Under Salt Marsh: Should you watch or skip the latest British crime thriller? A viewer's guide

The recently released British miniseries Under Salt Marsh is far more than a quintessential crime story with its thrilling plot twists and investigative leads. It also explores the emotional resonance of crime on communities, from a humanized lens.

The Sky Atlantic series focuses on a tragic murder case where Cefin, a nine-year-old child, is found dead in a trench. Ex-detective Jackie Ellis (Kelly Reilly) joins to solve the case along with her ex-partner Eric Bull (Rafe Spall). Jackie has herself experienced the mysterious disappearance of her niece years ago. Therefore, she believes these two cases are strongly linked.

If you feel curious about watching the show, we have prepared a viewers’ guide that can help you decide. Let us find out more about Under Salt Marsh.

Under Salt Marsh viewers guide: Who should watch (and who might want to skip it)

Veteran actor Jonathan Pryce, who portrays the role of Solomon, the grandfather of Cefin, addressed the show’s treatment of the crime genre in a conversation with RadioTimes:

"It's weird, I didn't feel like I was reading a murder mystery. I felt I was reading about a community that was under threat from the environment. But also, [there's] this ongoing unrest within the community because some of the murders are historical, and the community is already split, and then rent asunder again. So it's a much deeper story than an obvious murder mystery."

Going by Pryce’s comments, it is clear that Under Salt Marsh is not a typical crime drama that solely focuses on jaw-dropping curveballs and crafty indicators. It surpasses expectations and makes viewers sit through the discomfort while posing a larger, more crucial question. It gives a reality check on how crime impacts people psychologically. It is not a classic ‘whodunit’; it is about what happens to the people around us when such gruesome criminal activities occur.

In the series, the murder sparks emotional undercurrents that were already seething beneath the surface. As the case is examined, agitation bubbles up fiercely. Interpersonal relationships are largely impacted, and buried history resurfaces.

The visuals of Under Salt Marsh convey the exact emotions intended. There is a sense of heaviness and anticipatory anxiety in the environment. As the murder takes place, feelings of torment and rage accumulate, brimming on the surface, waiting to spill over.

As per Sky.com, the show has a 15 rating. The age restriction is due to multiple reasons. As the plot involves the murder of a child, there is a graphic depiction of dead bodies involving young juveniles. There are also depictions of violence and usage of profanities in the scenes. Overall, the gloomy theme, along with these elements, makes the show unsuitable for children below 15.

You may want to watch Under Salt Marsh if you enjoy deliberate, quiet, and intimate storytelling that focuses on emotions over suspense. If you prefer a vibrant, urgency-focused crime show that is straightforward, you might want to give it a miss.

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Also read: Under Salt Marsh Episodes 1–2 recap

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