Rebus, on Viaplay, is a Scottish series based on Ian Rankin’s popular book series (affiliate link) about the Edinburgh detective. There have been other popular adaptations, but this version is more of an interpretation in that it features a younger Rebus set in a modern-day Scotland. DS John Rebus (Richard Rankin) is out of sorts. He was demoted after trying to kill a suspect, his ex-wife is married to a millionaire, he’s trying to be relevant to his daughter, and he is being eyed by internal affairs. When his older brother Michael (Brian Ferguson), out of financial desperation, gets involved with a local gangster, all of Rebus’ conflicting motivations come to a head. Although this may sound to you like it’s already been done, the creators, in collaboration with Ian Rankin, have gone the extra mile here, and the casting, writing, directing and cinematography add up to something special.
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The Characters
Rebus is a tough guy. To a fault, actually. When we meet him, he’s in an ambulance trying to kill the man who T-boned Rebus’ and his partner George’s (Sean Buchanan) car. Soon after, he’s visiting his brother Michael, whom he ends up punching in the face after Michael goads him. His tween daughter, Sammy (Mia McKenzie), insists on being taken home. “You always ruin everything,” she says. This particularly hurts, because “home” for Sammy is a mansion, where Rebus’ ex, Rhona (Amy Manson), lives with her new husband. To make matters worse, Rebus is saddled with a newbie detective who came up not from the streets, but via an “accelerated leadership” track. Nonetheless, Rebus maintains his dark sense of humor. Michael is a proud man, having left the army after 22 years to start a business that COVID promptly killed. Now he and his wife are struggling to provide for their 2 teenaged sons. They’ve had to move into a crummy, crowded flat that has a view of an estate tower. When Michael spies a drug deal in the tower, he decides to rob the dealers. He’s bad ass enough to get it done, but that robbery triggers a string of events that eventually Rebus is called on to investigate. Enjoying the ability to provide for his family as well as the feeling of accomplishment, Michael doubles down, gathering his old army comrades to kidnap aspiring gangster Darryl Christie (Noof Ousellam).
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The Plot
The story picks up one year after Rebus attempted to kill the guy in the ambulance. Turns out that guy is Ger Cafferty (Stuart Bowman), a long-time Edinburgh gangster who has a complex relationship with Rebus. When a low-level associate of Cafferty’s gets stabbed, Rebus is called to investigate. Joining him in her first investigation is DC Siobhan Clarke (Lucie Shorthouse), who, although green, turns out to be a decent foil for Rebus. Unfortunately for Rebus, Siobhan is dating one of Rebus’ enemies, professional standards (read: internal affairs) cop Malcolm Fox (Thoren Ferguson). Siobhan quickly has to navigate split loyalties. Meanwhile, Cafferty calls Rebus with an ultimatum: get rid of up-and-comer Darryl Christie, or Cafferty will tell the now paraplegic George that Rebus is sleeping with his wife. Oof. Darryl Christie, you’ll remember, is the very same thug that Rebus’ brother Michael has kidnapped. You can see where this is going.
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Our Take on Rebus
There are a few things that make Rebus stand out from the crowd. One is the cinematography. Edinburgh is easy to make look cinematic, as it is naturally gritty and magnificent. But it’s the selected use of the hand-held camera in close up that gives us a sense of claustrophobia and chaos, reflecting Rebus’ state of mind. The setting, post-Brexit, post-COVID Scotland, still rumbling with ideas of independence from Britain, genuinely adds to the feeling of malaise and even desperation. This Rebus is somewhat anachronistic, his working-class aggression out of step with the modern HR emphasis on emotional intelligence. It’s a credit to Richard Rankin that Rebus is even likable, but he is. There’s a three-dimensional feel to the characters, especially Rebus and Michael, but the secondary characters have some heft, too. If you are a fan of the books, you’ll notice that this series is not a straight adaptation. With Ian Rankin’s enthusiastic support, writer Gregory Burke created a new story about Michael getting involved with gangsters for the show, which gives him a chance to flesh out the brothers’ relationship. Sometimes series come together with just the right teams, where everyone is on the same page and rowing in the same direction. Rebus is that show, and you can see it onscreen.
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