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The Gold

The Gold

2023–2025Ended2 seasons12 episodes~58 min/epMidcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

On 26 November 1983, six armed men break into the Brink's-Mat security depot, stumbling across gold bullion worth £26m.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Gold?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Gold streaming on PBS Masterpiece via Prime Video and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

via Prime Video

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about The Gold?

The Gold earns 4 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Preferred by Men.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is The Gold worth watching?

The Gold's Midcredits score is the 75th percentile of all shows, from 11K ratings across 5 sources. 85% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

75th percentile

Better received than 75% of shows

73rd percentile among Crime79th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)62nd
Approval (how many liked it)83rd

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

73 /100

62nd percentile of all shows

64th percentile among Crime67th percentile among 2020s

Critics 76 · Audience 73

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

85% liked it

83rd percentile of all shows

79th percentile among Crime87th percentile among 2020s
85% rated it 7–1015% rated it 1–6

Critics 96% · Audience 87%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Reach

How many have seen it

80th percentile

11K ratings across platforms

67th percentile among Crime82nd percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 61% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The series is a heavily dramatized, entertainment-driven retelling of the Brink's-Mat robbery, prioritizing gripping crime drama over strict historical accuracy.

Fans praised

  • Superb ensemble cast with standout performances from Bonneville, Lowden, Cooper, Spencer
  • Gripping, binge-worthy crime drama with relentless momentum and suspense
  • Sharp, intelligent script that weaves historical detail with social commentary on class and corruption

Detractors panned

  • Sympathetic, sanitized portrayal of violent criminals as lovable rogues or working-class heroes
  • Overbearing, didactic script hammering class-war themes through repetitive monologues
  • Muddled storytelling with underdeveloped characters and incoherent narrative structure

What stands out

Acting78

Hugh Bonneville's steely detective, Jack Lowden's charismatic villain, and a deep bench of British talent

Atmosphere75

Immersive period re-creation of early-80s London and class-divided society

TensionDivisive72

Edge-of-seat suspense from the investigation's cat-and-mouse; detractors see tedium

Plot and storyDivisive65

Complex multi-strand investigation loses coherence for some, engrossing for others

Cinematography62

Period-authentic production design praised; shaky handheld work and sepia filter criticized

DialogueDivisive58

Witty, quotable lines praised by fans; detractors cite clunky exposition and mumbling

CharactersDivisive55

Divisive characterizations: fans find them compelling and nuanced, detractors see one-dimensional stereotypes and whitewashed thugs

PacingDivisive50

Relentless momentum for fans; detractors find it overstretched, padded, and tedious

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 20 points higher than women.

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 13 points higher than US viewers.

Episodes

2 seasons

Series 2 · 2025 · 6 episodes

  • S2E1

    Episode 1

    Jun 8, 202556 min
  • S2E2

    Episode 2

    Jun 9, 202556 min
  • S2E3

    Episode 3

    Jun 15, 202558 min
  • S2E4

    Episode 4

    Jun 16, 202559 min
  • S2E5

    Episode 5

    Jun 22, 202559 min
  • S2E6

    Episode 6

    Jun 23, 202559 minFinale

Watch experience

What is The Gold like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and intense — an even-paced watch that leaves you thinking.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseContemplativeTriumphant
Heaviest: middle
Dry humor
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Hardboiled · 1% of shows: Terse, unsentimental, noir-inflected.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.SerializedNew arc each season
ToneThe series plays its material straight, treating the crime and its aftermath with serious dramatic weight and a tense, brooding atmosphere.
The rideThe series builds tension steadily through the investigation and the criminals' attempts to launder the gold, with moments of triumph in the later seasons.
StructureThe story is told in a straightforward chronological order across both seasons, following the aftermath of the robbery from investigation to resolution.
Episode formatThe series tells one continuous story across its two seasons, with each episode advancing the investigation and the criminals' arc.
Season formatEach season covers a distinct phase of the aftermath: season 1 focuses on the initial investigation and laundering, season 2 on the wider fallout and trial.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Thought-provokingBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves you pondering the corruption within the system and the enduring consequences of greed, with a mix of justice served and uneasy resolutions.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

18% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe series follows the police investigation into the Brink's-Mat robbery, focusing on bringing the violent criminals to justice, making it a loose fit for overcoming the monster with the tyrant subtype.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfJusticeMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% (this title) · Greed 2% (this title) · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11% (this title): Justice 14% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Morality

Justice · 14% of showsGreed · 2% of showsCorruption · 3% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe series explores the pursuit of justice against a backdrop of institutional corruption and the corrosive effect of greed on individuals and society.
StanceThe series questions the effectiveness and integrity of the justice system while observing the greed driving the criminals, without celebrating either side.

The world

Late 20th centuryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · original score
Setting1980s London and the surrounding areas, following the aftermath of the Brink's-Mat robbery
MusicThe score blends moody synths and orchestral elements to evoke the 1980s setting and the tension of the investigation.

Content guide

Is The Gold okay for kids?

As of August 19, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (40/100), sexual content at moderate (36/100), language at intense (63/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (60/100) and frightening material at moderate (42/100). Overall it is heavier than 47% of all shows.

Ratings in 7 other countries
  • UK15
  • Germany16
  • France16
  • Ireland15
  • South Korea15
  • Netherlands12
  • Spain16
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 47% of all shows
Violence & Gore
Moderate
heavier than 34% of all shows
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavier than 40% of all shows
Profanity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavier than 67% of all shows
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavier than 77% of all shows
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
heavier than 39% of all shows

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is language and drug and alcohol content.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does The Gold have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Gold?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Hugh Bonneville
as Brian Boyce
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Emun Elliott
as Tony Brightwell
Charlotte Spencer
as Nicki Jennings
Tom Cullen
as John Palmer
Stefanie Martini
as Marnie Palmer
Amanda Drew
as CS Cath McLean
Jack Lowden
as Kenneth Noye
Silas Carson
as Harry Bowman
Sam Spruell
as Charlie Miller
Peter Davison
as Assistant Commissioner Gordon Stewart

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What are shows like The Gold?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like The Gold include Kaleidoscope (2023), Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (2024) and Dope Thief (2025).

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What other shows share a tag with The Gold?

201 other shows share the rarest tag below, kind of show: gangster. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.