In the opening scenes protagonist DCI Gabriel Markham approaches the man suspected of a string of acid attacks which left a number of people dead and Markham heavily scarred; the man reaches for his pocket and is shot by a police marksman
The question is; did they get the right man? One might expect to jump back to the very start of the story then see how we got to what we just witnessed then move on to a final resolution but instead we keep jumping backwards from these events; sometimes hours sometimes days or even weeks; each time getting closer to the beginning and learning more about the investigation to date. Each jump back in time reveals something new; sometimes making somebody seem suspicious and other times explaining what seemed suspicious wasn't. We also see how Markham has been having an affair with his partner DI Elaine Shepard. We learn who the killer is at the end of the penultimate episode then have a final episode set after the events at the start of part one for the final resolution.
As a one off this series has an interesting central conceit; I'm not sure I'd want too many series taking the same route but it seemed to work here. As with a more conventional mystery there are a decent number of suspects which should keep the viewer guessing and watching how characters developed to become the people they are in the opening episode was rather fun. The central mystery is fairly dark made all the more pertinent by an increase in real life acid attacks in London recently. The ultimate resolution is unfortunately more than a little melodramatic. Richard Dormer does a fine job as DCI Markham even if the more we learn about the character the less sympathetic he seems; the rest of the cast are solid too. I wouldn't normally think to comment on the make-up but those responsible for Markham's scarred face did a really impressive job. Overall I'd recommend this to fans of gritty crime dramas but would acknowledge that some may find it a bit irritating at times.
As a one off this series has an interesting central conceit; I'm not sure I'd want too many series taking the same route but it seemed to work here. As with a more conventional mystery there are a decent number of suspects which should keep the viewer guessing and watching how characters developed to become the people they are in the opening episode was rather fun. The central mystery is fairly dark made all the more pertinent by an increase in real life acid attacks in London recently. The ultimate resolution is unfortunately more than a little melodramatic. Richard Dormer does a fine job as DCI Markham even if the more we learn about the character the less sympathetic he seems; the rest of the cast are solid too. I wouldn't normally think to comment on the make-up but those responsible for Markham's scarred face did a really impressive job. Overall I'd recommend this to fans of gritty crime dramas but would acknowledge that some may find it a bit irritating at times.