Informer, a little known gem on Prime, is one of the most satisfying dramas we’ve watched in a while. The show opens with an anonymous public shooting in a coffee shop in London, England. Cut to a courtroom with Witness K unable to reveal much about the incident or the accused, given issues of security or confidentiality. Then cue “One year earlier” and the story begins to unfold. Although the plot’s confusing (turning on subtitles to decipher the British accents might help), it is engrossing: members of a counterterrorism unit aim, by any means, sometimes regardless of morals or ethics, to track down terrorists, to avert attacks.
Gabe, aka Witness K, is a cynical, counterterrorist officer who coerces Raza, a second-generation British Pakistani man, into becoming an informer, by threatening to deport his illegal immigrant mother. Raza must befriend an African Muslim (Dadir) to find out what he knows about the murder of his brother, a valued informant of Gabe’s. Nabhaan Rizwan (Raza) delivers a magnetic performance, balancing his personas of a rogue from the projects, a protective older brother and a snitch in training, as he ingratiates himself with Muslims and Albanians.
Set in the gritty streets of London’s East End, this espionage thriller, with multiple twists and turns, also treats race, class and immigration. Dadir, for instance, initially presents as a drug dealer, yet his character exposes racial profiling. When Gabe revisits his former undercover identity, we glimpse the disturbing world of working-class, white supremacists. As one reviewer wrote: “The Informer uses the melting pot of modern Britain to underscore the issues still front and centre there.”
The BBC is “incredibly proud” of Informer: “it had a multicultural cast … and attempted to combat stereotypes about Muslims and Islamophobia.” Unfortunately, audience numbers didn’t warrant a second season. Informer deserves a top rating of ♦♦♦♦♦.
Barbara Richardson says
Sounds interesting! Thanks.
Linda Richardson says
Looks like a good one Pam. Rick and I will give it a watch. Thanks for the recommendation.
Ian Wallace says
Thanks for spotting ‘Informer’, Pam. It looks good and I am wondering why the BBC decided not to continue this series? I would also like to know why they moved their news service to Washington. Were you able to comprehend the passages that required subtitles? Some of the northern accents are as foreign to me as Greek or Russian!
Pam McPhail says
According to the BBC: “To make room for new shows, we sometimes have to make difficult decisions about which dramas to recommission and unfortunately Informer won’t be returning for a second series.” Not enough viewers. Years ago CBC made a similarly discouraging decision to end Intelligence, an intelligent series set in Vancouver about an organized crime boss who receives immunity from prosecution in exchange for becoming a police informant. This show drew high praise from the NYT and yet…
We kinda decoded the accents in Informer without aid, but they can make English sound like a foreign language.
Ken McLean says
We saw “Informer” a couple of years ago, and I also recall it being very good.
Linda Richardson says
Rick and I watched “Informer” and definitely give it a thumbs up. As you said, it had multiple twists and turns and the backwards and forwards time periods were a bit hard to follow. Nonetheless, I thought that the acting was superbly layered and full of feeling, Raza’s character in particular. Thanks for the recommendation.
Marilyn RB says
Thanks Pam. This sounds like a series Alec and I would enjoy.