I'm somewhat ashamed to confess that BBC drama Sherwood is one of those unusual instances where I've only just got around to watching it. The six-part series, penned by James Graham, initially aired in 2022, a year that was particularly hectic for me as I began my journey with WalesOnline, and it somehow slipped through the cracks. Now, having watched the entire first series and several episodes of the second series, which premieres on Sunday, August 25, I'm kicking myself: It's brilliant.
Sherwood’s first series follows two police officers in a mining village as they hunt for a killer. It is loosely based on real-life murders that took place in Nottinghamshire, England in 2004, and is set in an area that was still affected by the divisions of the miners' strike decades earlier. The new series focuses on contemporary issues like gangs, social services, and the cost of living crisis.
A plot synopsis reads: “Set in the present day [series two] introduces two new families that find themselves entangled with the Sparrows, entering a complex web of local gangs, old rivalries, revenge, and betrayal. Meanwhile, a newly appointed Sheriff of Nottingham is passionately fighting against a proposed new coal mine for the area, which brings the promise of much needed jobs and prosperity but also unwelcome reminders of the legacy that has mired the community for so long.” READ MORE: Why Gavin & Stacey shouldn't come back READ MORE: I tried Wagamama's new brunch with an Aperol Spritz s.