Post-July 4th, things get disgusting, weather-wise, in much of the U.S. In New York City, where I and much of Team Lifehacker live, we spend a lot of time outside, shuffling through the humid, hot-dog-scented soup that is summer in a crowded, polluted metropolis. And so we become indoor cats, taking refuge indoors, looking for the hermit’s equivalent of the beach read, which, as everyone knows, is the A/C binge. This summer I’m watching British procedurals and I’m telling you, there’s nothing like a quick-talking squad of DCIs rooting out some “bent coppers” to take one’s mind off a planet on fire. Here are the series you should should start streaming posthaste.
Line of Duty
Series 1-4, Hulu
Series 5, Acorn (get the free trial, binge the season in two days, cancel free trial)
Line of Duty centers DCI AC-12, a police anti-corruption unit that roots out bent coppers and bent bastards and other bent officers in the police force. I hoovered up all five seasons in a couple of weeks once I realized that I could watch with subtitles and understand all the police lingo and UK accents.
Bodyguard
Series 1, Netflix
Game of Thrones’ Richard Madden stars the English equivalent of a secret service agent protecting the Home Secretary from a lot of terrorist attacks while dealing with his PTSD from time in Afghanistan. It’s only one season so you’ll only need one pitcher of iced tea for this one—two, tops.
The Night Manager
Season 1, Prime Video
The Night Manager is about a, well, night manager of a Cairo hotel who gets involved in an international arms race. It’s based on a John Le Carré novel, which is neither here nor there, but it’s got a fine English spy pedigree, if you care about such things.
The Escape Artist
Season 1, Prime Video
David Tennant (Dr. Who, Broadchurch) plays a barrister who defends a serial killer. I’ll say no more because this one is a mere three episodes long, which is a crime in itself. Just watch it and luxuriate in what an incredible actor he is.