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After two successful seasons on the BBC , a third has now dropped, and after time to digest it, the consensus is clear from TV fans – this crime drama is 'terrific'. Police drama Blue Lights has been much talked about since its third season dropped in September, and it seems with good reason. Based at a fictional police station called Blackthorn in Belfast , Northern Ireland, the series is nothing short of grit and emotional chaos. Blue Lights follows the everyday lives of a police force in Belfast as they engage with different members of the community – from hard-knuckled criminals to the run-of-the-mill locals. Unlike other series in the genre, it focuses less on an investigation or mystery and more on the normal, realistic inner workings of the police. As the story goes on we learn more and more about the behind-the scenes of each officers lives. Played by an ensemble cast made up of Sian Brooke, Katherine Devlin, Nathan Braniff, Martin McCann and Richard Dormer, many have praised the performances for creating a realistic telling of what it is to be an officer. An impressed viewer shared on Rotten Tomatoes : "EXCELLENT show. Well-paced and well-written, believable characters and tense storylines set this show apart in the best way in the crowded field of policing dramas." Another wrote: "I don't get it. The storyline is pretty standard for a cop show, and somehow it just exceeds all your expectations. It has drama, deep quotes, romance, grief, history, and action, all in one." Throughout three seasons so far, the show explores the pressures of what it means to be a part of the police in Belfast, highlighting organised crime, corruption within the police and the complex lives of those in the force. As Blue Lights go on, we get to see them take on a criminal family, complex conspiracies and loyalist feuds. A rave review claims that they didn't expect the third season to "maintain the exceptionally high standard of its predecessors", but that they thought wrong. They wrote: "This is the best police programme on TV by a country mile. "It feels so real to me that I was on the edge myself from episode one onwards. It's an emotional roller coaster ride as we follow the developing careers of these incredibly brave and likeable officers." Someone else added that they felt the show is a "rare thing". Further writing: "Visceral, emotive, suspenseful TV that actually affected me as I watched. A brilliant story, supported by some solid performances." A fourth season of Blue Lights has already been confirmed, while an official release date is yet to be revealed. Fans can expect to see more episodes of the Belfast-based police drama, likely at some point in 2026. To dive into the world of a realistic police force across three gripping seasons, all episodes of Blue Lights are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer .
