Prime Video’s action thriller Reacher often sneaks into cop-show territory by featuring plenty of investigations and including police officers as key supporting characters. Season 4 maintains this approach, although the stakes are even higher. The critically acclaimed series has shifted into a political thriller. The entertainment value of Reacher is still high. However, if you miss the “ordinary criminal” feel of previous seasons, or you simply don’t want to subscribe to another streaming service, you should check out Line of Duty, which is currently available at no cost.
With six seasons and 36 episodes, Line of Duty can be watched for free on multiple platforms in the U.S. These include Hoopla, Roku, The CW, and Pluto TV. Originally airing on BBC One, the series was nominated for many BAFTAs, set multiple viewership records, and became the highest-rated drama in the UK since 2002. It also has a stellar cast including some of the U.K.’s best actors: Vicky McClure, Martin Compston, and Adrian Dunbar.
‘Line of Duty’s Wild Plots Aren’t as Far-Fetched as They Seem
Created by Jed Mercurio, a former doctor and officer in the Royal Air Force Medical Branch, Line of Duty examines how easily corruption sinks its teeth into law enforcement institutions and how difficult it is to eradicate. The show revolves around the Anti-Corruption Unit 12 (AC-12), a fictional police task force assigned the duty of “policing the police.” Each season focuses on a different police officer being investigated for corruption or misconduct. In a Departed-style loop, most cases circle back to a shadowy organized crime network with an unknown informant inside the police known only as “H.”
Line of Duty served as a commentary on law enforcement in the U.K. Several reports came out when the show was on the air, including the revelation by The Independent that organized crime figures had infiltrated Scotland Yard. Sure, some of the criminal figures we meet in the series are grandiose types who love leisure and engaging in long, loud, chest-thumping conversations with conspirators, but they aren’t far off from the real kind.
I enjoyed the performances, especially Lennie James (The Walking Dead) in Season 1. His portrayal of the corrupt DCI Tony Gates has a never-ending sinister edge. His face goes blank sometimes, and his sharp-toned, drawling delivery of lines is unnervingly equivocal. Statements that initially seemed sincere quickly become acrimonious and ironic at the last minute, with relevant adjustments of inflection. Unfortunately, Gates doesn’t stick around for long. But since the show has a large, excellent cast, the ship remains steady throughout.
‘Line of Duty’ Is Consistently Great, According to Critics
Underrated and overlooked in the U.S. during its run, Line of Duty is rarely mentioned today as one of the greatest shows of the 21st century. While it may not have been the most entertaining series ever made, it managed to consistently earn the approval of critics, and it deserves more attention.
Seasons 1 through 4 of Line of Duty have a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Season 5 dropped to 96%, and Season 6 scored the lowest at 86%. Mind-blowing? Absolutely! Even Metacritic, whose certified critics tend to be harsher, gave the series an 86 score out of 100. It was nominated for a Best Drama Series BAFTA several times, and it could have swept the Emmys if it were eligible.
The fact that such a great show is streaming for free feels like a major bargain. It’s like a gift from Santa. And the series isn’t over yet. Yes, while Line of Duty ended in 2021, Season 7 is set to premiere in 2027. According to Digital Spy, filming started in Belfast in spring 2026 and has now ended. Anyone who starts watching now has plenty of time to experience the whole story before the next chapter begins. It’s an easy undertaking since each season has five to seven episodes.
Time to join the officers on duty.
