Time season 3

The third series of the anthology crime drama Time takes place in a Young Offenders institution, following chaplain Marie-Louise (Siobhan Finneran, reprising her role from the previous run) as she starts work at the prison during a crisis of faith. Supported (to use the term loosely) by custodial managers Bobby (David Tennant) and Freddie (Daniel Ryan), Marie-Louise must navigate volatile and dangerous waters to help the troubled young men in her care.

One of the key motivators of this series’ production was to highlight the institutional rot at the core of Young Offenders institutions and examine how these prisons fail young people, and the show definitely accomplishes that goal. It’s a harrowing and uncomfortable time from the get-go, creating a constant sense of tension and claustrophobia that accurately communicates the mental torment that is caused – and encouraged – by the prison system.

The young offenders bear the brunt of the physical and mental anguish, but Bobby and Freddie are not spared from the institutional violence they inflict on their charges. Much like the boys they watch over, they are obsessed with maintaining status and authority by being the biggest and toughest man in the room, actively participating in a tragic cycle of violence and anger. The wardens are as trapped as the prisoners, in emotional cages of their own making. Time puts in impressive narrative legwork to communicate that people like Bobby and Freddie are not bad apples spoiling an otherwise fine barrel; rather, they are the direct product of a system working as intended.

These are heavy concepts, but the drama tackles them head-on, expertly structuring the character drama to create a complex, interconnected narrative web that lets it examine several socio-political angles without overwhelming the piece.

This strong writing is bolstered by phenomenal acting; Tennant, Ryan and Finneran bring their considerable expertise to their roles, but the real stars are the young actors playing the ensemble cast of incarcerated youths. For some of these lads, this is their first time acting, but they hit every emotional mark perfectly, selling the powder keg of feelings in each troubled soul.

Season three of Time is a thrilling and gripping experience, with insightful, uncompromising writing supported by incredible acting talent. It’s a tough watch, but that speaks to its efforts to shine a light on horrific injustices that are an all-too-normal part of the world.

Umar Ali

Time season 3 is released on BBC iPlayer on 11^th October 2026.