A compelling thriller series built around distinctive characters, escalating conflicts, and a premise designed to keep viewers invested.
2026
Drama, Thriller
6 episodes
TheNextHint Score
7.4
7.4 / 10
Overview
The Ridge combines a murder mystery with psychological drama and a strong, vivid sense of place.↻ Lauren Lyle plays Mia Beaton, a Scottish doctor who heads to New Zealand planning to attend her sister's wedding, but ends up determined to uncover what caused her death. Her investigation pulls her into an isolated community, where personal resentments, buried secrets and complicated relationships make it difficult to judge who can be trusted. Jay Ryan portrays Ewan Carmichael, Cassy's fiancé, while the supporting cast fills out the unusual group of residents surrounding Mia. Nora Chassler and David Murdoch created the six-episode series, which was filmed across Scotland and New Zealand and uses the landscapes of both countries as a key part of its atmosphere.
Quick Verdict
The Ridge suits viewers who appreciate psychological mysteries that devote as much attention to characters and secrets as to unraveling the main crime. Mia, played by Lauren Lyle, provides the series with a complex protagonist, and the New Zealand backdrop contributes much of its mood. With only six episodes, it is a fairly manageable mystery to finish.
The Ridge is a psychological thriller told in six parts, set across Scotland and New Zealand. The narrative centers on Mia Beaton, a Scottish anesthesiologist whose life, both personal and professional, has crumbled amid her battle with addiction. After being invited to the wedding of her estranged sister Cassy, she journeys to New Zealand hoping for an opportunity to rebuild their connection. But when she gets there, she finds that Cassy has died. What at first seems like an accident soon turns into a murder investigation, as Mia starts questioning the residents of the remote mountain community. Her investigation uncovers secrets about Cassy’s life, and at the same time Mia finds herself drawn, uneasily, to Cassy’s fiancé, Ewan Carmichael.
The series, created by Nora Chassler and David Murdoch, was directed by Douglas Mackinnon and Robyn Grace and shot in locations throughout Scotland and New Zealand. Sinner Films, Great Southern Television and Boat Rocker Studios are listed as the production companies. The series first aired in the UK and New Zealand in October 2025, and later became available to U.S. viewers via Acorn TV in July 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Ridge about?
Mia (Lauren Lyle) travels from Scotland to New Zealand for her estranged sister’s wedding, only to learn her sister's body has been found in the six-part thriller series created by Nora Chassler and David Murdoch.
Is The Ridge a 2026 TV series?
It is a 2025 production that received its U.S. streaming release in 2026. Acorn TV premiered the series in the United States on July 27, 2026.
Who created, wrote, or directed The Ridge?
The series is created by Nora Chassler and David Murdoch
Who stars in The Ridge?
The main cast includes Lauren Lyle as Mia Beaton and Jay Ryan as Ewan Carmichael, alongside Florence Hartigan, Dulcie Smart, Chloe Parker, David Van Horn and Taqi Nazeer.
Story — Spoiler Free
Mia Beaton makes the journey from Scotland to New Zealand for the wedding of her estranged sister, but everything about the trip shifts when she learns that her sister has passed away. Not believing the death was an accident, Mia begins looking into the people in her sister's life and soon finds that this apparently peaceful community has many secrets. As she faces her own difficult past and her tangled feelings for Ewan, her sister's fiancé, her investigation grows more and more personal.
7.4
TheNextHint Score
7.4 / 10
The Ridge suits viewers who appreciate psychological mysteries that devote as much attention to characters and secrets as to unraveling the main crime. Mia, played by Lauren Lyle, provides the series with a complex protagonist, and the New Zealand backdrop contributes much of its mood. With only six episodes, it is a fairly manageable mystery to finish.
Rating breakdown
Story
7.0
Acting
7.6
Direction
7.4
Visuals
8.0
Sound
7.6
Entertainment
7.0
Pros
Strong performances, striking New Zealand scenery, an atmospheric mystery and a six-episode format keep the story focused.
Cons
The deliberately troubled lead character and slower psychological approach may not work for viewers looking for a fast-paced conventional murder mystery.
Who Should Watch
Psychological Thriller Fans
Mystery Lovers
Lauren Lyle Fans
Atmospheric Thriller Viewers
Who Should Skip
Action-Heavy Thriller Fans
Fast-Mystery Viewers
Viewers Seeking an Anthology
Release Date
2026-07-27
Runtime
The six-part
Director
Douglas Mackinnon, Robyn Grace
Producer
Angela Murray, Steven Zanoski
Writer
Nora Chassler, David Murdoch, Douglas Mackinnon, Alan Campbell, Jess Sayer, Kate McDermott
Cast
Lauren Lyle, Jay Ryan, Dulcie Smart, Florence Hartigan, Chloe Parker, David Van Horn, Taqi Nazeer, Claire Dargo, Cora Bissett, Connor Amor-Bendall, Kauri Williams, Caleb Nazzer, Joe Dekkers-Reihana, Katherine McRae, Aroha Rawson
Music
Dream Chambers (Jess Chambers) and Arli Liberman
Cinematography
Peter McCaffrey and Alasdair Boyce
Studio
BBC Scotland and Sky New Zealand Originals
Distributor
Boat Rocker Studios
Production Company
Sinner Films, Great Southern Television, Boat Rocker Studios
A Scottish anesthesiologist who travels to New Zealand and investigates her sister's death.
Jay Ryan
as
Ewan Carmichael
Cassy's fiancé and one of the central people in Mia's investigation.
Florence Hartigan
as
Sergeant Libby Grimes
The local police officer involved in the case.
Connor Amor-Bendall
as
Cassy Beaton
Mia's estranged sister whose death drives the story.
Dulcie Smart
as
Annot
A member of the local community.
Chloe Parker
as
Sadie Grimes
A young member of the Grimes family who becomes connected to Mia's investigation.
Seasons & Episodes
Season 1
6 episodes July 27, 2026Completed
Mia travels to New Zealand for her sister's wedding but arrives to find her dead. Her search for the truth takes her through a small community filled with secrets, conflicting loyalties and unresolved tensions, while her own troubled history becomes increasingly important to the investigation.
1Episode 1
July 27, 2026
Mia arrives in New Zealand for Cassy's wedding but discovers her sister is dead and begins searching for the killer.
2Episode 2
44 min August 3, 2026
Mia identifies potential suspects and discovers that Cassy was hiding secrets, while Ewan has secrets of his own.
3Episode 3
August 10, 2026
Mia questions Teddy and Harry as an arson attempt strengthens her suspicion that someone wants her gone.
4Episode 4
43 min August 17, 2026
The Whitebait Festival unfolds as Mia's past in Scotland is exposed and her investigation becomes more personal.
5Episode 5
43 min August 24, 2026
With Sadie's help, Mia investigates an earlier death, while a disturbing discovery in the forest puts her in danger.
6Episode 6
August 31, 2026
A dangerous hike up the ridge brings Mia and Ewan closer to the truth about Cassy's killer.
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