Common Sense Media Review
By Jenny Nixon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Ambitious but convoluted British crime drama is violent.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Collateral
What's the Story?
COLLATERAL is a British crime procedural starring Carey Mulligan (Mudbound) as no-nonsense detective Kip Glaspie, who's investigating the murder of a pizza deliveryman with her partner, Nathan (Nathaniel Martello-White). When it turns out the victim is an illegal immigrant with a violent backstory, who leaves behind two sisters who risk deportation in an increasingly isolationist, post-Brexit London -- and that the pizzeria has been delivering drugs along with their pies -- this seemingly random act uncovers a web of conspiracy that threatens to expose leaders in church, state, and military alike. John Simm (Doctor Who) appears as left-of-center MP David Mars, with Jeany Spark (Red Lights) as troubled soldier Sandrine Shaw.
Is It Any Good?
Though the four-part series kicks off with a murder, the killer is revealed before the first episode is through -- making this less a "whodunnit" than a "why'd they do it." Writer David Hare (The Hours) tries to maintain a suspenseful tone as the various threads unspool, but the dialogue is often clunky and full of awkward exposition, and the interconnected storylines come across as contrived instead of clever. A coincidence is one thing, but a plot wherein the MP's boozy ex-wife happens to order a pizza from the murder victim/refugee, whose death on her doorstep happens to be observed by a bystander, who happens to be in a relationship with yet another of the MP's exes ... who is a bisexual female vicar who happens to be counseling the woman who sent the murder victim out on the original pizza delivery? It's a stretch, to say the least. Collateral suffers from an overabundance of subplots that go nowhere, along with some gratuitous female nudity that feels wildly out of place in a show that simultaneously wants to convey messages about institutionalized sexism and hypocrisy. Mulligan, however, makes a great detective, bringing a wry confidence to a role that's refreshingly different from the characters we've seen her play before in period pieces like The Great Gatsby.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the political topics raised by Collateral, such as illegal immigration. Did the depiction of these issues in a British setting remind you in any way of similar issues facing the U.S.? Does it matter if someone is seeking refuge from their home country for safety-related reasons, or for economic ones?
Collateral was filled with intertwining plots, and characters who all had some sort of connection to one another. Did this seem realistic to you, especially in a city the size of London? Which storylines did you think were the most effective?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 9, 2018
- Cast : Carey Mulligan , Nathaniel Martello-White , Jeany Spark , John Simm , Billie Piper
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate