Peter Capaldi and Luca Pasqualino Reunite in 'Criminal Record' Season 2 as Tense Police Duo

Key facts

• Season 2 of Apple TV+'s 'Criminal Record' premieres in 2025.
• Peter Capaldi and Luca Pasqualino previously co-starred in 'The Musketeers' (2014-2016).
• Capaldi played Cardinal Richelieu; Pasqualino played D'Artagnan.
• In 'Criminal Record,' Capaldi plays Detective Daniel Hegarty; Pasqualino plays Detective J.P. Brownlee.
• The season centers on a homicide at a London protest.
• Cush Jumbo returns as Detective June Lenker, who clashes with Hegarty's methods.
• Capaldi and Jumbo are executive producers on the series.

A Reunion on the Beat

Season 2 of Apple TV+'s police drama 'Criminal Record' brings together former 'The Musketeers' co-stars Peter Capaldi and Luca Pasqualino, this time as contemporary London detectives. Capaldi, who played the scheming Cardinal Richelieu in the 17th-century adventure series, now portrays Detective Daniel Hegarty, a seasoned officer whose methods are increasingly questioned. Pasqualino, once the heroic D'Artagnan, steps into the role of Detective J.P. Brownlee, a younger colleague whose charm and energy complement Hegarty's world-weary pragmatism. The series, set in modern-day London, follows the pair as they investigate a homicide that erupts at a protest. Capaldi described Pasqualino's performance in a recent interview, saying, 'He looks like a guy who has just been a cop and has worked his way up to this place, but he brings a kind of charm that Hegarty doesn't have.' The dynamic is clear: Hegarty, aging and increasingly isolated, relies on Brownlee to execute the legwork, barking 'Go, get that guy!' while Pasqualino's character springs into action.

A Fractured Partnership with June Lenker

Central to the season's tension is the fraught relationship between Hegarty and Detective June Lenker, played by Cush Jumbo. Lenker, a detective with deep misgivings about Hegarty's tactics, ended Season 1 on brutal terms with her colleague. Capaldi acknowledged the rift: 'If you've seen Season 1, you know it was a fairly brutal end, in terms of our relationship.' Despite their history, Hegarty finds himself in a position where he needs Lenker's skills. 'Although he doesn't like her, he's always had a great respect for her,' Capaldi explained. 'He sees her qualities as a detective... he has to bring her onside. So, that's difficult for him, but he can do it because he's a grown up.' The uneasy alliance sets the stage for a season where personal animosity must yield to professional necessity.

A Live Case with Immediate Stakes

Unlike the cold cases of Season 1, Season 2 revolves around an active homicide investigation. 'This is a live case that needs to be dealt with because of an ongoing threat,' Capaldi said. The shift from digging into the past to confronting a present danger raises the stakes, forcing the detectives to act swiftly amid a volatile public protest. The case hits close to home for the characters, intertwining with themes of online misinformation and modern policing. The protest that serves as the backdrop for the murder is described as 'tragic,' and the investigation forces Hegarty and Lenker to navigate a landscape where social media narratives and public outrage complicate their work.

Executive Producers and Creative Control

Both Capaldi and Jumbo serve as executive producers on 'Criminal Record,' giving them significant creative input into the series' direction. The show, produced by Apple TV+, has been praised for its nuanced portrayal of police work and the moral ambiguities of justice. The involvement of the lead actors in production suggests a commitment to character-driven storytelling that prioritizes psychological depth over procedural formula. The reunion with Pasqualino adds another layer of continuity for fans of 'The Musketeers,' though the tone and setting are markedly different. Where that series was a swashbuckling adventure, 'Criminal Record' is a gritty, contemporary drama that explores the compromises and conflicts inherent in law enforcement.

What Comes Next for Hegarty and Lenker

As Season 2 unfolds, the partnership between Hegarty and Lenker will be tested by the demands of the live case and their personal history. Capaldi hinted that Hegarty's respect for Lenker's abilities is genuine, but their working relationship remains fragile. The season promises 'new twists, shifting alliances,' according to promotional materials, suggesting that the initial alignment may not hold. The broader implications of the case—touching on protest, misinformation, and police accountability—resonate with contemporary debates about law enforcement and public trust. Whether Hegarty and Lenker can overcome their differences to solve the homicide—and at what cost—forms the dramatic core of the season.

A Season of Moral Complexity

'Criminal Record' Season 2 deepens its exploration of the ethical gray zones that define modern policing. Hegarty, a character who operates on instinct and experience, is forced to confront the limits of his approach. Lenker, representing a more principled, rule-bound perspective, must decide whether to collaborate with a man she distrusts. The series does not offer easy answers. Instead, it presents a world where good intentions clash with flawed methods, and where the pursuit of justice is never clean. For viewers, the season is a study in character dynamics as much as a crime story—a reunion of actors who once played adversaries now playing uneasy allies.

The bottom line

• Peter Capaldi and Luca Pasqualino reunite on screen for the first time since 'The Musketeers,' now playing detectives in 'Criminal Record' Season 2.
• The season focuses on a homicide at a London protest, shifting from cold cases to an active, high-stakes investigation.
• Capaldi's character, Daniel Hegarty, must ally with Cush Jumbo's June Lenker despite their contentious history.
• Online misinformation and modern policing are central themes, reflecting real-world tensions.
• Both Capaldi and Jumbo serve as executive producers, indicating strong actor involvement in the series' creative direction.
• The season explores moral complexity, with no clear heroes or villains among the detectives.