The Times by James Jackson

This show still works for having confidence in its restrained approach — there’s no need to be flashy. Ashley Jensen’s down-to-earth DI, Ruth Calder, remains a decent enough replacement for Douglas Henshall’s DI Jimmy Perez, and if Calder and Tosh don’t quite have the sparring crackle of the best detective duos, they showed a modicum of chemistry while teasing the new boss, who is struggling with his long-distance relationship.

i by Emily Bootle

This is Shetland as we know and love it. The beautiful, sweeping landscape shots, the dark, isolated atmosphere are comfortingly familiar and the cast of loveable characters have come to feel like old friends – yet somehow the mysteries remain as gripping as ever.

The Telegraph by Anita Singh

No messing about here, no flashbacks or mysteries, just confident and efficient storytelling. There is also the strange mix of serious crime and comedy that the drama just about manages to pull off.

Radio Times by Michael Hogan

Her character [Ashley Jensen as Ruth] arrived fully formed and well-rounded. Her expressive face revealed conflicted feelings about this enforced homecoming. The script wasn't afraid to make Calder prickly and unlikeable, with a tangled private life and troubled childhood.

The Guardian by Jack Seale

As Calder, Ashley Jensen already looks like a viable replacement for Henshall.

The Telegraph by Michael Hogan

This Ann Cleeves adaptation is a high-class police procedural – subtle, unshowy but hauntingly powerful and highly atmospheric. With its bleakly beautiful setting, meaningful stares and slow-burning plots, it’s Nordic noir transplanted to the Scottish archipelago’s rugged landscape.

Chicago Tribune by Nina Metz

His [Douglas Henshall's] replacement gives “Shetland” something of a reset, while retaining the small ensemble and much of what makes the show work.

The Times by Carol Midgley

Hello, DI Dour. Jensen is a talented actress with an expressive face, though, and she created the sense that behind the sullenness lurks a complex, damaged person.