Produced by Matchbox Productions, the series follows an investigation into a critical incident when Senior Constable Zil Ahmed pursues a suspect, and in the confusion and chaos a bystander is injured.
She praised the casting, and said that it "finally reflect these conversations [about policing and juvenile crime] on screen — which has rarely been done before".
[12] Eliza Janssen wrote "This clear-eyed and uniquely Australian show is deft in how it visits those moments, and those helplessly human characters, that change the course of fate in between blinks".
[13] Craig Mathieson of The Sydney Morning Herald gave it 3.5 stars, writing "this six-part limited series delivers what new talent should: a sense of the here and now".
[7] Stephen Gaunson wrote in The Conversation that Critical Incident "joins a long and impressive list of local crime dramas from streaming platforms"; however, despite its "compelling aesthetic as the backdrop... the story itself misses some key opportunities to engage in more in-depth discussions about the role (and justification) of policing in diverse communities".