Hinterland (TV series)
Y Gwyll | |
---|---|
Also known as | 'Hinterland' |
Genre | Crime drama |
Created by |
Ed Talfan Ed Thomas |
Starring |
Richard Harrington Mali Harries Alex Harries Hannah Daniel Aneirin Hughes |
Country of origin | Wales |
Original language(s) | Welsh • English |
No. of series | 3 |
No. of episodes | 25 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Ed Thomas |
Producer(s) |
Gethin Scourfield Ed Talfan |
Location(s) | Aberystwyth, Wales |
Running time | 45 minutes |
Production company(s) | Fiction Factory Films |
Distributor | All3Media International |
Release | |
Original network | S4C |
Picture format | 1080i (16:9 HDTV) |
Original release | 29 October 2013 – present |
External links | |
Website |
www |
Y Gwyll (English translation: The Dusk[1]), titled Hinterland in the English-language version, is a Welsh noir[1] police detective drama series broadcast on S4C in Welsh. The main character, DCI Tom Mathias, is played by Richard Harrington.[2] On 27 November 2013, a second series was announced by S4C.[3] An English language version, with brief passages of Welsh dialogue, aired on BBC One Wales. When it was aired on the BBC in 2014, it was the first BBC television drama with dialogue in both English and Welsh.[4] A third series of the show began filming in January 2016[5] and debuted on S4C on 30 October.[6]
The programme is set in Aberystwyth, Wales and the three seasons were filmed in and around the town, often in rural locations.[7][8]
Production
The series reflects the commitment made in April 2013 by the Director of BBC Cymru Wales, Rhodri Talfan Davies, to show more Welsh language life and culture on the mainstream BBC channels.[4]
On a tight budget—funds that took two and a half years to raise—the total production cost was £4.2 million.[9] The programme makers received £215,000 in repayable business funding from the Welsh Government and the first series was mainly filmed in Aberystwyth and the surrounding Ceredigion region on the west coast of Wales, over a 124‑day period in 2013. The show was filmed in both Welsh and English, with the location-based production offices contained within the former Ceredigion Council offices Swyddfa'r Sir, which also acts as the external scene of the show's police station.[10]
Each scene is filmed twice, in the English and Welsh languages, apart from a few scenes where Welsh with subtitles is used for the English version.[11]
The Welsh version was broadcast (in eight parts) on S4C in October 2013, with the bilingual version (in four parts) broadcast on BBC One Wales in January 2014 and on BBC Four later that year.[12] The broadcaster that produced The Killing, Danmarks Radio (DR), acquired the rights in 2012 to broadcast the show in Denmark,[13] before filming had commenced.[4]
Cast
- Richard Harrington as Detective Chief Inspector Tom Mathias
- Mali Harries as Detective Inspector Mared Rhys
- Alex Harries as Detective Constable Lloyd Elis
- Hannah Daniel as Detective Sergeant Siân Owen
- Aneirin Hughes as Chief Superintendent Brian Prosser
Episodes
Series overview
Series | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | |||
1 | 8 | October 29, 2013 | November 21, 2013 | |
2 | 9 | January 1, 2015 | November 1, 2015 | |
3 | 8 | October 30, 2016 | December 18, 2016 |
Series 1 (2013)
Episode | Title | Director | Writers | Original air date | Viewers (millions)[14] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Devil's Bridge - Part 1" | Marc Evans | David Joss Buckley & Ed Thomas | 29 October 2013 | 0.62 |
On his first day in his new job in Aberystwyth, DCI Tom Mathias is called out to investigate a suspicious disappearance. In a quiet seaside bungalow, he discovers a bathroom covered in blood but no sign of the resident owner, Helen Jenkins. Discovering that Jenkins was once the manager of a children's home, DCI Mathias and DI Mared Rhys venture up into the mountains, where DCI Mathias uncovers evidence which suggests Helen has been thrown from the parapet at Devil's Bridge into the water below. | |||||
2 | "Devil's Bridge - Part 2" | Marc Evans | David Joss Buckley & Ed Thomas | 31 October 2013 | N/A |
The subsequent investigation leads Mathias to investigate former residents of the home, who have since gone on to blow the whistle on the illegal activities which took place during Helen's tenure. As the case becomes increasingly complicated, Mathias discovers that a deranged woman whose baby was stillborn may hold the key to an otherwise impenetrable case. | |||||
3 | "Night Music - Part 1" | Gareth Bryn | Ed Talfan | 5 November 2013 | 0.49 |
DCI Mathias investigates the brutal murder of 69-year-old Idris Williams, who was found bludgeoned to death in his farmhouse on the Aberystwyth mountains. Despite the lack of an apparent motive for the attack, the disappearance of camera equipment and one picture from the victim's dark room suggest that whilst photographing the local landscape, Williams pictured something that nobody wanted him to see. | |||||
4 | "Night Music - Part 2" | Gareth Bryn | Ed Talfan | 7 November 2013 | N/A |
As the investigation progresses, information regarding the deep and twisted family history of local farmhands begins to offer up further suspects, and the disappearance of three prisoners from a POW camp back in 1943 provides a vital lead in uncovering the killer's identity. Before the killer is caught, however, a second victim is kidnapped from the nearby guild, and Mathias realises that time is running out to find the victim alive. | |||||
5 | "Penwyllt - Part 1" | Rhys Powys | David Joss Buckley & Ed Thomas | 12 November 2013 | N/A |
In the isolated village of Penwyllt, the body of a young labourer, Michael Reynolds, is found in the murky depths of a quarry lake. Initial forensics reveal that Reynolds did not drown where he was found, as water samples found in his lungs contain traces of sheep urine and faeces. As the investigation draws DCI Mathias into the heart of the close-knit community, he discovers that Reynolds was having an affair with the wife of the local pub landlord, and was taking the son of one of his co-workers deep into the forest to visit an hermetic villager, who some years previously had torched his own home and nearly killed his estranged wife and two children. | |||||
6 | "Penwyllt - Part 2" | Rhys Powys | David Joss Buckley & Ed Thomas | 14 November 2013 | 0.40 |
When the body of a second victim is found in a nearby garage, Mathias goes against the advice of Prosser - but his continued digging eventually uncovers the scene where Reynolds was killed and who was responsible. | |||||
7 | "The Girl in the Water - Part 1" | Ed Thomas | Jeff Murphy | 19 November 2013 | 0.42 |
The carefully posed body of a young woman in a red dress is found in Borth marshes. Initial suspicion points towards an ex-boyfriend, who was assaulted by the girl's father shortly before the girl died, and whose alibi is false. However, Mathias soon discovers the girl was also romantically involved with her university professor, who had tried to end their relationship on the night she died. As Mathias begins to grow close to the girl's grieving mother, he realises the investigation has missed one key suspect. However, when he tries to look into the suspect's past, Prosser questions Mathias' actions. | |||||
8 | "The Girl in the Water - Part 2" | Ed Thomas | Jeff Murphy | 21 November 2013 | 0.34 |
After Mathias discovers a plot to murder a second victim, he becomes determined to catch the culprit and save the intended target - but the case pushes him to the edge, both personally and professionally. |
Series 2 (2015)
Episode | Title | Director | Writers | Original air date | Viewers (millions)[14] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 (9) | "In the Dead of Night" | Ed Thomas | Jeff Murphy | 1 January 2015 | 0.39 |
With blood on his hands, and his future hanging in the balance, DCI Mathias is forced to return to the front line after an arson attack on an isolated farmhouse leaves a mother and child fighting for their lives. Drawn into a community of failing farms and long-standing feuds, what is it about the case that draws Mathias in, pulling him back from the brink? With Prosser casting eyes from all sides, Mathias is forced to juggle the current investigation while recovering the remains of his tattered reputation. | |||||
2 (10) | "Ceredigion - Part 1" | Gareth Bryn | Debbie Moon | 13 September 2015 | 0.44 |
Mathias finds that his world has been turned upside down after his wife Meg turns up in Aberystwyth, and an investigation by the IPCC into his conduct is about to reach its conclusion. But when a bus driver is found shot dead on an isolated mountainside, the investigation provides a welcome escape. | |||||
3 (11) | "Ceredigion - Part 2" | Gareth Bryn | Debbie Moon | 20 September 2015 | 0.36 |
The team have a suspect to question, but Mathias believes he is an unlikely killer. In his current state of mind, Mathias is fascinated by the lifestyle choices taken by ex-soldier John Bell. He also knows that he cannot avoid Meg for much longer. | |||||
4 (12) | "The Tale of Nant Gwrtheyrn - Part 1" | Julian Jones | Eoin McNamee | 27 September 2015 | 0.35 |
The murder of a local dignitary and barrister leads to the uncovering of a tragic story of love and loss, fueled by distrust and suspicion in the depths of the hinterland. Why were Nora and Daniel living such a secluded life? What has Mathias discovered in the garden? Will he find Daniel before Glyn Powell gets hold of him? | |||||
5 (13) | "The Tale of Nant Gwrtheyrn - Part 2" | Julian Jones | Eoin McNamee | 4 October 2015 | 0.32 |
The clock is ticking, but Mathias knows the relationship between Branwen Powell and Daniel is key to uncovering the truth. | |||||
6 (14) | "Dark River - Part 1" | Ed Thomas | Sue Everett | 11 October 2015 | N/A |
The discovery of a body in a lake leads to an investigation about a local teacher from a small rural school. What is Gwilym's secret? Who is Ben Willis? Why did another ex-teacher commit suicide? Who is the mysterious girl, and why is she hiding from Mathias? | |||||
7 (15) | "Dark River - Part 2" | Ed Thomas | Sue Everett | 18 October 2015 | N/A |
Is Greta still alive? This is a world rife with secrets. Will Mathias and the team unravel them in time, or is it already too late? | |||||
8 (16) | "The Sound of Souls - Part 1" | Ed Thomas | Ed Talfan | 25 October 2015 | N/A |
A burnt body on the dunes embroils the team in a long standing family feud associated with the murder of a young mother, 13 years earlier. Mathias is convinced the young woman's murder holds the answers, but Prosser isn't keen on Mathias' delving into the past. | |||||
9 (17) | "The Sound of Souls - Part 2" | Ed Thomas | Ed Talfan | 1 November 2015 | N/A |
Will Mathias discover the truth of the matter, or will the person who's stalking him get in his way? |
Series 3 (2016)
Episode | Title | Director | Writers | Original air date | Viewers (millions)[14] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 (18) | "Episode #3.1 - Part 1" | Gareth Bryn | Debbie Moon | 30 October 2016 | 0.41 |
The murder of local minister Elwyn Jones leads a recovering DCI Mathias and his team deep into the secrets of a small farming village in rural Aberystwyth. Meanwhile, DS Owens leads the investigation into the attack on Mathias, and suspects that Iwan Thomas is more than likely responsible. Prosser, however, is determined to protect Mathias - and himself - as the truth begins to boil the surface. | |||||
2 (19) | "Episode #3.1 - Part 2" | Gareth Bryn | Debbie Moon | 6 November 2016 | 0.43 |
As the identity of Elwyn Jones' murderer becomes clear, Mared and Mathias are forced to confront the possibility that the truth may tear his family apart. Meanwhile, Mathias goes in search of Iwan Thomas, unaware that he has a prior engagement with Prosser. | |||||
3 (20) | "Episode #3.2 - Part 1" | Ed Thomas | Cynan Jones | 13 November 2016 | 0.57 |
Following the disappearance of Iwan Thomas, Prosser decides to distance himself from the case by pointing the finger of suspicion at Mathias. Meanwhile, the murder of a curator who is found buried in woodland leads Mathias and the team into the seedy history of a local artist, Lewis John, until he provides a solid alibi for the night of the murder. As Sian continues to investigate the attack on Mathias, she follows up on a reported sighting of Iwan Thomas' car, and unexpectedly finds his lifeless body at Devil's Bridge. | |||||
4 (21) | "Episode #3.2 - Part 2" | Ed Thomas | Cynan Jones | 20 November 2016 | 0.57 |
Prosser brings in an independent investigator, Superintendent John Powell, to investigate Iwan Thomas' death, but is surprised to discover that he has history with Mared. Sian is drafted onto the investigation team, and immediately points the finger of suspicion towards Mathias. As Iwan's brother Gareth discloses to the police that Mathias was looking for Iwan on the night he died, Mathias remains undeterred, and uncovers vital evidence that suggests that Laura Dean's murderer was none other than her boyfriend, Ifan. | |||||
5 (22) | "Episode #3.3 - Part 1" | Gareth Bryn | Jeff Murphy | 27 November 2016 | N/A |
A shooting at a rural petrol station leads Mathias and the team in search of a schizophrenic man who later resorts to kidnapping his own son. As Powell edges ever closer to uncovering the truth surrounding Iwan Thomas' death, Iwan's brother Gareth provides him with a secret file containing evidence which suggests Prosser's involvement in the child abuse scandal. As Mathias goes out alone as part of a house-to-house enquiry, he unexpectedly comes face to face with the armed suspect at an isolated farmhouse. | |||||
6 (23) | "Episode #3.3 - Part 2" | Gareth Bryn | Jeff Murphy | 4 December 2016 | 0.42 |
Held captive in the isolated farmhouse, Mathias tries to bargain with Llew in an attempt to secure his freedom. As word of Mathias' unexplained disappearance begins to spread, Mared begins to realise that he could be in serious danger and organises a search. Former Chief Superintendent Robert Owen meets with Powell and attempts to pressurise him into delivering a suicide verdict in the case of Iwan Thomas. As armed police close in, Mathias tries to prevent any further casualties by persuading Llew to hand himself in. | |||||
7 (24) | "Episode #3.4 - Part 1" | Ed Thomas | Mark Andrew | 11 December 2016 | 0.70 |
The suicide of convicted murder Caitrin John gives Mathias a surprising new lead into the suspicious death of Iwan Thomas. With Powell having closed the case following pressure from on high, Mathias seeks Mared's help to run a private investigation. The disappearance of a local GP in 1994, who was connected with the home, proves to be the leverage needed to crack the whole case wide open, much to the dismay of Prosser, who tries to suspend Mathias before the investigation can gather any weight. | |||||
8 (25) | "Episode #3.4 - Part 2" | Ed Thomas | Mark Andrew | 18 December 2016 | 0.27 |
Prosser, on a knife edge, confronts Robert Owen and demands he confesses the truth about what happened to Hugh Vaughan on the night of his disappearance, but as tensions reach boiling point, Prosser is unable to restrain himself and takes his second victim. Sian discovers that Prosser was the last person to have contact with Iwan Thomas before his death. As Mathias is forced to arrest his once respected superior, the entire net of abusers begins to crumble, finally bring the case to a close. |
International broadcasters
Television channels
- Belgium: the Flemish public broadcasting organization VRT started airing the Welsh-language version on 14 July 2014.[15]
- Denmark: DR broadcast the bilingual version, with the title "Mord i Wales", on 12, 19 and 26 May and 2 June 2014.
- Finland: YLE premiered the bilingual version, with the title "Syrjäinen maa", on 12 October 2014.[16]
- A German-dubbed version, with the title Inspector Mathias – Mord in Wales, started on German television Das Erste on 12 July 2015.[17]
- Norway: NRK premiered the bilingual version on 11 April 2014.
- Poland: Ale Kino+ premiered the bilingual version, titled Hinterland, on 5 November 2014, and has broadcast all three series.[18]
- Slovenia: The bilingual version premiered on RTVSLO, their public broadcaster on 14 April 2014, with the title "Zločini v Walesu" (Crimes in Wales). The four-part first series continued on 21, 28 April and 5 May respectively. The first series was repeated the following year in April and May.[19]
- The Netherlands: KRO premiered the bilingual version on 20 May 2014. The second series started to broadcast on 16 July 2017.
- United Kingdom: The bilingual version was first screened UK-wide on BBC Four in 2014, with the first series broadcasting from 28 April until 19 May, 2014.[20] The second series was broadcast from 23 April until 21 May, 2016. The first series aired on Monday nights, whereas the second series aired on Saturday nights.
- France: Broadcast on Netflix in a French version and a Breton version (Serr-Noz) on local channels, Tébéo, Tébésud et TVR, with French subtitles
Netflix
On-demand streaming service Netflix streams the English-language Hinterland series online across Japan, South Africa, North America, South America, Europe and New Zealand. The version available on Netflix differs from those originally transmitted in the United Kingdom: it is almost exclusively an English language version, and two part episodes are combined. The three seasons are available to stream on Netflix.[21]
References
- 1 2 Rochland, Margy (9 August 2014). "Straight Out of Wales, With Murders, The Dark ‘Hinterland’ Doubles as a Travelogue". New York Times.
- ↑ "Characters". S4C. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
- ↑ "Aberystwyth police drama Y Gwyll gets second series". BBC News. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
- 1 2 3 Wayne Davies (3 January 2014). "English language debut for hit noir series Hinterland". Wales Online. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
- ↑ "BBC - S4C - Heno, Fri, 11 Sep 2015". BBC. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
- ↑ "S4C on Twitter". Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ↑ https://www.aberystwyth.org.uk/more/hinterland-filming-locations.shtml
- ↑ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/hinterland-walks-s4c-ceredigion-tourism-8908721
- ↑ Moss, Stephen (30 July 2013). "Hinterland – the TV noir so good they made it twice". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
- ↑ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/hinterland-police-station-transformed-75m-10114526
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/jul/30/hinterland-tv-noir-wales
- ↑ Yapp, Carl (15 December 2012). "BBC News - The Killing TV company turns to Aberystwyth police drama". BBC News. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ↑ Khalsa, Balihar (13 December 2012). "DR Denmark makes move for Welsh drama Hinterland | News | Broadcast". Broadcastnow. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- 1 2 3 "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- ↑ "Hinterland (Welsh)". Vlaamse Radio- en Televisie. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
- ↑ "Syrjäinen maa". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ↑ "Inspector Mathias – ARD / Das Erste". ARD. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
- ↑ "HINTERLAND W ALE KINO+". www.alekinoplus.pl. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ↑ "Napovednik". MMC RTV Slovenija. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- ↑ "Welsh acquisition Hinterland comes to BBC Four". BBC Media Centre. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ↑ "Welsh drama Hinterland picked up for Netflix streaming". Wales Online. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.