Fans of the show are all in agreement that the eerie seaside setting is what truly brings the story to life and may even look familiar to Welsh viewers who recognise the towns
The police procedural programme has had fans “gripped” since the very first episodes as they continued to watch the “creepy” setting evolve across three seasons.
First released in the Welsh language in 2013, it wasn’t until a year later in 2014 that an English-language version of the show aired, and it was then that the word really started to spread about the new and exciting crime drama.
The BBC show Hinterland, also known in Welsh as Y Gwyll, was the first TV drama shown on the network, using both English and Welsh dialogue in one. It’s its Welsh origins, language and settings that shine throughout and left an impact on many viewers who saw their own culture shown in a way they never had before.
At the centre of the plot is DCI Tom Mathias, a talented detective with a lot of troubles fleeing his past in London and finding himself in Mod-Wales. Here, he is paired up with DI Mared Rhys, and together they set out to solve dark and brutal murders in the area, which has drawn comparisons to the likes of Line of Duty and Broadchurch.
There are three seasons to ‘binge-watch’Â (Image: S4C)
The story relies heavily on the austere environment of the Welsh coastal county of Ceredigion, with its rugged coast and mountains playing a huge part in the series. The local landscapes of Aberystwyth are often mirroring the dark and dangerous elements of the characters in the show and help to add to a sense of unease.
One viewer took to the review site Rotten Tomatoes to share their views on this, writing: “Hinterland is dark, stormy and a little creepy. I love this show, partly because it is filmed in Borth and Aberystwyth where I used to holiday as a child with my grandparents, so I enjoyed seeing these beautiful landscapes again and everywhere I recognised.
“The use of the Welsh and English languages is mixed together well. Filmed primarily through the autumn and winter months to intensify the dark and gloominess of murder, mystery and death.”
The Welsh coastal setting plays a central part in the show(Image: S4C)
Another fan of the show added to this idea, saying: “Fantastic show and the first season is amazing. Sets out the style of the show and introduces the characters brilliantly. The Welsh setting is beautiful, and it is filmed really well. Acting is first class, and the stories told are chilling and gripping.”
Making up the police team is Richard Harrington as Detective Chief Inspector Tom Mathias, alongside Mali Harries as Detective Inspector Mared Rhys and Alex Harries as Detective Constable Lloyd Elis. It’s their performances, paired with the unique setting, that allowed them to go on to create three whole seasons.
One fan said: “Loved this series. Loved the cast, the script, the cinematography, the acting, and the direction. Learning about a new culture was a bonus. Going to write the same review for each season. Totally binge-worthy.”
The show later came to an end in December 2016, after reaching the peak of its three-season arc, and now all episodes are available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer.