Murder in Mind (TV Series) Passion (2002) User Reviews

An awesome series opener.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 31 August 2021]

The lines between fantasy and reality blur for call centre worker Jane Saunders, who falls for her boss, her obsession leads to some tragic consequences.

Series two opens up with one of the show's best, and most memorable episodes. It's a terrific story, a story of obsession, lust, hatred and murder, it works incredibly well for one specific thing, Pauline Quirke, she is one of the most underrated actors of our time, she is mega talented.

Quirke has the ability to do comedy and drama with equal ease, even the way she looks here, so different.

Who's got my stapler? That's an incredible scene, and one that gives us a real insight into Jane's state of mind, Quirke again awesome.

I remember this episode better than any other, it's a tremendous watch, 9/10.

"Who Took My Stapler"!!!

[kidboots · 10/10 · 23 October 2011]

Pauline Quirk stars in a tour de force performance in "Passion" playing a lonely, frumpish call centre worker who is pushed over the edge by her passion for her boss.

There is a panning shot around Jane's flat that says it all - true crime, romance and cats are the only type of books she reads. She has a romance going on in her mind with her boss Stephen Croft (Mark Womack) but even though he is confiding enough to admit troubles with his headstrong wife he doesn't view Jane as a romantic diversion. And Jane thinks she knows why. Earlier on she has given Kerry, a young co-worker, advice about her overbearing boyfriend. "Get rid of him". They both work in a call centre and Jane is the supervisor and can listen in on each call (to see there are no private calls going on). Tearfully Kerry takes her advice but what's this!! - now she is staying back late at the office, Jane has caught her cosily chatting to Stephen - she says she is doing a business course and needs to use the computer but Jane knows better!!!!

Through all this Jane's constant friend and confidant is her cat - and her unplugged phone that she uses to vent her spleen when she pretends to ring up various players in her fantasy game. She has already had a meltdown in the office when she accused another co-worker of stealing her stapler, so people are a bit wary of her. Now is the time to put her third love true crime into action, so she can rid herself of all the people who are standing in the way of Stephen and her happiness but Stephen doesn't see it like that at all. He only sees Jane as a good but eccentric friend and when his secret life is exposed to her it sends her completely bonkers - not that she was completely rational to begin with.

Pauline Quirke is such a sensitive actress - I will never forget her in the poignant telemovie "Our Boy" with Ray Winstone. In it she played a mother whose little boy goes missing and when he later turns up dead, she provides solid support when her husband loses his head.