Insomnia

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Overview

Emma a successful woman fears of losing her mind after suffering from sleep deprivation two weeks before turning 40. Only by investigating the truth of her painful past, can she find the answers to her present.

Media

Insomnia | Official Trailer | Paramount+ UK & Ireland

Cast

Smylie Bradwell

Creator:

Sarah Pinborough

Fist Air Date:

2024-05-23

Episode Runtime:

undefinedm

Production Companies:

Paramount Television International Studios, Left Bank Pictures, Build Your Own Films

Genres:

More Show Details

Vote Average: 6.1/10

Vote Count: 21 Votes

Show Popularity: 1.7166

Show Status: Returning Series

Show Type: Scripted

Spoken Languages: English

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 04 May 2026 at 5:01 pm

7 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 7/10 THE SUMMARY Based on Sarah Pinborough’s novel, this six-part thriller stars Vicky McClure as Emma, a lawyer who stops sleeping just as she hits 40. It’s a terrifying mirror of her own mother’s past, who had a violent psychotic break at the exact same age. As Emma’s life unravels into night terrors and sleepwalking, she has to dig into buried family secrets to stop history from repeating itself. It’s a "woozy" ride that explores whether you can ever really outrun your DNA. THE PROS This is a solid watch because it perfectly captures that disorienting, bloodshot feeling of true sleep deprivation. Vicky McClure is a standout, playing Emma’s descent into paranoia with a weary grit that makes the whole thing feel grounded even when the plot goes off the rails. The mystery successfully blends a medical drama with creepy, almost supernatural vibes that keep you on edge. The fractious, messy chemistry between Emma and her sister Phoebe is another highlight, giving the show a genuine emotional heart amidst the madness. THE CONS It stays at a 7 because the plot leans heavily on every "unreliable narrator" trope in the book. It misses a higher mark because the shift in the final episodes—where the story suddenly goes bananas with twists and prescription drug subplots—can feel a bit muddled and silly. Some might find the pace a bit slow, as the show spends a lot of time on repetitive night-time wanderings that don't always move the needle. While the atmosphere is great, the ending leaves a few too many loose ends dangling to be truly satisfying. THE VERDICT 7/10. A smart and genuinely unsettling thriller. It’s a fantastic series for Vicky McClure fans and a solid pick if you want a creepy, atmospheric mystery, even if the messy finale might leave you feeling a bit dazed. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • Sarah Pinborough, who wrote the original novel, also wrote the script for the series, which explains why it shares that same "what just happened?" energy as her other hit, *Behind Her Eyes*.• To make Emma's exhaustion look real, the production used specific lighting and lens filters to give the scenes a blurred, "out-of-focus" look that mimics how a person sees when they haven't slept for days.• As of 2026, the show remains a one-season story; since the original book doesn't have a sequel, there are no plans to bring Emma back for a second round of sleepless nights. THE VIBE Like a flickering light in a silent house. It smells of cold sweat, spilled wine, and the frustration of a forgotten childhood secret.

TV Show Poster

Season 1

6 Episodes

Air Date: 2024-05-23

Emma is struggling with sleeplessness that threatens her dream life, echoing her mother’s past. As her life starts to unravel, Emma is forced to confront her painful past to unearth truths that could prevent a looming tragedy.

Season 2

6 Episodes

Air Date: 2026-07-16

Videos

Insomnia | Official Trailer | Paramount+ UK & Ireland

Cast

Smylie Bradwell

Corinna Marlowe

Lyndsey Marshal

Michelle Bonnard

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Reviews for

Insomnia

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 4 May 2026 at 6:01 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 7/10
THE SUMMARY
Based on Sarah Pinborough’s novel, this six-part thriller stars Vicky McClure as Emma, a lawyer who stops sleeping just as she hits 40. It’s a terrifying mirror of her own mother’s past, who had a violent psychotic break at the exact same age. As Emma’s life unravels into night terrors and sleepwalking, she has to dig into buried family secrets to stop history from repeating itself. It’s a “woozy” ride that explores whether you can ever really outrun your DNA.
THE PROS
This is a solid watch because it perfectly captures that disorienting, bloodshot feeling of true sleep deprivation. Vicky McClure is a standout, playing Emma’s descent into paranoia with a weary grit that makes the whole thing feel grounded even when the plot goes off the rails. The mystery successfully blends a medical drama with creepy, almost supernatural vibes that keep you on edge. The fractious, messy chemistry between Emma and her sister Phoebe is another highlight, giving the show a genuine emotional heart amidst the madness.
THE CONS
It stays at a 7 because the plot leans heavily on every “unreliable narrator” trope in the book. It misses a higher mark because the shift in the final episodes—where the story suddenly goes bananas with twists and prescription drug subplots—can feel a bit muddled and silly. Some might find the pace a bit slow, as the show spends a lot of time on repetitive night-time wanderings that don’t always move the needle. While the atmosphere is great, the ending leaves a few too many loose ends dangling to be truly satisfying.
THE VERDICT
7/10. A smart and genuinely unsettling thriller. It’s a fantastic series for Vicky McClure fans and a solid pick if you want a creepy, atmospheric mystery, even if the messy finale might leave you feeling a bit dazed.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• Sarah Pinborough, who wrote the original novel, also wrote the script for the series, which explains why it shares that same “what just happened?” energy as her other hit, *Behind Her Eyes*.
• To make Emma’s exhaustion look real, the production used specific lighting and lens filters to give the scenes a blurred, “out-of-focus” look that mimics how a person sees when they haven’t slept for days.
• As of 2026, the show remains a one-season story; since the original book doesn’t have a sequel, there are no plans to bring Emma back for a second round of sleepless nights.
THE VIBE
Like a flickering light in a silent house. It smells of cold sweat, spilled wine, and the frustration of a forgotten childhood secret.

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