Period drama with perfect rating is 'everything you'd ever want' and streaming for free

Set in the 1950s, this ITVX miniseries follows the intriguing real-life story of Ruth Ellis in a fictionalised show based on true events and viewers are calling it an absolute 'must-watch'.

Across four parts, spread across four episodes, A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story retells the life and death of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to ever be hanged in Britain. Released earlier this year, the historical drama sees Lucy Boynton star as the murderer who made history in the most tragic of ways.

Ruth Ellis was a Welsh nightclub hostess who went on to become a convicted murderer and famously the last woman to be executed after shooting her former lover.

On Easter Sunday in 1955, Ellis shot David Blakely, one of her many lovers wrapped up in the clubbing scene, outside of a pub in Hampstead and was immediately arrested.

At her trial she was found guilty of premeditated murder and didn't just receive a prison sentence but a death sentence. As a result of her crime, she was later hanged on July 13 at Holloway Prison, which became the last ever sentencing of its kind.

Commenting on the show's retelling of this true crime story, a Rotten Tomatoes reviewer wrote: "Brilliantly made limited series! Acting is phenomenal. A must-watch." While another added they felt the show was "BAFTA stuff".

The review states: "Just watch this, as it's BAFTA stuff, and it will get both Lucy and Toby Jones more nominations for awards, plus maybe Ruth's case will be reviewed and she'll be finally pardoned."

Starring alongside Boynton is British film icon Toby Jones, playing John Bickford, the vital solicitor who aided Ellis during her murder trial. The Times claimed the 58-year-old star should be "proud" of his "quietly haunting performance" in the show, while others suggest that watching him on screen is "never time wasted".

A critic at the London Evening Standard shared: "Ruth was betrayed by a system that wanted to punish her for daring to be different. At least this show gives her something approaching justice, even if it was denied her in real life."

This very point is what makes Elli's story so interesting, as her timely death sparked huge controversy across the justice system and received heavy criticism from the press. In fact, this execution helped to heighten the support for the abolition of the death penalty, and the last ever execution of a male occurred in 1964.

Although the series has received some criticism from viewers due to its taboo topics and historical accuracy, picking fault at the real-life people behind the tale. A review puts it plainly, writing: "First off, it's good. Lucy does well but is held back by poor dialogue and writing. The basic story is simple..."

Another critic shared: "Perhaps the short series is meant to reflect the swiftness of Ruth's ending, but I must admit I would have appreciated a little more of a glimpse into society's response to Ruth's hanging."

If you're looking for your next binge-watch, A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story is available to stream for free now on ITVX.