Code 404
Code 404 is a British police procedural comedy-drama television series created by Tom Miller, Sam Myer, and Daniel Peak.[1] The show stars Daniel Mays as Detective Inspector John Major and Stephen Graham as his partner, Detective Inspector Roy Carver, two elite officers in the Metropolitan Police's Special Investigation Unit.[2] Premiering on Sky One on 29 April 2020, the series follows Major after he is fatally shot during a botched operation and subsequently revived through experimental artificial intelligence technology, which aims to enhance his abilities but often leads to chaotic and humorous mishaps while solving crimes.[2] Produced by Kudos in association with Water & Power Productions, Code 404 blends action, sci-fi elements, and dark humor to explore themes of friendship, technology's pitfalls, and police work in a near-future setting.[3] The series ran for three seasons, with the first airing in 2020, the second in 2021, and the third in 2022, comprising a total of 18 episodes.[4] Supporting cast includes Anna Maxwell Martin as Major's wife, Kelly Major, and other notable actors such as Rosie Cavaliero, Tracy Ann Oberman, and Richard Gadd in recurring roles.[5] Filmed primarily in London, the production emphasized high-stakes action sequences alongside comedic dialogue, earning praise for the chemistry between Mays and Graham.[2] Critically, Code 404 received mixed to positive reviews, with its first season holding an 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 10 reviews, highlighting its witty script and strong performances.[6] On IMDb, the series maintains a 6.3 out of 10 rating from over 2,600 user votes, with viewers appreciating the blend of genres but noting occasional inconsistencies in pacing.[2] The show was later acquired for international distribution, including streaming on Peacock in the United States starting October 2020.[7] Despite its cult following, Sky confirmed in 2023 that no further seasons would be produced.[8]Premise and setting
Plot overview
Code 404 centers on Detective Inspectors John Major and Roy Carver, a highly effective crime-fighting partnership in the Metropolitan Police's Special Investigation Unit. During a routine sting operation, Major is fatally shot, leaving Carver devastated. In a groundbreaking effort by the police's tech division, Major is resurrected as an AI-enhanced version of himself, designed to replicate his original personality and skills but integrated with advanced digital systems. This experimental procedure, however, introduces significant limitations, including frequent glitches, memory lapses, and behavioral inconsistencies that complicate his return to duty.[6][9][10] The series blends police procedural elements with science fiction and comedy, emphasizing the duo's partnership as they navigate Major's post-resurrection challenges. Core themes include the profound impact of artificial intelligence on human identity, ethics in law enforcement technology, and the tensions arising when machinery attempts to mimic humanity. Major's AI nature raises dilemmas about reliability in high-stakes investigations, while the humorous tone arises from the absurdities of his malfunctions juxtaposed against serious criminal cases.[11][12][13] Across its seasons, the narrative arc progresses with escalating threats to Major's AI functionality, straining his bond with Carver amid investigations into corruption, advanced tech crimes, and institutional intrigue. As glitches persist and evolve, the partners confront growing personal and professional obstacles, heightening the stakes in their pursuit of justice within a near-future London marked by technological integration in policing. This setup underscores the experimental risks of AI resurrection, where ethical boundaries blur and human-AI collaboration is continually tested.[2][14][15]Fictional universe
The fictional universe of Code 404 is set in a near-future version of London, where advanced artificial intelligence has become deeply integrated into law enforcement operations to combat evolving high-tech crimes.[16] This world blends familiar urban landscapes with speculative enhancements, such as AI-driven predictive policing and automated surveillance systems that augment traditional detective work within the Metropolitan Police Service.[7] The narrative unfolds primarily in Greater London, portraying a society grappling with the rapid adoption of AI technologies amid rising cyber threats and digital forensics demands.[17] At the heart of this universe is the Metropolitan Police's Special Investigation Unit (SIU), an elite division specializing in undercover operations and investigations into sophisticated, technology-enabled offenses like arms trafficking and cyber espionage.[1] The SIU operates as a high-stakes task force, equipped with cutting-edge tools that reflect the era's AI proliferation, including real-time data analytics and augmented reality interfaces for field agents.[6] This structure underscores the series' exploration of institutional adaptation to technological disruption, where the unit's efficacy hinges on seamless human-AI collaboration.[11] Central to the sci-fi elements is the experimental AI resurrection technology, a pioneering program that digitally reconstructs deceased individuals by uploading their consciousness into an artificial body, preserving their physical likeness and voice.[16] Developed as a government-sanctioned initiative to retain valuable personnel, the technology—exemplified by the revival of Detective Inspector John Major as "Major 2.0"—aims to revolutionize law enforcement by enabling "immortal" officers to continue serving.[1] However, its nascent stage introduces significant risks, including frequent system glitches that cause behavioral anomalies and operational unreliability, highlighting broader implications for data integrity and the ethical boundaries of AI in public safety.[7] These malfunctions not only drive the comedic tone but also probe themes of identity loss and over-reliance on unproven tech within the policing framework.[18]Production
Development
Code 404 was created by Tom Miller, Sam Myer, and Daniel Peak, who developed the series as a near-future buddy cop comedy infused with science fiction elements. The concept originated with a successful pilot episode filmed in late 2018 that impressed Sky executives, leading to a full series order for the first season in January 2019.[16][19] The series was produced by Kudos, a production company under Endemol Shine UK, in association with Water & Power Productions. Kudos, known for scripted dramas like Broadchurch, handled the primary production alongside the creators' Water & Power banner.[20][16] Following the pilot's greenlight, Sky commissioned the first series in 2019, with production wrapping ahead of its 2020 premiere. The network renewed the show for a second series in May 2020, citing strong launch performance as its biggest comedy debut in eight years. A third series was ordered in November 2021, allowing the team to expand the narrative arcs. However, in September 2023, lead actors Daniel Mays and Stephen Graham confirmed the series would not return for a fourth due to their conflicting schedules from demanding film and TV commitments.[16][17][21][22] The writing team was led by the creators—Tom Miller, Sam Myer, and Daniel Peak—who penned key episodes across the run. Direction was primarily handled by Al Campbell, who helmed multiple installments in each series, bringing a dynamic visual style to the action-comedy blend. Each of the three series consisted of six 30-minute episodes.[2][1][4]Casting and filming
The lead roles in Code 404 were cast with Stephen Graham as Detective Inspector Roy Carver and Daniel Mays as Detective Inspector John Major, the latter portraying a character resurrected through experimental artificial intelligence following his on-duty death.[2] Graham, known for intense dramatic performances in series like Boardwalk Empire, was selected to showcase his comedic versatility, providing a contrast to his typical heavy roles in a lighthearted police procedural.[23] The duo's pairing built on their established reputations in British television for the buddy-cop dynamic.[16] Supporting cast included Rosie Cavaliero as Detective Chief Superintendent Dennett, the detectives' no-nonsense superior, appearing across all three series, and Anna Maxwell Martin as Kelly Major, John Major's wife, whose role expanded in later seasons to explore personal impacts of the AI resurrection.[5] Additional recurring roles featured Amanda Payton as Dr. Alison Parfit, the scientist overseeing Major's AI integration, and Michelle Greenidge as DS Judith Papastathopoulos, contributing to the ensemble's workplace humor.[24] Filming for the first series took place primarily in London and the surrounding Greater London area over six weeks starting in March 2019, utilizing practical locations and studio sets to depict police stations and urban environments.[25] Production incorporated green screen elements for sci-fi sequences, such as AI enhancements and futuristic tech, with miniatures built by National Film and Television School students for key visual inserts.[26] The second and third series were shot in 2020 and 2021, respectively, under stringent COVID-19 protocols, including crew categorization to minimize contact and bubble systems on set.[27] Post-production emphasized visual effects for the AI elements, handled by teams at Kudos Film and Television, with VFX producer Andy Oakey overseeing integration and lead Flame artist Elliott Bellwood managing compositing for comedic action beats.[28] Challenges during filming included extending shoots for the first series due to the cast's genuine laughter disrupting takes, fostering strong ensemble rapport during table reads and rehearsals.[29] Later seasons balanced rapid comedy timing with action sequences through precise blocking, ensuring the blend of procedural realism and speculative effects.[30]Cast and characters
Main cast
Stephen Graham portrays Detective Inspector Roy Carver, the gruff yet loyal partner to the titular DI John Major in the Metropolitan Police's Special Investigation Unit. Graham's performance blends intense pathos with comedic timing, drawing on his established reputation for gritty roles such as in This Is England to infuse Carver with a hard-edged vulnerability that anchors the series' emotional core.[31] His portrayal emphasizes Carver's unwavering loyalty amid the chaos of Major's resurrection, contributing to the show's exploration of friendship under duress.[32] Daniel Mays plays DI John Major, initially as the human detective before his death and revival as an AI-enhanced version prone to glitches and malfunctions. Mays' dual portrayal captures Major's bumbling brilliance, highlighting comedic elements through physical comedy and verbal mishaps, such as mistaking suspects for celebrity chefs, while underscoring the pathos of his fragmented identity.[31] This performance showcases Mays' rubber-faced expressiveness, elevating the series' slapstick humor and making Major a relatable everyman in a high-tech dystopia.[33] Anna Maxwell Martin portrays Kelly Major, the wife of DI John Major, appearing throughout all three series and bringing emotional depth to her role as she navigates grief over her husband's death, adaptation to his AI-enhanced revival, and a complicated relationship with Carver. Martin's straight-faced delivery contrasts the surrounding comedy, adding layers of tension and humanity to the family dynamics without overshadowing the leads.[31] Her performance highlights Kelly's resilience, contributing to the series' blend of humor and heartfelt moments.[32] The central dynamic between Carver and Major forms the comedic backbone of Code 404, often described as a bromance fraught with misunderstandings and mutual support, exemplified in their crime-solving banter and shared mishaps that drive the narrative without relying on overt sentimentality.[33] This interplay, amplified by the actors' real-life friendship dating back to 2004, allows for authentic on-screen chemistry that balances the show's procedural elements with character-driven laughs.[2]Supporting cast
Rosie Cavaliero portrays Detective Chief Superintendent (DCS) Dennett, the no-nonsense superior officer who oversees the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and assigns cases to the protagonists, often highlighting the tensions between frontline policing and administrative oversight.[34] Her character provides a layer of authority and occasional friction within the team, underscoring institutional constraints on investigative work.[3] Tracy-Ann Oberman plays Commissioner Helen Chalmers, a high-ranking official who represents police bureaucracy and appears in key episodes to enforce protocols or probe into departmental issues, adding depth to subplots involving corruption and accountability.[35] Other recurring superiors, such as those embodied by guest actors in antagonistic roles, further emphasize these themes by challenging the SIU's methods and exposing systemic flaws.[24] Amanda Payton recurs as Dr. Alison Parfit, the innovative scientist responsible for resurrecting DI John Major through experimental AI technology, whose expertise drives the series' sci-fi elements while contributing to the narrative's exploration of ethical boundaries in law enforcement.[3] Steve Oram appears as DI Simon Gilbert across the first two series, serving as a fellow detective whose interactions with the main duo amplify the camaraderie and rivalries within the police force.[3] Guest stars enhance standalone episodes by introducing fresh conflicts that support the core story without overshadowing it; for instance, Richard Gadd guest-stars as Liam Cleasby in Series 1, delivering a memorable performance in a case involving personal stakes that tests the team's resilience.[24] In later seasons, actors like Vinette Robinson as Professor Sarah McAllister in Series 3 bring intellectual and moral dilemmas to the forefront, enriching the procedural arcs.[24] The supporting ensemble collectively strengthens the show's portrayal of teamwork by contrasting the protagonists' unorthodox approaches with rigid hierarchies and external pressures, while antagonists among them illuminate institutional flaws like corruption and inefficiency, making the narrative more layered and relatable.[36]Episodes
Series 1 (2020)
The first series of Code 404, consisting of six episodes each approximately 25 minutes in length, introduces the central premise of experimental AI resurrection technology used by the Metropolitan Police to revive Detective Inspector John Major after his death in the line of duty.[37] It explores the initial glitches in Major's AI system, such as malfunctions during operations and emotional processing errors, while re-establishing his partnership with Detective Inspector Roy Carver through a mix of procedural investigations and personal tensions.[1] The season arc builds toward the duo tackling their first major case involving undercover operations against a criminal network, emphasizing the comedic potential of Major's imperfect revival amid high-stakes policing.[2] Unique to this series is its pilot-like tone, which establishes the show's blend of dark humor, sci-fi elements, and buddy-cop dynamics, culminating in revelations about interpersonal relationships within the team.[4] The full season saw strong initial engagement, with over 360,000 viewers binge-watching all episodes on Sky's on-demand service before the second episode's linear broadcast, making it the network's fastest-binged original comedy at the time.[38] All episodes were directed by Al Campbell and written by Daniel Peak.[24] They aired weekly on Sky One starting 29 April 2020.[4]| Episode | Title | Air Date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode One | 29 April 2020 | Detective Inspector John Major is shot dead during a failed undercover sting operation, leaving his partner Roy Carver and wife Kelly wracked with guilt; one year later, the Metropolitan Police resurrect him as a flawed AI prototype to resume duties, setting up the core theme of experimental resurrection technology and the duo's awkward partnership re-establishment.[39] |
| 2 | Episode Two | 6 May 2020 | On their first joint case investigating a new drug ring, Major's AI experiences a critical glitch that jeopardizes the operation, prompting Carver to cover for him to avoid Major's immediate shutdown and highlighting early technical vulnerabilities in the revival process. |
| 3 | Episode Three | 13 May 2020 | Assigned to probe suspicious activity at a corporate office, a paranoid Major instead stakes out his wife Kelly's workplace suspecting infidelity, introducing interpersonal strains and the AI's flawed emotional simulations within the context of routine police work. |
| 4 | Episode Four | 20 May 2020 | Under pressure from the AI Ethics Committee during a high-risk assignment to protect a witness, Major and Carver must navigate escalating threats, with failure risking the permanent decommissioning of Major's prototype and underscoring the precariousness of the resurrection tech. |
| 5 | Episode Five | 27 May 2020 | Major announces his intention to move back in with Kelly, bewildering Carver and complicating team dynamics, while technical officer Parfit uncovers disturbing files on the AI project, deepening the exploration of ethical glitches in the system. |
| 6 | Episode Six | 3 June 2020 | As Major's AI begins performing more reliably in the season's climactic undercover operation against a major criminal known as The Juggler, Carver and Kelly confess their secret relationship, resolving key tensions from the introductory arc while teasing future AI evolutions. |
Series 2 (2021)
The second series of Code 404 builds on the foundational premise by advancing Detective Inspector John Major's AI integration, showcasing upgrades like enhanced processing capabilities alongside vulnerabilities such as mood swings and system failures that amplify both investigative challenges and personal tensions with his partner, DI Roy Carver.[40] New supporting characters, including Major's retired father Clifford—a traditional police figure unaware of his son's cyborg status—and a rival AI system named BRIAN (voiced by Richard Ayoade), introduce family conflicts and competitive dynamics that heighten the humor from technological glitches.[41] Mid-season, the tone shifts toward serialized elements, intertwining episodic cases like a cold case reopening and a drug ring probe with an overarching Chelsea Bridge robbery investigation, which strains relationships and exposes ethical dilemmas in AI policing.[42] The series comprises six episodes, all directed by Al Campbell and written by Daniel Peak, released as a box set on Sky and NOW on 1 September 2021, with weekly broadcasts thereafter.[43][40]| Episode | Original air date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 September 2021 | Three weeks after resolving the Juggler case, Major and Carver grapple with personal issues that undermine their professional performance, forcing them to reunite when a 20-year-old cold case resurfaces, testing Major's AI stability amid relational strains.[44] |
| 2 | 1 September 2021 | A resurfaced past case triggers Major's anxiety, exacerbated by a failed firmware update and troubling news from DS Kelly Ellis, highlighting vulnerabilities in his AI system and deepening conflicts in his partnership with Carver.[45] |
| 3 | 8 September 2021 | Reassigned to investigate a deadly new drug tied to an underground MMA ring, Major seeks approval from his visiting father Clifford by entering the fights himself, blending family reunion awkwardness with AI-enhanced combat risks and case progression.[41] |
| 4 | 15 September 2021 | Following a bomb scare, tech expert Dr. Alison Parfit deploys BRIAN, a hyper-efficient AI rival to Major, sparking a contest to solve cases faster; meanwhile, Clifford's interference in the ongoing Chelsea Bridge probe raises suspicions from Kelly.[42] |
| 5 | 22 September 2021 | Major's intensifying mood swings alarm the team after a headquarters incident, complicating their witness protection assignment for informant Liam Cleasby; to shield Clifford from Carver's suspicions in the Chelsea Bridge cover-up, Major endangers the operation on Pancake Day.[46] |
| 6 | 29 September 2021 | As Major's systems near collapse, he seduces suspect Churchland to extract a Chelsea Bridge confession and exonerate his father, while Carver deploys a tracing agent against Clifford, only to be outmaneuvered, culminating in themes of loyalty and AI limitations.[47] |
Series 3 (2022)
The third and final series of Code 404 consists of six episodes, directed by Al Campbell and written by Daniel Peak, which premiered on Sky Comedy in the United Kingdom starting 4 August 2022.[48] This season heightens the stakes for Detectives John Major and Roy Carver through a gripping serial killer investigation, while exploring AI ethics, the fragility of their partnership, and the looming threat of Major's artificial nature being exposed.[49] The narrative arc builds to climactic resolutions, wrapping up long-term threads like the antagonism with former Police Commissioner Helen Chalmers and the duo's professional tensions, infusing later episodes with a sense of closure to their unconventional collaboration.[50] The episodes aired in double bills over three consecutive Thursdays, emphasizing the urgency of the cases and the partners' evolving dynamic amid investigations into Major's compromised AI systems.| Episode | Title | Air Date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | 4 August 2022 | Under investigation and restricted to limited duties following prior events, tensions between DI Roy Carver and his AI partner DI John Major reach a boiling point; the murder of a fellow officer forces their reunion, reigniting their investigative prowess while testing the boundaries of trust in Major's artificial capabilities.[51] |
| 2 | Episode 2 | 4 August 2022 | As the serial killer case intensifies, Major and Carver consult forensic psychologist Professor Sarah McAllister for insights into the perpetrator's mind; simultaneously, Dr. Alison Parfit raises alarms about Major's recent AI updates, heightening ethical concerns over his reliability and the secrecy of his resurrection.[52] |
| 3 | Episode 3 | 11 August 2022 | With the body count escalating, Carver and McAllister pursue leads in the killer's elaborate psychological game; Major, increasingly isolated by Carver's doubts and an emerging external hack on his AI, grapples with disillusionment, foreshadowing deeper threats to their partnership and his existence.[53] |
| 4 | Episode 4 | 11 August 2022 | Expelled from the lab by Parfit after his compromised AI is revealed, Major faces existential vulnerabilities; a key witness delivers a breakthrough in the serial killer probe, forcing Carver to balance the case's momentum with efforts to safeguard Major's secret amid rising suspicions within the SIU.[54] |
| 5 | Episode 5 | 18 August 2022 | As Chalmers' trial unfolds—with Major's testimony at risk of unraveling due to flaws tied to his AI nature—Carver deciphers a cryptic clue to avert the killer's next strike, intertwining personal stakes with the duo's final push to resolve lingering institutional corruptions and ethical dilemmas.[50] |
| 6 | Episode 6 | 18 August 2022 | Suspicions mount within the SIU over Major's anomalies, compelling Carver to exonerate his partner and thwart the killer's ultimate revenge plot; the season concludes with a high-stakes confrontation that cements the duo's bond, providing closure to their journey while underscoring the precarious ethics of AI in law enforcement.[55] |