Netflix viewers rush to watch 'compelling' reboot of classic Scottish crime series

Daily Record

25-07-2025

The recent reboot of the famous Rebus has been added to Netflix as viewers are just discovering the world of Detective Inspector John Rebus and they can't get enough
A modern retelling of a legendary Scottish crime drama has quickly become a hit on Netflix, with viewers calling it "absorbing" and "compelling" as it climbs the streaming platform's top TV show charts.
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The revamped Rebus series originally premiered on the BBC last year and is inspired by Ian Rankin's long-running Inspector Rebus novels. The first book, Knots and Crosses, hit shelves in 1987 launching a franchise that has since grown to include 24 titles.
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With most of the stories set in Edinburgh, the series follows the investigations of the complex and gritty Detective Inspector John Rebus and has made a massive impact on the British crime fiction scene - accounting for around 10% of the UK's crime novel sales and consistently selling over 500,000 copies per release.
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Back in 2000 Rebus was first adapted for television, with John Hannah taking on the title role. The show continued until 2007, with Ken Stott leading the cast in later seasons.
The new version introduces Richard Rankin, known for his roles in Outlander and Burnistoun, as a younger Rebus bringing a fresh energy to the character while maintaining the dark tone that fans love.
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The synopsis reads: "The story follows Detective John Rebus as he deals with an infamous Edinburgh gangster, at the same time dealing with the aftermath of his divorce and a changing workplace."
Critics were quick to praise the reboot, branding it as "terrific" and describing Rankin's performance as "alluring."
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Similar fans have praised the reboot, with many taking to Rotten Tomatoes to review the series, with Rebus having an impressive 100% rating on the review site.
One fan wrote: "This is a very good series. Richard Raskin is much different from Ken Stott, but he's great in the role. I also liked Rebus' partner and ex-wife, too. This series reminded me of Crime, starring Dougray Scott." Another viewer simply stated: "Very good series with a likable lead."
While one viewer praised the casting, saying it had him hooked, as they said: "The casting was great. Rankin is a sympathetic and handsome lead. I like the fact that none of the main characters are without fault and all have their vices. I was sucked into the story and watched the whole season over a number of days."
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Speaking to the BBC about his role as Rebus, Raskin said: "Rebus is an iconic character in Scottish literature and television. It already has such a huge following. That aside, it was within the first ten pages of episode one that had me absolutely hooked."
"I could tell Greggory Burke [the show's screenwriter] was doing something new and exciting with this. It felt real, it felt dark, and it felt charged."
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He added that the series was a "dark, cinematic and gritty character drama."
The show's debut episode drew an impressive 6.3 million viewers across all BBC platforms and later went on to win three RTS Scotland Awards.
Now that the series has landed on Netflix, a new wave of viewers are discovering (or rediscovering) the world of Rebus. Fans will be pleased to hear that a second season has already been confirmed.
According to the BBC, the upcoming storyline will see the detective "uncover the links between the violent world of the Edinburgh drug trade and the city's law and finance sectors."