Topzle Topzle

Down Cemetery Road

Updated: 12/16/2025, 8:47:37 PM Wikipedia source

Down Cemetery Road is a British television series based on the 2003 novel by Mick Herron, adapted by Morwenna Banks. The series premiered on 29 October 2025 on Apple TV. In December 2025, the series was renewed for a second season.

Infobox

Genre
Thriller
Based on
Down Cemetery Roadby Mick Herron
Developed by
Morwenna Banks
Directed by
Natalie Bailey
Starring
mw- Emma Thompson Ruth Wilson Adeel Akhtar Nathan Stewart-Jarrett
Country of origin
United Kingdom
Original language
English
No. of series
1
No. of episodes
8
Executive producers
Mick Herron Morwenna Banks Emma Thompson Jamie Laurenson Hakan Kousetta Tom Nash
Producer
Emma Burge
Production company
60Forty Films
Network
Apple TV
Release
29 October 2025 (2025-10-29) –present

Tables

· Episodes
1
1
No.
1
Title
"Almost True"
Directed by
Natalie Bailey
Written by
Morwenna Banks
Original release date
29 October 2025 (2025-10-29)
In Oxford, Ashmolean Museum conservator Sarah Trafford and her banker husband Mark invite his obnoxious client Gerard Inchon, his wife Paula, and Sarah's bohemian friend Wigwam and her partner Rufus to dinner. The neighbourhood is rocked by an explosion, killing Wigwam's friend Maddie Singleton; Sarah notices a mysterious man watching as Maddie's five-year-old daughter Dinah is put in an ambulance. Authorities blame a gas main, but Sarah is suspicious after being prevented from visiting Dinah in hospital. She realises Dinah has been erased from press photos of the incident, while the police file has been flagged as confidential. Unbeknown to Sarah, the explosion was part of a covert Ministry of Defence operation; high-ranking MoD official 'C' berates his underling Hamza Malik for the unauthorised bombing, carried out by a troublesome operative. Realising she is being tailed by the watcher, Sarah visits married private detectives Zoë Boehm and Joe Silvermann. Joe agrees to investigate, and discovers Dinah is being transferred. Sarah races to the hospital, pulling the fire alarm before the watcher can reach Dinah. She returns to Joe's office to find him dead by apparent suicide.
In Oxford, Ashmolean Museum conservator Sarah Trafford and her banker husband Mark invite his obnoxious client Gerard Inchon, his wife Paula, and Sarah's bohemian friend Wigwam and her partner Rufus to dinner. The neighbourhood is rocked by an explosion, killing Wigwam's friend Maddie Singleton; Sarah notices a mysterious man watching as Maddie's five-year-old daughter Dinah is put in an ambulance. Authorities blame a gas main, but Sarah is suspicious after being prevented from visiting Dinah in hospital. She realises Dinah has been erased from press photos of the incident, while the police file has been flagged as confidential. Unbeknown to Sarah, the explosion was part of a covert Ministry of Defence operation; high-ranking MoD official 'C' berates his underling Hamza Malik for the unauthorised bombing, carried out by a troublesome operative. Realising she is being tailed by the watcher, Sarah visits married private detectives Zoë Boehm and Joe Silvermann. Joe agrees to investigate, and discovers Dinah is being transferred. Sarah races to the hospital, pulling the fire alarm before the watcher can reach Dinah. She returns to Joe's office to find him dead by apparent suicide.
No.
In Oxford, Ashmolean Museum conservator Sarah Trafford and her banker husband Mark invite his obnoxious client Gerard Inchon, his wife Paula, and Sarah's bohemian friend Wigwam and her partner Rufus to dinner. The neighbourhood is rocked by an explosion, killing Wigwam's friend Maddie Singleton; Sarah notices a mysterious man watching as Maddie's five-year-old daughter Dinah is put in an ambulance. Authorities blame a gas main, but Sarah is suspicious after being prevented from visiting Dinah in hospital. She realises Dinah has been erased from press photos of the incident, while the police file has been flagged as confidential. Unbeknown to Sarah, the explosion was part of a covert Ministry of Defence operation; high-ranking MoD official 'C' berates his underling Hamza Malik for the unauthorised bombing, carried out by a troublesome operative. Realising she is being tailed by the watcher, Sarah visits married private detectives Zoë Boehm and Joe Silvermann. Joe agrees to investigate, and discovers Dinah is being transferred. Sarah races to the hospital, pulling the fire alarm before the watcher can reach Dinah. She returns to Joe's office to find him dead by apparent suicide.
2
2
No.
2
Title
"A Kind of Grief"
Directed by
Natalie Bailey
Written by
Rose Heiney & Morwenna Banks
Original release date
29 October 2025 (2025-10-29)
Though she and her husband had grown apart, Zoë refuses to believe Joe killed himself. At Joe's office Sarah is confronted by Amos Crane, another of Hamza's operatives, who warns her to abandon her search for Dinah. Conducting her own investigation, Zoë meets with Sarah's professor Tony, who remembers her surviving an hallucinogenic-induced leap from the college roof. C orders Hamza to Oxford, where Amos is keeping Dinah as bait for their unknown target, and Hamza tasks him to eliminate Sarah. Finding her on the college rooftop, Zoë enlists Sarah's help, believing the explosion was deliberate and tied to Joe's death. Sarah spots the watcher in Mark's video from the night of the blast, and notices a flirtatious message from Mark's assistant. Discovering blood on her scarf, Sarah realises it came from Joe's doorknob when she found his body, suggesting murder. She informs the police, while Joe's mother Janice urges Zoë to allow herself to mourn. Comforting Sarah at home, Rufus reveals himself as Hamza's wayward operative Axel—Amos' brother, the bomber, and Joe's killer. As Axel strangles Sarah, the watcher bursts in and opens fire.
Though she and her husband had grown apart, Zoë refuses to believe Joe killed himself. At Joe's office Sarah is confronted by Amos Crane, another of Hamza's operatives, who warns her to abandon her search for Dinah. Conducting her own investigation, Zoë meets with Sarah's professor Tony, who remembers her surviving an hallucinogenic-induced leap from the college roof. C orders Hamza to Oxford, where Amos is keeping Dinah as bait for their unknown target, and Hamza tasks him to eliminate Sarah. Finding her on the college rooftop, Zoë enlists Sarah's help, believing the explosion was deliberate and tied to Joe's death. Sarah spots the watcher in Mark's video from the night of the blast, and notices a flirtatious message from Mark's assistant. Discovering blood on her scarf, Sarah realises it came from Joe's doorknob when she found his body, suggesting murder. She informs the police, while Joe's mother Janice urges Zoë to allow herself to mourn. Comforting Sarah at home, Rufus reveals himself as Hamza's wayward operative Axel—Amos' brother, the bomber, and Joe's killer. As Axel strangles Sarah, the watcher bursts in and opens fire.
No.
Though she and her husband had grown apart, Zoë refuses to believe Joe killed himself. At Joe's office Sarah is confronted by Amos Crane, another of Hamza's operatives, who warns her to abandon her search for Dinah. Conducting her own investigation, Zoë meets with Sarah's professor Tony, who remembers her surviving an hallucinogenic-induced leap from the college roof. C orders Hamza to Oxford, where Amos is keeping Dinah as bait for their unknown target, and Hamza tasks him to eliminate Sarah. Finding her on the college rooftop, Zoë enlists Sarah's help, believing the explosion was deliberate and tied to Joe's death. Sarah spots the watcher in Mark's video from the night of the blast, and notices a flirtatious message from Mark's assistant. Discovering blood on her scarf, Sarah realises it came from Joe's doorknob when she found his body, suggesting murder. She informs the police, while Joe's mother Janice urges Zoë to allow herself to mourn. Comforting Sarah at home, Rufus reveals himself as Hamza's wayward operative Axel—Amos' brother, the bomber, and Joe's killer. As Axel strangles Sarah, the watcher bursts in and opens fire.
3
3
No.
3
Title
"Filthy Work"
Directed by
Sam Donovan
Written by
Emily Marcuson
Original release date
5 November 2025 (2025-11-05)
4
4
No.
4
Title
"My Friends Don't Like Me"
Directed by
Sam Donovan
Written by
Kevin Cecil & Andy Riley
Original release date
12 November 2025 (2025-11-12)
Sarah identifies Downey in a photo of Tommy's regiment sent by Zoë, but a paranoid Downey smashes her phone. He collapses, and Sarah forces him to explain that his pills are an experimental treatment for a neurological condition. Researching the medication online, Sarah unwittingly alerts Amos to her location. He arrives in the guise of a delivery driver, but she and Downey escape the hotel and go to Gerard and Paula for help. Downey admits to Sarah that he is the government's target, and the two of them set off to find Dinah, taking Gerard's guns and Paula's car. Relocating Dinah, Hamza hires a trio of hitmen to eliminate Amos. They ambush him at home, but Amos kills them instead. Zoë informs DI Ash Varma of her findings, and inadvertently convinces Wayne, who is on probation for computer hacking, to quit the mortuary. Tracing Tommy's autopsy to Dr Isaac Wright, a neurologist involved with C's covert operation, Zoë steals Wright's laptop. Wright notifies C and sends him a photo of Zoë, who returns home to find a threatening spray-painted message: "STOP".
Sarah identifies Downey in a photo of Tommy's regiment sent by Zoë, but a paranoid Downey smashes her phone. He collapses, and Sarah forces him to explain that his pills are an experimental treatment for a neurological condition. Researching the medication online, Sarah unwittingly alerts Amos to her location. He arrives in the guise of a delivery driver, but she and Downey escape the hotel and go to Gerard and Paula for help. Downey admits to Sarah that he is the government's target, and the two of them set off to find Dinah, taking Gerard's guns and Paula's car. Relocating Dinah, Hamza hires a trio of hitmen to eliminate Amos. They ambush him at home, but Amos kills them instead. Zoë informs DI Ash Varma of her findings, and inadvertently convinces Wayne, who is on probation for computer hacking, to quit the mortuary. Tracing Tommy's autopsy to Dr Isaac Wright, a neurologist involved with C's covert operation, Zoë steals Wright's laptop. Wright notifies C and sends him a photo of Zoë, who returns home to find a threatening spray-painted message: "STOP".
No.
Sarah identifies Downey in a photo of Tommy's regiment sent by Zoë, but a paranoid Downey smashes her phone. He collapses, and Sarah forces him to explain that his pills are an experimental treatment for a neurological condition. Researching the medication online, Sarah unwittingly alerts Amos to her location. He arrives in the guise of a delivery driver, but she and Downey escape the hotel and go to Gerard and Paula for help. Downey admits to Sarah that he is the government's target, and the two of them set off to find Dinah, taking Gerard's guns and Paula's car. Relocating Dinah, Hamza hires a trio of hitmen to eliminate Amos. They ambush him at home, but Amos kills them instead. Zoë informs DI Ash Varma of her findings, and inadvertently convinces Wayne, who is on probation for computer hacking, to quit the mortuary. Tracing Tommy's autopsy to Dr Isaac Wright, a neurologist involved with C's covert operation, Zoë steals Wright's laptop. Wright notifies C and sends him a photo of Zoë, who returns home to find a threatening spray-painted message: "STOP".
5
5
No.
5
Title
"Slow Dying"
Directed by
Sam Donovan
Written by
Emily Marcuson
Original release date
19 November 2025 (2025-11-19)
Determined to find Dinah, Sarah and Downey use Axel's phone to call Amos. While new Defence Secretary Talia Ross demands transparency from the intelligence services, C is ambushed by Amos, who offers to lure Downey to Scotland, where Dinah is being kept at the abandoned facility that housed Downey, Tommy, and their fellow soldiers. Zoë enlists Wayne to hack Wright's laptop and confronts Wright, who admits that the soldiers were unwitting test subjects for the pills, an unsuccessful antidote to a mysterious chemical weapon. Wayne decrypts a video of the chemical attack in Afghanistan on the regiment by their own government. Downey brings Sarah to his sister Ella, who believed he and his unit were dead after they were blamed for killing civilians. He reveals to Sarah that he and Tommy were the sole survivors to escape the facility, and the bombing was meant to kill them both; having been in love with Maddie, he believes Dinah may be his daughter. Hamza fails to ensure Zoë's silence as she tails Wright, who is killed by Amos on C's orders, and she follows Amos aboard a train to Scotland.
Determined to find Dinah, Sarah and Downey use Axel's phone to call Amos. While new Defence Secretary Talia Ross demands transparency from the intelligence services, C is ambushed by Amos, who offers to lure Downey to Scotland, where Dinah is being kept at the abandoned facility that housed Downey, Tommy, and their fellow soldiers. Zoë enlists Wayne to hack Wright's laptop and confronts Wright, who admits that the soldiers were unwitting test subjects for the pills, an unsuccessful antidote to a mysterious chemical weapon. Wayne decrypts a video of the chemical attack in Afghanistan on the regiment by their own government. Downey brings Sarah to his sister Ella, who believed he and his unit were dead after they were blamed for killing civilians. He reveals to Sarah that he and Tommy were the sole survivors to escape the facility, and the bombing was meant to kill them both; having been in love with Maddie, he believes Dinah may be his daughter. Hamza fails to ensure Zoë's silence as she tails Wright, who is killed by Amos on C's orders, and she follows Amos aboard a train to Scotland.
No.
Determined to find Dinah, Sarah and Downey use Axel's phone to call Amos. While new Defence Secretary Talia Ross demands transparency from the intelligence services, C is ambushed by Amos, who offers to lure Downey to Scotland, where Dinah is being kept at the abandoned facility that housed Downey, Tommy, and their fellow soldiers. Zoë enlists Wayne to hack Wright's laptop and confronts Wright, who admits that the soldiers were unwitting test subjects for the pills, an unsuccessful antidote to a mysterious chemical weapon. Wayne decrypts a video of the chemical attack in Afghanistan on the regiment by their own government. Downey brings Sarah to his sister Ella, who believed he and his unit were dead after they were blamed for killing civilians. He reveals to Sarah that he and Tommy were the sole survivors to escape the facility, and the bombing was meant to kill them both; having been in love with Maddie, he believes Dinah may be his daughter. Hamza fails to ensure Zoë's silence as she tails Wright, who is killed by Amos on C's orders, and she follows Amos aboard a train to Scotland.
6
6
No.
6
Title
"Neglected Waters"
Directed by
Börkur Sigþórsson
Written by
Rose Heiney
Original release date
26 November 2025 (2025-11-26)
On the train, Amos recognises Zoë from Axel's notes and prepares to kill her. She befriends American tourists Bob and Shelley to keep Amos at bay, evading him throughout the compartments, but he sets a fire and the train is evacuated. Commandeering Bob and Shelley's taxi, Amos shoots them and calls the police, framing Zoë as their killer. He continues to follow Dinah's tracker, while Wayne directs Zoë to a nearby army base visited by Wright. Abandoned by Downey, an overwhelmed Sarah reaches the derelict base and discovers Zoë, who shows her the video of the chemical attack and convinces her to press on. Visiting a pub, Sarah overhears that police are searching for Zoë, and they realise Dinah is being held on a neighboring island. Hoping either Amos or Downey will eliminate the other, C sends Hamza to Scotland with a gun to ensure neither survives. Sarah and Zoë hijack a sightseeing boat, locking the captain in the cabin, as they, Downey, and Amos each make their way to the island.
On the train, Amos recognises Zoë from Axel's notes and prepares to kill her. She befriends American tourists Bob and Shelley to keep Amos at bay, evading him throughout the compartments, but he sets a fire and the train is evacuated. Commandeering Bob and Shelley's taxi, Amos shoots them and calls the police, framing Zoë as their killer. He continues to follow Dinah's tracker, while Wayne directs Zoë to a nearby army base visited by Wright. Abandoned by Downey, an overwhelmed Sarah reaches the derelict base and discovers Zoë, who shows her the video of the chemical attack and convinces her to press on. Visiting a pub, Sarah overhears that police are searching for Zoë, and they realise Dinah is being held on a neighboring island. Hoping either Amos or Downey will eliminate the other, C sends Hamza to Scotland with a gun to ensure neither survives. Sarah and Zoë hijack a sightseeing boat, locking the captain in the cabin, as they, Downey, and Amos each make their way to the island.
No.
On the train, Amos recognises Zoë from Axel's notes and prepares to kill her. She befriends American tourists Bob and Shelley to keep Amos at bay, evading him throughout the compartments, but he sets a fire and the train is evacuated. Commandeering Bob and Shelley's taxi, Amos shoots them and calls the police, framing Zoë as their killer. He continues to follow Dinah's tracker, while Wayne directs Zoë to a nearby army base visited by Wright. Abandoned by Downey, an overwhelmed Sarah reaches the derelict base and discovers Zoë, who shows her the video of the chemical attack and convinces her to press on. Visiting a pub, Sarah overhears that police are searching for Zoë, and they realise Dinah is being held on a neighboring island. Hoping either Amos or Downey will eliminate the other, C sends Hamza to Scotland with a gun to ensure neither survives. Sarah and Zoë hijack a sightseeing boat, locking the captain in the cabin, as they, Downey, and Amos each make their way to the island.
7
7
No.
7
Title
"Lights Go Out"
Directed by
Börkur Sigþórsson
Written by
Morwenna Banks
Original release date
3 December 2025 (2025-12-03)
Storming the MoD facility, Downey shoots Hamza's men and rescues Dinah. They flee from Amos with Dinah's nurse Steph, leaving the tracker behind. Janice informs DI Varma that Zoë is missing, and his inquiries into Wright's MoD ties and suspicious death reach Ross, who warns C not to abuse her trust. Sarah and Zoë enlist the Scottish captain's help by assuring him their mission will embarrass the English government. The two of them reach the island, now empty after being taken over by MoD operations, and find the others as Sarah finally meets Dinah. Amos opens fire, killing Steph, but Downey draws him away and is shot in the leg. Finishing Downey off, Amos adds one of his dreadlocks to Axel's notebook. Sarah and Dinah are forced to jump off a cliff to reach Amos' dinghy, while Zoë distracts Amos to shoot at her instead. The gunfire detonates old landmines planted on the beach, and an explosion sends Zoë flying, as Sarah and Dinah sail toward the waiting captain.
Storming the MoD facility, Downey shoots Hamza's men and rescues Dinah. They flee from Amos with Dinah's nurse Steph, leaving the tracker behind. Janice informs DI Varma that Zoë is missing, and his inquiries into Wright's MoD ties and suspicious death reach Ross, who warns C not to abuse her trust. Sarah and Zoë enlist the Scottish captain's help by assuring him their mission will embarrass the English government. The two of them reach the island, now empty after being taken over by MoD operations, and find the others as Sarah finally meets Dinah. Amos opens fire, killing Steph, but Downey draws him away and is shot in the leg. Finishing Downey off, Amos adds one of his dreadlocks to Axel's notebook. Sarah and Dinah are forced to jump off a cliff to reach Amos' dinghy, while Zoë distracts Amos to shoot at her instead. The gunfire detonates old landmines planted on the beach, and an explosion sends Zoë flying, as Sarah and Dinah sail toward the waiting captain.
No.
Storming the MoD facility, Downey shoots Hamza's men and rescues Dinah. They flee from Amos with Dinah's nurse Steph, leaving the tracker behind. Janice informs DI Varma that Zoë is missing, and his inquiries into Wright's MoD ties and suspicious death reach Ross, who warns C not to abuse her trust. Sarah and Zoë enlist the Scottish captain's help by assuring him their mission will embarrass the English government. The two of them reach the island, now empty after being taken over by MoD operations, and find the others as Sarah finally meets Dinah. Amos opens fire, killing Steph, but Downey draws him away and is shot in the leg. Finishing Downey off, Amos adds one of his dreadlocks to Axel's notebook. Sarah and Dinah are forced to jump off a cliff to reach Amos' dinghy, while Zoë distracts Amos to shoot at her instead. The gunfire detonates old landmines planted on the beach, and an explosion sends Zoë flying, as Sarah and Dinah sail toward the waiting captain.
8
8
No.
8
Title
"What Will Survive"
Directed by
Börkur Sigþórsson
Written by
Morwenna Banks
Original release date
10 December 2025 (2025-12-10)
Sarah and Dinah leave the island using Amos' boat, Amos finds Axel's boat and leaves and Zoe travels back to harbour on the Scottish captain's boat. Zoe, Sarah and Dinah leave the village on a bus to avoid the police hunt for Zoe but realise that Hamza has hijacked the bus. He crashes it into a church and takes Zoe, Dinah and Sarah hostages while he calls C for instructions. C says backup is on the way and calls Amos to eliminate everyone in the church. Amos throws in a grenade which destroys a lot of the church but Sarah and Dinah escape leaving Zoe and Amos to fight until Amos is killed. Hamza confronts Sarah and fires her shotgun which explodes in his hand leaving Zoe, Sarah and Dinah to leave Scotland on a sleeper train. On the train Wayne is told to publish on social media and the defence secretary is grilled on a TV interview about the testing on soldiers. Dinah is reunited with her cousins and C resigns and moves into the private sector.
Sarah and Dinah leave the island using Amos' boat, Amos finds Axel's boat and leaves and Zoe travels back to harbour on the Scottish captain's boat. Zoe, Sarah and Dinah leave the village on a bus to avoid the police hunt for Zoe but realise that Hamza has hijacked the bus. He crashes it into a church and takes Zoe, Dinah and Sarah hostages while he calls C for instructions. C says backup is on the way and calls Amos to eliminate everyone in the church. Amos throws in a grenade which destroys a lot of the church but Sarah and Dinah escape leaving Zoe and Amos to fight until Amos is killed. Hamza confronts Sarah and fires her shotgun which explodes in his hand leaving Zoe, Sarah and Dinah to leave Scotland on a sleeper train. On the train Wayne is told to publish on social media and the defence secretary is grilled on a TV interview about the testing on soldiers. Dinah is reunited with her cousins and C resigns and moves into the private sector.
No.
Sarah and Dinah leave the island using Amos' boat, Amos finds Axel's boat and leaves and Zoe travels back to harbour on the Scottish captain's boat. Zoe, Sarah and Dinah leave the village on a bus to avoid the police hunt for Zoe but realise that Hamza has hijacked the bus. He crashes it into a church and takes Zoe, Dinah and Sarah hostages while he calls C for instructions. C says backup is on the way and calls Amos to eliminate everyone in the church. Amos throws in a grenade which destroys a lot of the church but Sarah and Dinah escape leaving Zoe and Amos to fight until Amos is killed. Hamza confronts Sarah and fires her shotgun which explodes in his hand leaving Zoe, Sarah and Dinah to leave Scotland on a sleeper train. On the train Wayne is told to publish on social media and the defence secretary is grilled on a TV interview about the testing on soldiers. Dinah is reunited with her cousins and C resigns and moves into the private sector.
No.
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original release date
1
"Almost True"
Natalie Bailey
Morwenna Banks
29 October 2025 (2025-10-29)
In Oxford, Ashmolean Museum conservator Sarah Trafford and her banker husband Mark invite his obnoxious client Gerard Inchon, his wife Paula, and Sarah's bohemian friend Wigwam and her partner Rufus to dinner. The neighbourhood is rocked by an explosion, killing Wigwam's friend Maddie Singleton; Sarah notices a mysterious man watching as Maddie's five-year-old daughter Dinah is put in an ambulance. Authorities blame a gas main, but Sarah is suspicious after being prevented from visiting Dinah in hospital. She realises Dinah has been erased from press photos of the incident, while the police file has been flagged as confidential. Unbeknown to Sarah, the explosion was part of a covert Ministry of Defence operation; high-ranking MoD official 'C' berates his underling Hamza Malik for the unauthorised bombing, carried out by a troublesome operative. Realising she is being tailed by the watcher, Sarah visits married private detectives Zoë Boehm and Joe Silvermann. Joe agrees to investigate, and discovers Dinah is being transferred. Sarah races to the hospital, pulling the fire alarm before the watcher can reach Dinah. She returns to Joe's office to find him dead by apparent suicide.
2
"A Kind of Grief"
Natalie Bailey
Rose Heiney & Morwenna Banks
29 October 2025 (2025-10-29)
Though she and her husband had grown apart, Zoë refuses to believe Joe killed himself. At Joe's office Sarah is confronted by Amos Crane, another of Hamza's operatives, who warns her to abandon her search for Dinah. Conducting her own investigation, Zoë meets with Sarah's professor Tony, who remembers her surviving an hallucinogenic-induced leap from the college roof. C orders Hamza to Oxford, where Amos is keeping Dinah as bait for their unknown target, and Hamza tasks him to eliminate Sarah. Finding her on the college rooftop, Zoë enlists Sarah's help, believing the explosion was deliberate and tied to Joe's death. Sarah spots the watcher in Mark's video from the night of the blast, and notices a flirtatious message from Mark's assistant. Discovering blood on her scarf, Sarah realises it came from Joe's doorknob when she found his body, suggesting murder. She informs the police, while Joe's mother Janice urges Zoë to allow herself to mourn. Comforting Sarah at home, Rufus reveals himself as Hamza's wayward operative Axel—Amos' brother, the bomber, and Joe's killer. As Axel strangles Sarah, the watcher bursts in and opens fire.
3
"Filthy Work"
Sam Donovan
Emily Marcuson
5 November 2025 (2025-11-05)
Downey, the watcher, kills Axel and drives away with Sarah at gunpoint, revealing he is trying to protect Dinah. Amos scrubs Sarah's house of evidence and disposes of his brother's body, before Hamza attempts to dismiss him on C's orders, but Amos is determined to hunt Downey down. Zoë meets Wigwam and realises Sarah is in danger from "Rufus", identifying him as Joe's killer from a neighbour's security footage. Zoë questions Mark after recording evidence of his affair with his assistant, while Sarah steals a stranger's phone at a petrol station to call Mark for help, only to silently discover his affair herself. C uses the explosion to conceal the death of Maddie's husband Tommy, whose deteriorating health was connected to a mysterious regimen of pills shared by Downey. Mortuary attendant Wayne helps confirm Zoë's suspicions, which she lays out for her lover, Metropolitan Police officer Bob Poland: Tommy was the bombing's target, after fellow soldiers from his battalion in Afghanistan were believed dead after being court-martialed. Amos hides a tracking device in a teddy bear for Dinah, while Zoë leaves an envelope with Janice for safekeeping. Laying low at a hotel with Downey, Sarah calls Zoë.
4
"My Friends Don't Like Me"
Sam Donovan
Kevin Cecil & Andy Riley
12 November 2025 (2025-11-12)
Sarah identifies Downey in a photo of Tommy's regiment sent by Zoë, but a paranoid Downey smashes her phone. He collapses, and Sarah forces him to explain that his pills are an experimental treatment for a neurological condition. Researching the medication online, Sarah unwittingly alerts Amos to her location. He arrives in the guise of a delivery driver, but she and Downey escape the hotel and go to Gerard and Paula for help. Downey admits to Sarah that he is the government's target, and the two of them set off to find Dinah, taking Gerard's guns and Paula's car. Relocating Dinah, Hamza hires a trio of hitmen to eliminate Amos. They ambush him at home, but Amos kills them instead. Zoë informs DI Ash Varma of her findings, and inadvertently convinces Wayne, who is on probation for computer hacking, to quit the mortuary. Tracing Tommy's autopsy to Dr Isaac Wright, a neurologist involved with C's covert operation, Zoë steals Wright's laptop. Wright notifies C and sends him a photo of Zoë, who returns home to find a threatening spray-painted message: "STOP".
5
"Slow Dying"
Sam Donovan
Emily Marcuson
19 November 2025 (2025-11-19)
Determined to find Dinah, Sarah and Downey use Axel's phone to call Amos. While new Defence Secretary Talia Ross demands transparency from the intelligence services, C is ambushed by Amos, who offers to lure Downey to Scotland, where Dinah is being kept at the abandoned facility that housed Downey, Tommy, and their fellow soldiers. Zoë enlists Wayne to hack Wright's laptop and confronts Wright, who admits that the soldiers were unwitting test subjects for the pills, an unsuccessful antidote to a mysterious chemical weapon. Wayne decrypts a video of the chemical attack in Afghanistan on the regiment by their own government. Downey brings Sarah to his sister Ella, who believed he and his unit were dead after they were blamed for killing civilians. He reveals to Sarah that he and Tommy were the sole survivors to escape the facility, and the bombing was meant to kill them both; having been in love with Maddie, he believes Dinah may be his daughter. Hamza fails to ensure Zoë's silence as she tails Wright, who is killed by Amos on C's orders, and she follows Amos aboard a train to Scotland.
6
"Neglected Waters"
Börkur Sigþórsson
Rose Heiney
26 November 2025 (2025-11-26)
On the train, Amos recognises Zoë from Axel's notes and prepares to kill her. She befriends American tourists Bob and Shelley to keep Amos at bay, evading him throughout the compartments, but he sets a fire and the train is evacuated. Commandeering Bob and Shelley's taxi, Amos shoots them and calls the police, framing Zoë as their killer. He continues to follow Dinah's tracker, while Wayne directs Zoë to a nearby army base visited by Wright. Abandoned by Downey, an overwhelmed Sarah reaches the derelict base and discovers Zoë, who shows her the video of the chemical attack and convinces her to press on. Visiting a pub, Sarah overhears that police are searching for Zoë, and they realise Dinah is being held on a neighboring island. Hoping either Amos or Downey will eliminate the other, C sends Hamza to Scotland with a gun to ensure neither survives. Sarah and Zoë hijack a sightseeing boat, locking the captain in the cabin, as they, Downey, and Amos each make their way to the island.
7
"Lights Go Out"
Börkur Sigþórsson
Morwenna Banks
3 December 2025 (2025-12-03)
Storming the MoD facility, Downey shoots Hamza's men and rescues Dinah. They flee from Amos with Dinah's nurse Steph, leaving the tracker behind. Janice informs DI Varma that Zoë is missing, and his inquiries into Wright's MoD ties and suspicious death reach Ross, who warns C not to abuse her trust. Sarah and Zoë enlist the Scottish captain's help by assuring him their mission will embarrass the English government. The two of them reach the island, now empty after being taken over by MoD operations, and find the others as Sarah finally meets Dinah. Amos opens fire, killing Steph, but Downey draws him away and is shot in the leg. Finishing Downey off, Amos adds one of his dreadlocks to Axel's notebook. Sarah and Dinah are forced to jump off a cliff to reach Amos' dinghy, while Zoë distracts Amos to shoot at her instead. The gunfire detonates old landmines planted on the beach, and an explosion sends Zoë flying, as Sarah and Dinah sail toward the waiting captain.
8
"What Will Survive"
Börkur Sigþórsson
Morwenna Banks
10 December 2025 (2025-12-10)
Sarah and Dinah leave the island using Amos' boat, Amos finds Axel's boat and leaves and Zoe travels back to harbour on the Scottish captain's boat. Zoe, Sarah and Dinah leave the village on a bus to avoid the police hunt for Zoe but realise that Hamza has hijacked the bus. He crashes it into a church and takes Zoe, Dinah and Sarah hostages while he calls C for instructions. C says backup is on the way and calls Amos to eliminate everyone in the church. Amos throws in a grenade which destroys a lot of the church but Sarah and Dinah escape leaving Zoe and Amos to fight until Amos is killed. Hamza confronts Sarah and fires her shotgun which explodes in his hand leaving Zoe, Sarah and Dinah to leave Scotland on a sleeper train. On the train Wayne is told to publish on social media and the defence secretary is grilled on a TV interview about the testing on soldiers. Dinah is reunited with her cousins and C resigns and moves into the private sector.

References

  1. Oxford Mail
    https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24259228.emma-thompson-star-apple-tv-show-set-oxford-suburb/
  2. Apple TV+ Press
    https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/down-cemetery-road/
  3. The Futon Critic
    http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/down-cemetery-road/listings/
  4. Country and Town House
    https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/culture/down-cemetery-road-apple-tv/
  5. Variety
    https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/emma-thompson-ruth-wilson-cemetery-road-series-apple-mick-herron-1235972068/
  6. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2024/04/down-cemetery-road-emma-thompson-ruth-wilson-to-star-apple-series-1235886108/
  7. The Hollywood Reporter
    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/emma-thompson-ruth-wilson-down-cemetery-road-season-2-apple-1236448859/
  8. Digital Spy
    https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a60512278/ruth-wilson-down-cemetery-road-apple-tv/
  9. Desdline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2024/08/down-cemetery-road-adds-nathan-stewart-jarrett-tom-goodman-hill-more-to-cast-1236051877/
  10. Independent.ie
    https://m.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-reviews/is-emma-thompson-playing-a-sort-of-nanny-mcphee-in-doc-martens-that-would-be-interesting-but-down-cemetery-road-is-not/a1206305700.html#
  11. The Tab
    https://thetab.com/uk/bristol/2024/06/11/filming-crew-on-bristol-uni-campus-to-shoot-new-thriller-series-61077?callback=in&code=NJEZZWIWMWETNGZMZC0ZMMQXLTK2NDITNTU3YMJHMTKWZWNL&state=3ef61e5424ac4f74aa0932082dba4f6d
  12. Glastonbury.nub.news
    https://glastonbury.nub.news/news/local-news/filming-wraps-up-at-streets-wessex-hotel-for-new-apple-tv-thriller-starring-emma-thompson-and-ruth-wilson-240463
  13. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c75zw35pwdlo.amp
  14. TVLine
    https://tvline.com/news/down-cemetery-road-trailer-release-date-apple-emma-thompson-1235479312/
  15. Down Cemetery Road
    https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/down_cemetery_road/s01
  16. Down Cemetery Road
    https://www.metacritic.com/tv/down-cemetery-road/season-1
Image
Source:
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.