Six Four (TV series) explained

Genre:Crime Drama
Based On:Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama
Director:Ben A. Williams
Composer:Luke Richards
Country:Scotland
Language:English
Num Series:1
Num Episodes:4
Company:House Productions
Network:ITVX

Six Four is a 2023 British crime thriller television series set in Glasgow and Edinburgh starring Kevin McKidd, Vinette Robinson, Alex Ferns and James Cosmo. It is an adaptation of the 2012 novel of the same name by Hideo Yokoyama. It was made available on ITVX in the United Kingdom from 30 March 2023.

Synopsis

Chris (McKidd) and Michelle (Robinson) are parents to a missing child, but a wider conspiracy may link the father (Cosmo) of another missing child to Chris' brother, Philip (Whipp).[1]

Cast

Production

The series is produced by House Productions.[2] Clare Kerr is producer and Ben A. Williams is director. Gregory Burke is script writer executive producer alongside Juliette Howell, Tessa Ross and Molly Bolt.[3] Clare Mcquillan is also a writer on the series. Burke described the series as a “human story about two people under incredible amounts of pressure, who both choose to try and address their pasts. It is a story about how chance can define a lifetime, exploring the corruption that runs through institutions, and examining the secrets and monsters that lurk in every family.”[4] The adaptation moves the setting from Kyoto in Japan to Glasgow, Scotland with the main character’s name changing from Mikami to Chris. Script writer Gregory Burke explained the move by saying “In recent years we have not lacked our own examples of institutional inertia. Our public life and collective health has been jeopardised by corruption. In many of these situations the same dilemma is at their core; to what is the individual within the institution loyal, and does that loyalty inevitably lead to a compromise with the truth.”[5]

Casting

Kevin McKidd and Vinette Robinson were revealed to be cast as Chris and Michelle O’ Neill in May 2022.[6]

Filming

Six Four was filmed in both Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland in the summer of 2022.[7] [8]

Music

Music from the television series was released by Dubois Records on March 30, 2023. The album features a selection of original music for the series by Luke Richards.[9]

Broadcast

The series was available on ITVX in the United Kingdom from 30 March 2023.[10] ITV1 began airing the four episodes weekly, commencing Sunday 22 October 2023.[11]

Reception

Charlotta Billstrom awarded the series four stars in the Evening Standard, saying, "The cast deliver excellent performances" and "It’s tightly plotted too, and filler-free, making for four powerful episodes full of twists and turns."[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Six Four, ITVX review: surprise, surprise – another crime thriller about a missing girl. The Daily Telegraph. Anita. Singh. March 30, 2023. March 31, 2023.
  2. Web site: Morgan. Cormack. March 16, 2023. Six Four: Release date, cast and latest news for ITVX crime thriller. Radio Times. March 31, 2023.
  3. Web site: BBC Studios to distribute Six Four, produced by indie partner House Productions for ITV. bbc.com. March 31, 2023.
  4. Web site: May 31, 2022. 'Grey's Anatomy' Star Kevin McKidd, 'Boiling Point's' Vinette Robinson Cast in ITV Adaptation of Bestseller 'Six Four' (EXCLUSIVE). Naman. Ramachandran. Variety. March 31, 2023.
  5. Web site: Behind the scenes of ITV's new police drama Six Four. March 31, 2023. Vicky. Jessop. March 31, 2023. Evening Standard.
  6. Web site: Tamara. Jones. 'Grey's Anatomy' Star Kevin McKidd and Vinette Robinson to Star in ITV Crime Thriller 'Six Four'. Collider. May 31, 2022. March 31, 2023.
  7. Web site: Jo. Berry. March 30, 2023. Grey's Anatomy's Kevin McKidd on staying with Grey's and returning to Scotland for thriller series Six Four. Digital Spy. March 31, 2023.
  8. Web site: Janet. Christie. Grey's Anatomy star Kevin McKidd swaps LA for Scotland in his new TV crime thriller Six Four. April 1, 2023. Scotsman.com. April 1, 2023.
  9. Web site: Soundtrack to ITV series 'Six Four' to be released. March 29, 2023. March 31, 2023.
  10. Web site: Six Four, ITVX, review: The second good crime drama this week – there's life in the genre yet. Gerard. Gilbert. March 30, 2023. March 31, 2023.
  11. Web site: Six Four: Release date, cast and latest news for ITV crime thriller .
  12. Web site: Charlotta. Billstrom. Six Four on ITVX review: tight, thrilling and full of twists and turns. The Daily Telegraph. March 30, 2023. 31 March 2023.