Fans of smart thrillers have a new series to add to their watchlist. Down Cemetery Road, the new show from the team behind the hit series Slow Horses, is about to premiere. The mystery series starring Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson will launch with its first two episodes this week, giving viewers a double dose of intrigue from the start.
When and Where to Watch Episode 1
Down Cemetery Road Episode 1, titled “Almost True,” will be released online on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. In a treat for fans, Apple TV+ is dropping the first two episodes on the same day.
The episodes will become available at 12:00 AM Pacific Time (PT). For viewers in other time zones, this translates to 3:00 AM Eastern Time (ET), 7:00 AM in the United Kingdom, and 8:00 AM in Central Europe. The remaining six episodes of the season will be released one per week, every Wednesday.
You can watch the series exclusively on Apple TV+. The streaming service requires a subscription, which is priced at $12.99 per month in the United States, though new users often have access to a free trial period.
The Story Begins: What Episode 1 Is About
The series is based on the novel by Mick Herron, the author of the Slow Horses book series. The first episode kicks off the central mystery when a house in a quiet Oxford suburb is destroyed by a mysterious explosion. In the chaotic aftermath, a young girl goes missing.
Her neighbor, Sarah Trafford (played by Ruth Wilson), becomes deeply concerned about the child’s disappearance. She decides to take action and enlists the help of a private investigator, Zoë Boehm (played by Emma Thompson). Together, this unlikely pair starts looking into the case, only to find themselves caught in a complex conspiracy. They soon discover that people long believed to be dead are still alive, while the living are in increasing danger.
The People Behind the Scenes
The series brings together a respected team from both in front of and behind the camera. The script was written by Morwenna Banks, who also works on Slow Horses, and the lead director is Natalie Bailey. The project is produced by 60Forty Films.
Author Mick Herron has expressed his excitement about the adaptation, noting the shared talent between this project and Slow Horses. He said about the early footage, “It stars Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson. Morwenna Banks has written the series, and she’s done a wonderful job. There’s quite a lot of overlap in the teams that made Slow Horses and Down Cemetery Road, and what I’ve seen of it, which is only little bit, is looking absolutely tremendous.”
The cast also includes well-known actors such as Adeel Akhtar, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, and Tom Goodman-Hill in supporting roles.
What to Expect From the New Series
For viewers who enjoy grounded, character-driven thrillers, Down Cemetery Road promises a focused mystery. The show is planned as an eight-episode season that will adapt the first of Mick Herron’s novels featuring the character Zoë Boehm. The tone is expected to be similar to Slow Horses, blending suspense with dry humor and featuring investigators who are far from perfect.
The first episode will introduce the main characters and the event that pulls them into the investigation—the house explosion. It will set up the dynamic between the concerned neighbor, Sarah, and the professional investigator, Zoë, as they begin a partnership to find the truth.
The series is rated TV-MA, with a runtime of approximately 51 minutes for the first episode.
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