Christopher Stevens, writing for the Daily Mail, described ITV1's new drama Coldwater as "brave" for taking on the theme of male cowardice but said the series' central plot and character choices make it hard to believe.
In a review published Sept. 16, 2025, Stevens singled out Andrew Lincoln's performance as John, a full-time father whose initial act of self-preservation in a London playground — fleeing after another parent assaults a woman — sets the series in motion. According to the review, John subsequently relocates his family to Scotland, only to discover they may be living next door to a serial killer married to the local vicar, played by Eve Myles. The killer, Tommy, is portrayed by Ewen Bremner.
(Image after second paragraph)
Stevens wrote that the opening sequence is "provocative, difficult viewing" and credited writer David Ireland — who has said the character is largely based on himself — for tackling a subject that remains morally charged: the idea of men sacrificing others to save themselves. But Stevens argued that the narrative quickly moves into territory that feels implausible, noting that John's decision to flee with his children when others are in danger strains credulity. "Fatherhood triggers some primal instincts that turn the most craven of men into fighters," the critic wrote.
The review criticised the show for failing to make Fiona, played by Indira Varma, and other supporting characters fully three-dimensional. Stevens wrote that Varma and Myles "do their best to give us characters to care about," but that their roles are limited and revolve largely around the men in their lives. He also flagged scenes intended to reveal John's flaws — including panic attacks that affect his intimate life and dismissive remarks about his wife's memoir attempts — as undercutting audience sympathy.
Stevens described a tonal shift in the first episode from domestic drama to horror-film imagery, citing a sequence in which Tommy burns a caravan to conceal a body. He also noted instances where dialogue veers into dark comedy, singling out an exchange in which John tells his therapist he has been fantasising about a pop star called "Fergie," prompting confusion over whether he meant Sir Alex Ferguson or the Duchess of York.
The critic's assessment framed Coldwater as ambitious in subject matter but uneven in execution, crediting the cast for committed performances while questioning key dramatic decisions and character motivations. ITV1 lists the series as part of its autumn drama slate; Stevens assigned it an overall television rating but emphasised that the show's thematic boldness does not fully compensate for what he viewed as an implausible central premise.
Coldwater joins a growing list of television dramas that address formerly taboo topics, the review noted, but Stevens suggested male cowardice remains a particularly unsettling moral subject. He concluded that while the series is commendable for attempting the theme, viewers may struggle to accept the behaviour of its protagonist and the consequences the story asks them to accept.