Collateral: Netflix Limited Series recap

Netflix

Collateral, written by David Hare, is described on IMDb as a “modern-day state of the nation project.”

Episode One

Collateral revolves around the professional shooting of a Muslim pizza delivery man named Abdullah Asif (Sam Otto) and DI Kip Glaspie’s (Carey Mulligan) attempt to solve the murder. What it’s really about is the state of politics in England, the Syrian refugee crisis, and immigration laws.

Laurie Stone (Hayley Squires), the manager of Regent Pizza, sends Abdullah to make a delivery to single mom Karen Mars (Billie Piper). He is shot dead after making the delivery. The murder seems to be by a professional, a single witness — high on drugs — saying the killer was masked and wearing scuba rubbers. But why kill a pizza man? And why did Laurie send Abdullah out-of-rotation when it was Mikey’s (Brian Vernel) turn to go? They find Abdullah’s home address, a garage he shares with his two sisters who claim to be refugees from Aleppo.

Meanwhile, the sole witness returns home to her girlfriend, local vicar Jane Oliver (Nicola Walker). It turns out the witness, Linh Xuan Huy (Kae Alexander) gave the police a false name and address, nervous about being on drugs and her shaky legal status. She says the killer might have been a woman.

Disillusioned MP for Labour David Mars (John Simm), is both Karen’s ex-husband and a friend of Jane and Linh’s, tying him to the murder two ways. They both call him for help. The killer, female army officer Sandrine Shaw (Jeany Spark) covers her tracks and returns to base.