The Pact, the Welsh-set crime drama that examines loyalty, secrecy and suspicion, is available to stream in full on the BBC. The series, first broadcast in 2021 and followed by a second season in 2022, follows four employees of a small brewery who become entangled in the death of their boss.
Plot and premise
Set in mid-Wales, the narrative opens after the body of the brewery owner, Jack, is discovered in nearby woods. The deceased is presented as a complex figure with a history of drug use and difficult relations with staff. Four women who had been with him—Anna, Nancy, Louie and Cat—agree to a pact of silence about the night’s events. Their decision to conceal what they know becomes the central tension, raising questions about responsibility, truth and the lengths people will go to protect each other.
Cast and characters
The ensemble cast includes recognised names and rising performers. Among the principal players are:
- Julie Hesmondhalgh as Nancy
- Laura Fraser as Anna
- Eiry Thomas as Louie
- Heledd Gwynn as Cat
- Aneurin Barnard as Jack
- Jason Hughes as Max, Anna’s husband, a police officer
In the second series, the focus shifts to Christine Rees and her adult children as a new secret emerges when a man arrives claiming to be another child in the family. The later series continues the programme’s emphasis on familial strain and concealed histories.
Why it matters
The Pact has attracted attention for its compact storytelling and the moral ambiguity at the heart of its plot. Critics and viewers have highlighted the show’s ability to sustain tension through character interaction rather than procedural investigation alone. With both series now available to stream, the show is again accessible to national audiences and invites renewed discussion about portrayal of small communities, policing and the consequences of silence.
Episode availability and structure
Both seasons have been made available on the BBC’s streaming platform. The original run launched in 2021 and was followed by a second run in 2022 that introduces a fresh storyline while retaining the thematic through-line of a secret that reshapes lives.
| Series | Initial broadcast |
|---|---|
| Series 1 | 2021 |
| Series 2 | 2022 |
The series does not present a conventional whodunit; instead it explores the personal costs of collective choices. For viewers interested in character-driven crime drama with an emphasis on moral complexity, both series offer a concise and self-contained viewing experience.
