refreshingly light, quirky tone with dry humor and clever asides to camera
  • Beautiful Scottish scenery and strong supporting cast chemistry

Detractors panned

  • Fourth-wall breaks feel gimmicky, distracting, and break immersion
  • Weak, predictable plots resolved too quickly with thin police work
  • Cliched single-mom-with-stroppy-teenager subplot feels tired

What stands out

ActingDivisive82

Nicola Walker praised as charismatic; detractors find her mannerisms tiring

AtmosphereDivisive78

Evocative Scottish coastal setting; immersive for fans, bland for some detractors

DialogueDivisive72

Witty, clever banter fans love; detractors find it stilted or overly dry

HumorDivisive70

Dry, witty asides land for fans; detractors find them flat or forced

CharactersDivisive60

Quirky ensemble enjoyable to fans; detractors see flat, cliched writing

OriginalityDivisive60

Fourth-wall breaks and literary references seen as fresh by fans; detractors call them gimmicky

PacingDivisive55

Fast, self-contained episodes; some find them rushed or poorly paced

Plot and storyDivisive45

Simple, episodic cases wrapped up neatly; detractors call them thin and predictable

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 17 points higher than men.

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 27 points higher than non-US viewers.

Episodes

2 seasons

Series 2 · 2023 · 6 episodes

  • S2E1

    Episode 1

    Aug 9, 202347 min
  • S2E2

    Episode 2

    Aug 16, 202347 min
  • S2E3

    Episode 3

    Aug 23, 202347 min
  • S2E4

    Episode 4

    Aug 30, 202347 min
  • S2E5

    Episode 5

    Sep 6, 202347 min
  • S2E6

    Episode 6

    Sep 13, 202347 minFinale

Watch experience

What is Annika like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you feeling good.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
ContemplativeTenseWarm
Heaviest: throughout
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Wry · 7% of shows: Amused and slightly dry about it.Warm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Frame story · 3% of shows: A story told inside another — someone is recounting it.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe show balances a straightforward police procedural with a wry, amused detachment through Annika's asides to the camera, while remaining sincere about its characters and their relationships.
The rideThe series sustains a consistent blend of investigative tension and warm, thoughtful character moments.
StructureThe show uses a standard three-act structure for each case, with Annika's fourth-wall-breaking monologues framing the story and providing insight into her thoughts.
Episode formatEach episode has a self-contained murder case, but there is an overarching family and character arc across the series.
Season formatEach season likely presents a new set of cases and character developments, with the core cast continuing.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Feel-goodFun
Why it leaves you this wayThe show leaves viewers with a light, satisfied feeling from the solved case and the warm family dynamics, making for an entertaining watch.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Mystery
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8% (this title): Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% (this title) · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Mystery: A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered. · Investigation: A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).

8% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeEach episode follows a typical procedural mystery: a murder in Scottish waters is investigated and solved by the Marine Homicide Unit, driven by the question of who did it and why.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsJustice · 14% of showsPurpose
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe series balances Annika's professional pursuit of justice with her personal life as a mother navigating her relationship with her daughter Morgan.
StanceThe series observes Annika's balancing act between crime-solving and motherhood without strong judgment.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanIn transitRealistic
AmbientElectronicSupportive music · original score
SettingMarine Homicide Unit in modern-day Scotland, waters and cities

Content guide

Is Annika okay for kids?

TV-14

Annika is rated TV-14. As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (44/100), sexual content at minimal (10/100), language at moderate (42/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (28/100) and frightening material at moderate (50/100). Its drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank. Overall it is heavier than 28% of TV-14 shows.

Ratings in 8 other countries
  • UK15
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Austria12
  • Norway15
  • Spain13
  • Switzerland16
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 25% of all showsHeavier than 28% of TV-14 shows
Violence & Gore
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 39%
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
light for a TV-14 show
heavier than 4%
Profanity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 59%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (6 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (8 votes)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is violence, heavier than 39% of TV-14 shows.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Annika have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Annika?

Cast

Nicola Walker
as DI Annika Strandhed
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jamie Sives
as DS Michael McAndrews
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Katie Leung
as DC Blair Ferguson
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Silvie Furneaux
as Morgan Strandhed
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Ukweli Roach
as DS Tyrone Clarke
Kate Dickie
as DCI Diane Oban
Paul McGann
as Jake Strathearn
Varada Sethu
as DC Harper Weston
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Taylor Goodwin
as Femi Talla
Cora Bissett
as Astrid McAndrews

More like this

What are shows like Annika?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Annika include Agatha Christie's Marple (2004), Barnaby Jones (1973) and Signora Volpe (2022).

Like this, but

Explore by

What other shows share a tag with Annika?

813 other shows share the rarest tag below, kind of show: police procedural. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.