How to watch Shetland series 8 and from the beginning as Ashley Jensen's DI Ruth Calder makes a bold impression after Jimmy Perez’s departure
You might want to watch Shetland series 8 now it's available to enjoy in one go and it's well worth revisiting the previous seasons too.
For long-time fans the arrival of Shetland series 8 might have been met with mixed emotions as we accepted the departure of Douglas Henshall’s DI Jimmy Perez and prepared for a totally new feel. Thankfully, the atmospheric landscapes and brilliant storytelling remained as the show moved forward in a different but still brilliant direction. After what happened to Jimmy Perez in Shetland, Ashley Jensen’s DI Ruth Calder ruffled a few feathers when she returned to Shetland to assist on an emotionally-charged case but in brilliant style.
The latest season built towards a haunting Shetland ending, however the drama inspired by Ann Cleeves’ books has run for ten years and there are also so many brilliant episodes to re-watch too. Here we reveal how to watch Shetland series 8 and how to enjoy the show from the beginning if you haven't dived in yet.
*Warning: Spoilers ahead*
How to watch Shetland series 8 and from the beginning in the UK
Whether you’ve been an avid Shetland fan since the very beginning when each episode still directly adapted the plots of Ann Cleeves’ bestselling Shetland novels or have discovered the show more recently, Shetland series 8 is one you won’t want to miss. Anyone who can’t wait to watch Ashley Jensen’s DI Ruth Calder make investigative waves at Lerwick Police Station should head to BBC iPlayer.
After concluding its live broadcast on Wednesday 6th December when the Shetland series 8 finale aired, all episodes are now available to watch in one go, or at your own pace, on the streaming platform.
But it's not just the new series which has given us plenty of heart-stopping moments, and some pretty spectacular scenery to admire. This is especially evident when you re-watch Shetland from the very beginning. If you’re yet to dive into the BBC drama and want to start from series 1 before you watch Shetland series 8 then the place to head is also BBC iPlayer where all episodes of the show so far are available.
How to watch Shetland series 8 from anywhere
If you’re a citizen of the UK on vacation or working overseas, you can still watch Shetland series 8 and any of the earlier series too just as you would at home via BBC iPlayer, using a VPN. This is a handy bit of software that changes your IP address so that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home.
Our sister site, TechRadar, has tested all of the major VPN services and they rate ExpressVPN as the absolute best. They say, “It’s compatible with all of your devices, supports most streaming services, and ranks among the fastest. You can even install it on devices like an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox, and PlayStation. So for a one-stop-shop, you can’t go wrong with Express.”
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Ranked among one of the fastest VPN providers, this risk-free service is also compatible with all of your devices. Enjoy access to almost any streaming service, and if you don't like it there's a 30-day money-back guarantee.
If you've never installed a VPN before, don't worry, it's quick and easy. Just follow these three steps:
Download and install the VPN following ExpressVPN's easy-to-follow instructions.
Once you've installed your VPN, open the app and select your server location as anywhere in the UK.
With your VPN installed and server location set to UK, you can now watch Shetland online.
Who is DI Ruth Calder in Shetland?
When it was first announced that Douglas Henshall was leaving Shetland after series 7 viewers were left to speculate about who could replace him as the lead detective. Whilst it was possible that his loyal DS (now DI) Alison ‘Tosh’ McIntosh could’ve stepped up given the conversation they had in the series 7 finale, it was eventually confirmed that Ashley Jensen would be stepping in as a new character - Ruth Calder.
Of course, when you watch Shetland series 8 it becomes clear that Ruth isn't a direct replacement for Jimmy. In the new series she came back to the Shetland Islands to try and track down a key witness, Ellen Quinn. Ruth joined forces with Acting DI Tosh, as well as Sandy and Billy, but she was still very much an outside investigator.
Raven Black by Ann Cleeves | £9.19 at Amazon
On New Year’s Day a teenager is found dead in the snow with ravens circling ominously above. Suspicion soon falls upon a lonely outcast who lives nearby, but Inspector Jimmy Perez isn't so sure. Soon he begins delving into the past and it's not long before the investigation spreads distrust and fear.View Deal
Like Jimmy before her, Ruth grew up on the Shetland Islands but she was reluctant to return to her roots because of her past. The DI was shown to have a difficult relationship with her brother Alan, who had become the minister at their late father Edward's church. Ruth also found it hard to forgive Edward for something he'd done during his marriage to her mother.
Prior to Shetland series 8 Ruth had been working in London's Metropolitan Police Force and hadn't intended to stay. Her relationship with Tosh was immediately intriguing and Tosh's actor Alison O'Donnell previously described it as "unusual".
"They're both incredibly driven, they're both experienced, but they're coming from different backgrounds, they've had different journeys to get to where they are, this level of seniority," she told RadioTimes.com.
Alison added, "I've described it as being a very restless relationship, it never really settles down. And I think it's quite an unusual dynamic for TV. I'm not sure I can think of lots of examples of a relationship like that. They don't immediately become best friends, but they're not enemies, they have a common goal."
When you watch Shetland series 8 her words take on a new meaning as Ruth and Tosh work alongside each other to solve one of the team's most emotionally-charged cases ever. So whether you're up-to-date on Shetland's latest storyline or have yet to immerse yourself in any of the episodes, there's never been a better time to curl up on a cold winter night and enjoy it in full.
