When Does Criminal Record Season 3 Come Out? Is It Renewed?
“You can't hide from yourself.”
Criminal Record Season 3 has not been confirmed yet.
IMDb
7.1/10
Seasons
2
Episodes
16
Predictive Logic Analysis
The most striking data point here is the episode-rating collapse. Season 1 averaged 4.8/10 on IMDb episode ratings; Season 2 is averaging 2.8/10 across 13 rated episodes, and the trend within the season is falling. That is a steep drop, and it suggests the audience that stuck around was less satisfied with the new direction. The overall series IMDb rating of 7.1 from just over 13,000 votes is modest at best, indicating the show never built a large or especially enthusiastic fanbase.
On the positive side, Season 2 is still in the middle of its run (the next episode airs May 20), so some metrics are naturally still building. Trakt active watchers at around 20,500 with steady momentum is a reasonable signal for a niche drama on a premium streamer. Wikipedia pageview trend is rising, which fits with a show currently airing. Apple TV+ has shown patience with low-profile dramas before, and the short gap since Season 1 suggests the streamer did greenlight a second season fairly quickly. But Apple has also quietly not renewed plenty of well-regarded shows, and a noticeable audience-engagement decline going into a renewal conversation is a bad position to be in. Without a trade announcement, this is genuinely uncertain.
What is Criminal Record about?
Criminal Record centers on a collision between ambition and accountability when two detectives at Scotland Yard find themselves pursuing a cold case that threatens to unravel the careful foundations of one detective's storied career. The premise taps into a timely tension: the show asks what happens when institutional loyalty and the pursuit of truth enter direct conflict, using a single anonymous tip as the catalyst for both officers to confront the gaps between the justice system they serve and the justice it actually delivers. For viewers drawn to morally complex police procedurals, the real hook lies not in solving the crime itself, but in watching two capable investigators forced to question whether exposing past wrongs is worth the professional and personal costs that inevitably follow.
The series distinguishes itself through its ensemble-driven narrative and its willingness to dwell in moral gray zones rather than offering easy resolutions. Peter Capaldi brings weathered gravitas to DCI Daniel Hegarty, a detective whose reputation and pension are suddenly vulnerable, while Cush Jumbo counters with the idealism and urgency of DS June Lenker, whose career is still being written. This central dynamic—the mentor figure defending the status quo against the younger officer demanding accountability—gives the show its emotional spine. Paul Rutman's writing prioritizes character psychology and institutional critique over procedural mechanics, creating space for the supporting cast, including Zoë Wanamaker and Cathy Tyson, to flesh out the ripple effects of reopened cases on ordinary lives.
Audiences and critics have responded positively to Criminal Record's refusal to offer comfortable answers, and its 7.1 IMDb rating reflects appreciation for intelligent drama that trusts viewers to sit with uncomfortable questions. The show has proven durable enough to warrant a second season, suggesting that its examination of institutional failure and personal redemption resonates beyond crime-drama enthusiasts. It stands alongside contemporary British procedurals that foreground character development and social critique, occupying similar thematic terrain as shows that examine systemic corruption from within.
Criminal Record carves out a distinct space in the crime genre by prioritizing the psychological toll of wrongful convictions and cover-ups on those who discover them, rather than sensationalizing the crimes themselves. In the broader landscape of prestige television, it represents the kind of intimate, character-focused drama that Apple TV has invested in—shows that appeal to viewers seeking narrative substance and moral complexity over spectacle. Its cultural footprint extends beyond typical crime-drama audiences to include those interested in discussions of police accountability and the human cost of institutional inertia.
Created by Paul Rutman
Themes
Is Criminal Record renewed or cancelled?
Working toward renewal
Season 2 still actively airing — renewal window has not yet opened
Trakt active watchers at ~20,500 with steady momentum
Wikipedia pageview trend rising, consistent with current airing
Apple greenlit Season 2 relatively quickly after Season 1, showing prior confidence in the show
Working against it
Episode rating drop from Season 1 (4.8/10 avg) to Season 2 (2.8/10 avg), with a falling intra-season trajectory
No renewal signal from Apple TV+ or any trade publication
Overall IMDb rating of 7.1 from only ~13,000 votes — modest audience size
Apple TV+ has a pattern of quietly not renewing dramas with soft engagement
Criminal Record Season 3 Release Date
If a third season is greenlit, timing is hard to predict precisely. Season 1 aired in January 2024 and Season 2 launched in April 2026, a gap of roughly 15 months between premieres. If Apple follows a similar production schedule and announces renewal sometime mid-2026, a Season 3 premiere in late 2027 would be a reasonable rough estimate. Apple tends not to rush production on its dramas, so anything faster than 12 months from a greenlight would be unusual. Given that Season 2 is still airing as of this assessment, any renewal announcement is unlikely before the finale airs in June 2026.
Best & worst episodes
Criminal Record seasons
Season 12024 · 8 ep
- 1. Emergency Caller2024-01-10 · ★ 5.3
- 2. Two Calls2024-01-10 · ★ 5.2
- 3. Kid in the Park2024-01-17 · ★ 4.9
- 4. Protected2024-01-24 · ★ 4.7
- 5. Possession with Intent2024-01-31 · ★ 4.6
- 6. Beehive2024-02-07 · ★ 4.6
- 7. The Sixty-Twos2024-02-14 · ★ 4.6
- 8. Carla2024-02-21 · ★ 4.8
Season 22026 · 8 ep
- 1. Is It Him?2026-04-22 · ★ 3.7
- 2. Firestarters2026-04-29 · ★ 3.7
- 3. Snakes and Ladders2026-05-06 · ★ 2.8
- 4. Safe2026-05-13 · ★ 2.8
- 5. Duty of Care2026-05-20 · ★ 1.0
- 6. When the Music Stops2026-05-27
- 7. Going Down2026-06-03
- 8. Nobody Dies2026-06-10
Criminal Record trailer
Criminal Record cast
View all cast →
Peter Capaldi
DCI Daniel Hegarty
Cush Jumbo
DS June Lenker
Shaun Dooley
DS Kim Cardwell
Stephen Campbell Moore
Leo Hanratty
Luther Ford
Billy Fielding
Dustin Demri-Burns
Cosmo Thompson
Luke Pasqualino
JP Brownlee
Where to watch Criminal Record
See all viewing options →
AI Verdict
Criminal Record is currently airing its second season on Apple TV+ with no renewal signal either way. The show is on the bubble: its audience metrics are decent but not exceptional, and a sharp drop in episode ratings from Season 1 to Season 2 is a real concern. Apple tends to be slow with renewal announcements, so the silence so far is not itself damning, but the rating trajectory makes a third season uncertain.
Live signals
20.6K watching on Traktsteady
Interest rising
Verdict updated yesterday · 1 tracked mention — no renewal-specific coverage yet
Updated 2026-06-28 · AI-generated analysis
1 tracked mention · no renewal signalKey sources weighed
- Apple TV Shares First Look and Premiere Date for Second Season of "Criminal Record"
NewsAPI:Thefutoncritic.com · 2026-01-28renewal positive
Criminal Record latest news
- Apple TV Shares First Look and Premiere Date for Second Season of "Criminal Record"
NewsAPI:Thefutoncritic.com · 2026-01-28renewal positive
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Frequently asked
- When does Criminal Record Season 3 come out?
- Criminal Record Season 3 has not been confirmed yet.
- Is Criminal Record renewed or cancelled?
- Criminal Record is currently airing its second season on Apple TV+ with no renewal signal either way. The show is on the bubble: its audience metrics are decent but not exceptional, and a sharp drop in episode ratings from Season 1 to Season 2 is a real concern. Apple tends to be slow with renewal announcements, so the silence so far is not itself damning, but the rating trajectory makes a third season uncertain.
- How many seasons of Criminal Record are there?
- Criminal Record has aired 2 seasons so far.
- How many episodes of Criminal Record are there?
- There are 16 episodes of Criminal Record across 2 seasons.
- Who created Criminal Record?
- Criminal Record was created by Paul Rutman.
- Where can I watch Criminal Record?
- Criminal Record is available to stream on Apple TV and Apple TV Amazon Channel.
- What is Criminal Record's IMDb rating?
- Criminal Record holds an IMDb rating of 7.1/10 from 13,056 votes.