'The new crime drama Long Bright River is so good it brought me to tears.'

If your watch list is craving something with a bit more substance than your average crime thriller, Stan's newest series Long Bright River might be exactly what you need.

Starring Amanda Seyfried in another compelling television role, after her award-winning turn in The Dropout, this eight-part series delves into the opioid crisis, fractured families, and the dark underbelly of Philadelphia with nuance and emotional depth.

Based on Liz Moore's bestselling 2020 novel of the same name, Long Bright River tells the story of Mickey Fitzpatrick (Seyfried), a police officer patrolling the Kensington neighbourhood of Philadelphia — an area ravaged by the opioid epidemic.

Watch the trailer for Long Bright River. Article continues after video.

When a series of murders target women in the area, Mickey becomes obsessed with finding the killer. Particularly because her estranged sister, Kacey, a person struggling with addiction, has gone missing.

As Mickey searches for both the murderer and her sister, she uncovers long-buried secrets while navigating her complicated role as a single mother.

Leading the show is Seyfried as Mickey, who honestly delivers one of her best performances in this limited series. The show also stars Ashleigh Cummings as Mickey's sister, Kacey, Callum Vinson has Mickey's son; John Doman as Mickey's father, and Nicholas Pinnock as Mickey's former partner, Truman. The ensemble cast brings to life the vibrant yet troubled neighbourhood that serves as the backdrop for this complex story.

Long Bright River opens with Mickey on patrol in Kensington, where we immediately see her complicated relationship with the community she polices — especially the women struggling with addiction whom she both monitors and, in her own way, protects.

Leading the show is Amanda Seyfried as Mickey. Image: Stan.

The show skilfully establishes Mickey's dual existence: the professional police officer who maintains emotional distance versus the worried sister who scans every face on the street hoping to spot Kacey.

When the body of a young woman is found murdered, Mickey fears it might be her sister. It isn't, but the discovery sends her on a desperate search for Kacey while trying to find connections between the emerging pattern of killings. Through artful flashbacks, we begin to understand the sisters' complicated history and the events that led them down such different paths.

Long Bright River stands out in the crowded crime drama genre by focusing less on the depiction of crime and more on the human cost of addiction, poverty, and institutional failure.

The series doesn't romanticise or exploit addiction for dramatic effect. Instead, it presents a thoughtful examination of how substance abuse devastates families and communities.

The show's unflinching look at the opioid crisis feels especially relevant, portraying addiction not as a moral failing but as a complex health and social issue.

Seyfriend plays a single mother and cop searching for her sister. Image: Stan.

What makes Long Bright River stand out beyond typical crime dramas is its exploration of sisterhood. The relationship between Mickey and Kacey provides the emotional core of the story, showing how two women from the same circumstances can end up on radically different paths while remaining inextricably connected.

From the first episode, the thing that draws you in and grounds the story is the undeniable connection between Mickey and Kacey. It's what lifts the stakes and makes the show so compelling.

The pacing might feel slow to viewers expecting a fast-moving thriller, but the storytelling allows the characters and their world to develop in an authentic way.

Long Bright River is a story of sisterhood. Image: Stan.

Long Bright River is a thoughtful, character-driven crime drama that prioritises emotional impact over shock value.

While it doesn't reinvent the genre, it demonstrates how a familiar format can be elevated through nuanced performances, authentic world-building, and sensitive handling of complex issues.

For those seeking a crime series with genuine emotional weight and something meaningful to say about addiction, family bonds, and community responsibility, this Stan exclusive delivers on all fronts.

Long Bright River is now streaming on Stan.

Feature Image: Stan.