If you enjoyed watching Amanda Seyfried's talents in the recent hit psychological thriller The Housemaid, now might be the right time to check out some of her other, grittier, roles. Appearing now in Channel 4's "new and trending" section, American crime thriller Long Bright River is streaming as a box set – with Seyfried taking on the central role of Mickey, a Philadelphia cop.
The drama was first released in 2025, debuting on Peacock in the US, and was based on the popular novel of the same name by author Liz Moore. The eight-part series, which was co-created by Moore and Nikki Toscano (whose other TV credits include Prime Video's Hunters), sees Mickey investigating a series of murders in an area struggling with crime, only to wonder if there could be a connection to her own sister's disappearance.
"If you've been looking for 2025's answer to Mare of Easttown, you'll find it right here," The Post NZ wrote in its review, which also branded Long Bright River a "dark" crime series with a "mesmerising" performance from Seyfried.
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TV Insider seemed to agree with this comparison, stating: "Peacock's Long Bright River, adapting Liz Moore's terrifically gritty novel, boasts one of the most intriguingly imperfect heroines since HBO's memorable Mare of Easttown in Mickey Fitzpatrick."
Of course, fans of HBO's Mare of Easttown (also well worth a watch, if you let that one pass you by when it was released) will know that it was the central performance of Kate Winslet as the titular detective that really brought something unique to that glossy, prestige drama.
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Elsewhere in Long Bright River reviews, Irish Independent (via Rotten Tomatoes) is quoted as saying: "Long Bright River has an undeniable grim style of its own nonetheless, and Seyfried is a quiet revelation, wholly believable in this uncharacteristic role."
"Between Seyfried's performance and the bread crumbs we get about Mickey's past in the first episode, there's enough to keep us watching Long Bright River," added Decider. "But we can't shake the feeling that, without Seyfried in the mix, the show would be indistinguishable from other procedurals of its type."
The cast of Long Bright River also includes Ashleigh Cummings (Citadel), Nicholas Pinnock (This Town) and John Doman (The Wire).
Long Bright River appears to have been available on Channel 4 to stream previously, but with it now popping up again it could be the perfect time to settle in for a binge-watch.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
