The Poison Tree, the “gripping” psychological thriller starring Matthew Goode and MyAnna Buring, has landed a new streaming home in the UK. With the drama being largely forgotten since its release, this is a breezy binge watch to enjoy over the weekend.

the poison tree

The two-part series, which is based on Erin Kelly’s 2010 novel of the same name, sees Buring portray Karen, a wide-eyed student who comes into contact with the enigmatic Rex Clarke (Goode) and his sister, Biba (Ophelia Lovibond).

With a narrative that flashes both forwards and backwards, it becomes apparent that Karen’s bond with Rex lasts over many years, but a devastating secret drives a wedge between the family – what could it be

Originally premiering on ITV1 in 2012, The Poison Tree is now available to stream in the UK for free on ITVX, with the psychological drama being described as “gripping” in the streamer’s description.

Though not widely reviewed by professional critics, the series does have a user rating on IMDb, though it can be described as middling after racking up a score of 5.8 out of 10 from 3,200 reviews.

“Somewhere, somehow, this needs to find more tension. It does get to an interesting reveal that isn’t even on the radar. That’s the problem with this story. It’s structured incorrectly to concentrate on the wrong mystery,” wrote one user in a mixed review.the poison tree

“This was a wonderful adaptation… Wonderful backdrop and phenomenal acting by Matthew Goode, MyAnna Buring and Ophelia Lovibond really make this miniseries worth seeing. The story is pretty dark with a bit of a twist at the end,” wrote another viewer.

A third user was also full of praise, writing: “This was compelling without being overboard. Not a happy story to be sure! But interesting… I agree with the others that the acting was terrific.”

“A complex story certainly. The twists and turns take you across decades with much of the story told in flashback. I found this adaptation to be extremely atmospheric and well acted,” wrote another fan.

Goode, who has also appeared in Downton Abbey and A Discovery of Witches, recently had a starring role as Carl Morck in Dept. Q, the acclaimed and wildly popular crime thriller from Netflix.

The Poison Tree is streaming now on ITVX.