The hallmark of good british crime dramas has always been roles being under played with dignity and respect for the viewers. In this one the lead actress gets a pass, just, but the important roles played by Adjoa Andoh and Mark Lewis Jones were unforgivably hamed up with a mix of amateur overacting and hyper theatrical speech that any director worth paying should have put a stop to immediately. That is what they are paid for. The younger cast members deported themselves well and I hope the self-indulgent performances of their elders does not rub off on them. Happy Valley and Marcella are modern examples of directors keeping tight reins on theatrical indulgence by actors, but casting should also answer for giving roles to those already guilty of overplaying roles in the past. Adjoa Andoh and Mark Lewis Jones have form.
Review of The Red King
