That new Chiwetel Ejiofor BBC serial noir thriller centered on a murder of a drug baron makes its TV debut in the UK tonight! So, all our readers across the pond will hopefully be checking it out and return with their thoughts on it, for the rest of us. I’m definitely curious.

At the time of this posting, episode 1 of the 7-episode series will begin in approximately 35 minutes London time – 9.00pm on BBC Two.

A quick refresher… it’s called The Shadow Line, and in it Ejiofor stars as Detective Inspector Jonah Gabriel, who suffers from amnesia, thanks to a bullet lodged in his brain, which leaves him doubtful of his own moral compass and his colleagues regard him with suspicion. Gabriel is on his first case, since being shot during a botched police operation that left his partner dead. He’s now been assigned to investigate the murder of a drug baron, and has to follow an increasingly complicated line of investigation, all the while wondering whether he can trust anyone, not least, himself.

Here’s the BBC’s breakdown: “From the cop with a bullet in his brain, whose amnesia leaves him doubtful of his own moral compass; to the drug-lord driven by a profound personal tragedy, risking it all on one last deal; to the brilliantly lethal puppet-master who gradually emerges from the shadows to bring the story to its shocking climax – The Shadow Line explores the morality of these characters as they negotiate the repercussions of Wratten’s death and attempt to navigate the fine line between right and wrong. As the thread around Wratten’s operation begins to unravel, the web of intrigue becomes more complex – and the question of which side of the line they stand on becomes increasingly blurred. An intelligent and gripping conspiracy thriller that delves to the heart of human morality, The Shadow Line will have audiences enthralled over seven taut and thrilling episodes. Faced with similar dilemmas, on which side of the line would you stand?”

The 7-episode series is written, produced and directed by Hugo Blick.

I learned last week that the series will be on DVD in the UK on July 14th .

Not sure about a stateside release. But it sounds sufficiently gripping on paper, and the talent involved is stellar, so, I’m definitely intrigued. Maybe, it’ll follow Luther’s path.

What does Chiwetel say we should expect from the new series?

“I think it’s something that’s thrilling and engaging. It’s got really great writing in it and I think it’s going to look amazing and pretty beautiful. You’ve just got to follow the twists and turns as they happen. I think it’s a really exciting and engaging piece of drama,” he said in a BBC press release.

There’s a video preview on BBC Two’s website, but it’s only viewable for UK audiences; if any of you in the UK have the tools to extract the clip and upload to YouTube, or some other video sharing site, holla! 😀