On the one hand, a good example why the one-hour format was just a bit too constricting for this series: 45 minutes of story, then a quick wrap-up confession. On the other other, we get some memorable moments -- like Jason Barnett in the house, giving DCI Wilkes some unexpected moves. This is actually the first episode to hint how entertaining Barnett would be in later episodes - always a highlight. And Asshley Jensen herself gets a little more to do than usual, when she looks at photos of Mrs Josephs.
But that doesn't change the general weaknesses in the writing or filming, which are generic to the genre: the out-of-frame hit, the assistant who gets distracted and allows someone to get away, etc etc. Perhaps these were in the source novel but that's no excuse. Glossy photography and strong acting (especially by Ms Jensen in the last scene) still can't make up for convenient scripting. Normally this doesn't matter in a mystery series, where coincidence and convenience are simply par - but the fact is that this episode does try for better: both Matthew Horne and Ashley's characters get scenes with some real depth ... and IMO both achieve it, largely thanks to the actors themselves. Next to that, conveniently blunt plot events look pale. This was not a mistake we would see again, so it's nice to have it here, however briefly.
But that doesn't change the general weaknesses in the writing or filming, which are generic to the genre: the out-of-frame hit, the assistant who gets distracted and allows someone to get away, etc etc. Perhaps these were in the source novel but that's no excuse. Glossy photography and strong acting (especially by Ms Jensen in the last scene) still can't make up for convenient scripting. Normally this doesn't matter in a mystery series, where coincidence and convenience are simply par - but the fact is that this episode does try for better: both Matthew Horne and Ashley's characters get scenes with some real depth ... and IMO both achieve it, largely thanks to the actors themselves. Next to that, conveniently blunt plot events look pale. This was not a mistake we would see again, so it's nice to have it here, however briefly.
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