Six Four: Dark Scottish Crime Drama Praised for Its Atmosphere and Kevin McKidd’s Performance

A missing daughter, a buried police scandal and a trail leading deep into Scotland’s criminal underworld form the basis of Six Four, the four-part crime drama that has drawn praise for its bleak atmosphere, layered mystery and strong performances.

Released in 2023, the ITVX series stars Kevin McKidd, best known internationally for his role as Dr Owen Hunt in Grey’s Anatomy and for playing Tommy Mackenzie in Trainspotting. Alongside McKidd, the cast includes Vinette Robinson, James Cosmo and Alex Ferns.

The drama follows serving police detective Chris, whose world is thrown into turmoil when his daughter disappears. At the same time, he is confronted with disturbing new information about an infamous unsolved case from the past.

A missing daughter and a case that refuses to stay buried

Chris is given a startling revelation about the disappearance of Julie Mackie, a local girl whose case once caused deep divisions within the police.

As Chris struggles to cope with his own daughter’s disappearance, a journalist approaches him with claims that serious mistakes were concealed during the investigation into Julie’s case.

Determined to understand what happened, Chris begins looking into the old investigation again. What he finds points to a troubling combination of errors, corruption and personal ambition.

The investigation becomes increasingly dangerous as Chris discovers that the failures surrounding Julie Mackie’s disappearance may reach much further than he initially believed.

At the same time, Chris’s wife Michelle refuses to sit back and wait for answers.

Michelle takes the search into her own hands

Michelle, played by Vinette Robinson, is a former undercover officer. Drawing on the skills she developed during her previous career, she begins her own search for their missing daughter.

Her investigation takes her back into the criminal world she had previously escaped. As she follows a growing trail of clues, she becomes increasingly exposed to a network in which vice and extortion can reach into the highest levels of the political establishment.

The pressure intensifies when the daughter of the Justice Minister is kidnapped.

The timing is significant. The minister is on the verge of securing an election victory, and the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping bear an unsettling resemblance to the earlier disappearance of Julie Mackie.

Chris and Michelle are therefore forced to confront two possibilities: that the past is repeating itself, or that the new case could finally expose what really happened to Julie.

ITV’s official synopsis describes the series as a story of kidnap, corruption, betrayal and an uncompromising search for the truth.

From a Japanese crime novel to Scotland

Six Four is adapted from the novel of the same name by Japanese author Hideo Yokoyama.

The television version, however, makes significant changes to the original story. Writer Gregory Burke relocated the action from Japan to Scotland, with Glasgow becoming the main setting.

The adaptation also changes the central character from Mikami in the novel to Chris in the television drama.

That change gives the series a distinctly Scottish identity. The production was filmed in Scotland, with Glasgow and Edinburgh among the locations, alongside areas including Dumfries and Galloway.

The production was created by BAFTA Scotland Award-winning screenwriter Gregory Burke, with Clare McQuillan also writing for the series. Ben A. Williams directed, while House Productions produced the drama.

Six Four began streaming on ITVX on 30 March 2023 as a four-part series.

Viewers praise its dark, Scandinavian-style atmosphere

The series has attracted positive reactions from viewers, particularly for its moody tone and performances.

One IMDb viewer described it as a gripping four-episode thriller and singled out Kevin McKidd’s portrayal of Chris as the main reason to watch.

They praised McKidd for delivering an intense but restrained performance as a troubled detective dealing with the disappearance of his daughter, arguing that his slow-burning approach ultimately steals the show.

Another viewer highlighted the performances from McKidd and Richard Coyle, as well as the show’s bleak atmosphere and intricate storyline. They said the combination gave Six Four the feel of a Scandinavian crime drama.

A third viewer focused on the twists and turns of the story, suggesting that what initially appears to be a complicated mystery eventually develops into a more straightforward story of revenge.

The critical response has also been positive. The Standard described the drama as tight, thrilling and packed with twists, while highlighting McKidd’s performance.

Watch the trailer

The trailer gives a glimpse of the missing-person investigation, the tension surrounding Chris and Michelle, and the increasingly dangerous secrets connected to the old Julie Mackie case.

Where to watch Six Four

Six Four is available to stream on ITVX, with all four episodes available through the platform. ITV’s current listing describes it as a four-part crime drama starring Kevin McKidd and Vinette Robinson.