Freddie Highmore, best known to global audiences for his role as Dr. Shaun Murphy on the hit medical drama The Good Doctor, is stepping into darker territory—and critics are loving it. His newest project, a gritty British crime series titled The Hidden Path, has debuted to critical acclaim, earning an impressive 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling yet another successful reinvention for the versatile actor.

For years, Highmore has captivated audiences with his portrayal of a brilliant young surgeon on the autism spectrum, offering depth, nuance, and heart to a role that could have easily become one-dimensional in lesser hands. But with The Hidden Path, he trades the hospital for the shadowy streets of London, and the scalpel for secrets, lies, and psychological suspense.

A New Direction

In The Hidden Path, Highmore plays Detective Alex Warren, a former child prodigy turned criminal profiler with a troubled past. Haunted by an unsolved case that destroyed his family, Warren returns to his hometown to investigate a string of eerily familiar murders that seem to mirror the one that changed his life decades earlier.

Gone is the socially awkward but endearing surgeon. In his place is a man wrestling with trauma, obsession, and an uncanny ability to crawl inside the minds of killers. The performance is raw, cerebral, and at times deeply unsettling—and it’s earning Highmore some of the best reviews of his career.

“Freddie Highmore shows he can carry a show in a completely different genre, and his transformation is nothing short of mesmerizing,” writes The Guardian. “He brings a cool, methodical energy to Detective Warren that keeps viewers guessing—about both the case and the man himself.”

Critical Acclaim

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes have praised The Hidden Path for its strong writing, atmospheric direction, and, most notably, Highmore’s commanding performance. The series currently holds a 92% critic score and an 88% audience score, signaling widespread approval from both professionals and fans.

Many reviewers are drawing comparisons to British crime classics like Broadchurch and Luther, with a psychological twist that feels uniquely its own. Set against the moody backdrop of the English countryside and rain-soaked alleys of London, the series blends mystery with character-driven storytelling that delves deep into guilt, redemption, and the cost of truth.

Showrunner Amelia Hartley, known for her work on Line of Duty, said she always had Highmore in mind for the lead role. “Freddie has this incredible ability to convey intelligence and vulnerability at the same time,” she said in an interview with BBC Radio 4. “We wanted someone who could make you believe he sees what others can’t—and who might be unraveling in the process.”

A Post-Good Doctor Leap

For Highmore, The Hidden Path represents a sharp career pivot after seven seasons of The Good Doctor. While fans of the medical drama were initially surprised by his choice to take on a darker role, many are applauding the move as a smart evolution.

“I’ve always loved complex characters,” Highmore told The Independent. “Dr. Shaun Murphy is someone I’ll always carry with me, but it felt like the right time to explore something edgier, something emotionally more fractured.”

He also serves as an executive producer on The Hidden Path, helping to shape the tone and narrative of the series from behind the scenes. This creative involvement is nothing new for Highmore, who also wrote and directed episodes of The Good Doctor, and previously served as a producer on Bates Motel.

Fans React

Social media lit up following the series premiere on ITV and Amazon Prime, with fans praising Highmore’s range and calling the show “addictive,” “brilliantly written,” and “unlike anything else on TV right now.”

One Twitter user wrote, “Freddie Highmore is giving career-defining work in #TheHiddenPath. Dark, emotional, and totally gripping. Please tell me there’s a season 2 coming!”

Others pointed out the actor’s ability to fully disappear into his roles: from Norman Bates in Bates Motel, to Dr. Shaun Murphy, and now a haunted detective unraveling mysteries as well as himself. It’s a trajectory few actors manage as gracefully—and few audiences appreciate more.

What’s Next?

While ITV has not officially announced a second season, the success of The Hidden Path all but guarantees it’s on the horizon. Ratings have been strong, with the series pulling in record numbers for a mid-week drama slot, and international streaming deals already inked with platforms in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

Highmore, for his part, says he’s open to continuing the role. “There’s definitely more story to tell,” he hinted. “Alex Warren is just beginning to understand how far the path goes—and how much he’s willing to lose to follow it.”

Breaking the Mold

The Hidden Path is more than just another British crime drama. It’s a bold experiment in tone and structure, interweaving nonlinear storytelling with psychological depth. The show avoids easy answers and instead leans into emotional ambiguity—often forcing the audience to question their assumptions about justice, memory, and even sanity.

And at the center of it all is Freddie Highmore, reminding us once again that he’s far more than the sum of any one role. Whether he’s saving lives on primetime American TV or chasing ghosts through foggy London streets, his performances are anchored in empathy, intelligence, and a quiet intensity that’s become his signature.

The Hidden Path may have been a risk—a step away from the safety of a beloved network show into darker, more uncertain terrain—but it’s one that has clearly paid off. With an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score, critical buzz, and a growing global fan base, Freddie Highmore’s latest role proves he’s not just “The Good Doctor.” He’s one of the most compelling actors of his generation.