Landscapers (TV series)

Lore & Background

The series tells the story of mild-mannered Susan and her husband Christopher Edwards, who killed Susan's parents and buried them in the back garden of their Mansfield home. The crime remained undiscovered until 2013. The series was inspired by real events and focuses on how the couple came to commit the murders.

Reader's Guide

Landscapers received positive reviews upon its release, particularly for the performances of Olivia Colman and David Thewlis. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an overall approval rating of 98% with an average score of 8.10/10 based on 46 reviews. The critical consensus notes that the series layers enigmatic style onto an already unbelievable true story with varying results, but that Colman and Thewlis ground the absurdity with outstanding performances. On Metacritic, the series has a score of 79 based on 22 reviews, indicating generally favourable reviews. Both Colman and Thewlis stated that they did not doubt the culpability of the Edwards in the murder, but that the series was intended to create empathy and an understanding for the couple.

Did You Know?

• The series was originally intended to be directed and executive produced by Alexander Payne, but he exited due to scheduling conflicts and was replaced by Will Sharpe.
• Principal photography began in March 2021 in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
• In a flashback scene, no visual effects or specific makeup were used to make the actors appear younger; David Thewlis commented 'We just put wigs on.'
• The series was broadcast from 6 December to 27 December 2021.

The True Crime Foundation

Landscapers draws its narrative from one of Britain's most unsettling domestic murder cases. In 1998, William and Patricia Wycherley were killed by their daughter Susan Edwards and her husband Christopher, who then buried the bodies in the back garden of their home in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. What makes the story particularly chilling is the duration of the cover-up: the murders went undetected for more than a decade before being uncovered in 2012. The series frames this real event through the lens of a black comedy, a tonal choice that underscores how ordinary and unremarkable the Edwards couple appeared to their community. The Wycherleys are portrayed by Felicity Montagu and David Hayman, while the wider family circle includes Kathryn Hunter as Tabitha Edwards. The setting in Mansfield is not merely backdrop; it is integral to the story's geography, as the series was filmed on location in Nottinghamshire, grounding the fictionalized drama in the actual landscape where the crimes took place.

From Script to Screen: The Production Journey

The road to Landscapers' production was marked by both ambition and disruption. Ed Sinclair crafted the screenplay specifically with Olivia Colman in mind for the role of Susan Edwards, a decision that shaped the character's voice from the earliest drafts. In December 2019, HBO and Sky committed to a series order, with Alexander Payne initially set to direct and executive produce the project. However, in October 2020, Payne stepped away due to scheduling conflicts, and Will Sharpe stepped in to helm the series, steering it toward a black comedy register. David Thewlis joined the cast as Christopher Edwards in March 2021, just as principal photography was about to begin. Shooting commenced that same month in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, the very town where the real crimes occurred. The supporting cast includes Kate O'Flynn as Detective Emma Lancing, Dipo Ola as Douglas Hylton, Daniel Rigby as DCI Tony Collier, and Samuel Anderson as DC Paul Wilkie, rounding out the investigation team that ultimately unravels the Edwards' decade-long secret.

Performance and the Empathy Question

At the heart of Landscapers lies a deliberate ethical tension: the series asks viewers not whether the Edwards are guilty—they undeniably are—but whether they merit sympathy. Both Olivia Colman and David Thewlis have spoken openly about this guiding principle. Colman described the characters as gentle and meek, confessing to wondering what she herself might have done under similar circumstances. Thewlis framed the audience's task as a moral judgment beyond simple culpability, asking whether the couple deserve compassion despite their actions. This empathetic approach is reinforced by the series' black comedy tone, which refuses to treat the Edwards as monstrous caricatures. Even the production choices reflect this philosophy: in a flashback scene meant to depict both leads as significantly younger, the crew eschewed visual effects and elaborate makeup in favor of a simple solution—wigs, as Thewlis quipped. The result is a performance style that feels grounded and human, making the audience complicit in grappling with why two seemingly ordinary people committed such a terrible act.

Critical Reception and Distinctive Tone

Landscapers premiered on screen from 6 December to 27 December 2021, and critics responded with broad approval. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 98 percent approval rating with an average score of 8.10 out of 10, drawn from 46 reviews. The site's critical consensus praised the way the show layers enigmatic style onto an already unbelievable true story, while singling out Colman and Thewlis for grounding the absurdity with outstanding performances. Metacritic assigned the series a weighted average score of 79 based on 22 reviews, categorizing the response as generally favourable. Reviewers consistently highlighted the leads' work as the series' greatest strength, noting that their chemistry and emotional depth anchored a narrative that could easily have veered into sensationalism. The pairing of a true-crime premise with a black comedy sensibility proved a distinctive tonal blend, one that set Landscapers apart from more conventional crime dramas and gave it a memorable identity in the crowded landscape of true-crime television.