You Don't Know Me

You Don't Know Me is a British crime drama centered on Hero, a young London man played by Samuel Adewunmi, who is on trial for murder and facing what seems like overwhelming evidence against him. Rather than following a straightforward courtroom procedural, the series frames much of the story through Hero's own account to the jury, letting him tell a different version of the events that brought him to this moment. As the trial unfolds, the show moves between the pressure of the present case and the web of relationships, debts, and dangerous choices that shaped Hero's life. The series emphasizes ambiguity, tension, and character over simple answers, gradually revealing the people around Hero, including figures tied to crime, love, and survival in London. It is a four-part adaptation of Imran Mahmood's novel and premiered on BBC One in December 2021 before reaching Netflix audiences.

Reception for You Don't Know Me was broadly positive, with a noticeable split between critics and general viewers. Rotten Tomatoes lists the series at 100% on the Tomatometer from 5 critic reviews, while the Popcornmeter sits at 51% from 50+ audience ratings, suggesting critics were much warmer than viewers overall. Critics frequently singled out Samuel Adewunmi's lead performance and the supporting cast, with reviews praising the show's intensity, emotional weight, and the way it builds uncertainty around Hero's account. Some coverage also highlighted the series' smart structure and strong sense of place. Audience reactions were more mixed, and IMDb's rating of 6.8/10 reflects that middling-to-good consensus. In practice, the show seems to have earned respect for its performances and premise, even if some viewers found the pacing slow or the ending divisive. Overall, it reads as a polished, thoughtful crime drama that landed better with critics than with the broader audience.