Des
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
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Critic Reviews

  1. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Mike Hale
    Oct 14, 2020
    60
    In its determination not to be sensationalistic errs on the side of vagueness. (If the point is that Nilsen was just an empty shell, it’s not made in a way that I found very compelling or particularly chilling.) ... Enjoying “Des” — well, appreciating “Des” — has to do with its details, which include the seamless, highly capable ensemble work among Mays, Watkins, Tennant and Barry Ward (as Jay’s right-hand man) and the appropriately musty evocation of the period by the production designer Anna Higginson and the cinematographer Mark Wolf.
  2. The Daily Beast
    Reviewed by: Nick Schager
    Oct 14, 2020
    60
    The result is a moderately engaging entry in the ever-expanding serial-killer thriller subgenre, notable primarily for its unique post-capture investigative angle and Tennant’s superb portrayal of a madman with a bottomless capacity for depravity.

Awards & Rankings

66
#66 Best TV Season of 2020

User Reviews

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User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. lenny68
    Oct 18, 2020
    9
    David Tennant does a remarkable job portraying the dour yet somehow mesmerizing serial killer helped by the fact he shares more than a passingDavid Tennant does a remarkable job portraying the dour yet somehow mesmerizing serial killer helped by the fact he shares more than a passing resemblance to Neilsen. In fact the whole cast are superb in a taut drama well worth checking out.… Full Review »
  2. geewah
    Feb 17, 2021
    9
    A smart and excellent limited series on the arrest and trial of notorious serial killer, Dennis Nilsen.
    David Tennant's potrayal of Nilsen as    A smart and excellent limited series on the arrest and trial of notorious serial killer, Dennis Nilsen.
    David Tennant's potrayal of Nilsen as both a bland individual and a chilling murderer is superb, as is May as tension riddled cheif dectective Peter Jay.
    One of the hidden gems of 2020.    … Full Review »
  3. Robbo-27
    Oct 15, 2020
    6
    It's worth watching this for David Tennant and Daniel Mays, who are both eminently watchable. However, considering it's a story about a serialIt's worth watching this for David Tennant and Daniel Mays, who are both eminently watchable. However, considering it's a story about a serial killer it's a pretty dry affair. There's a lot more to the Dennis Neilsen story but we just get the end of it.… Full Review »
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