I must admit I put a pause on Grantchester just as James Norton was being written out in season 3, and have now only returned to this fine series with Tom Brittney as the Reverend William Davenport. I've returned just in time for the trial of the century of Leonard, and I was shocked by the judge's sentencing. How will Leonard cope behind bars? One truism in this game changing episode is the line that law and justice aren't always the same. Nigel Betts guest stars as the Judge, and Des Yankson plays the Clerk of Court.
6 Reviews
Good episode, but...
woody195024 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This was one of the best episodes ever of this series, after a season that had been a slow burn up to now. That being said, the plot of the security truck robbery was totally absurd. The robbery didn't really make much sense. Why did they need the assistance of the librarian in hiding the money? She we the only witness, so why was the accomplice racing from the event, anyway? And why did the librarian signal the other two to come to their crime? The whole affair made no sense at all.
The best episode for years.
Sleepin_Dragon8 October 2021
Geordie and Will have one eye on a clever robbery, and the other on Leonard, who's trial is imminent.
What an absolute, stratospheric difference to last week, this was classic Grantchester, this is what the show used to be like in its prime. I felt this showed a bit more of a balanced view of homosexuality back at the time, however I'm not going to dwell on that here, as this was a brilliant episode.
The focus here was on story, it wasn't quite so fussed on moralising, it focused more on the story, and it was a brilliant story.
I have been full of praise for Al Weaver throughout, and rightly so, he's awesome, but here I feel I must rain down praise on Tom Brittney, for me this was his best outing, he was terrific here.
The best episode for years, I'd score it a 9.5, but why not, I'll go a 10.
What an absolute, stratospheric difference to last week, this was classic Grantchester, this is what the show used to be like in its prime. I felt this showed a bit more of a balanced view of homosexuality back at the time, however I'm not going to dwell on that here, as this was a brilliant episode.
The focus here was on story, it wasn't quite so fussed on moralising, it focused more on the story, and it was a brilliant story.
I have been full of praise for Al Weaver throughout, and rightly so, he's awesome, but here I feel I must rain down praise on Tom Brittney, for me this was his best outing, he was terrific here.
The best episode for years, I'd score it a 9.5, but why not, I'll go a 10.
Real Human Drama
Hitchcoc1 November 2021
Even though it was heartbreaking, I thought the writing, the acting, and the general temper of the show were outstanding. In the wake of Leonard's trial, Geordie and Will face a case of the theft of a large sum of money. The twists and turns of the investigation lead to some betrayal and a good deal of evil. During the robbery in question, an elderly woman is run down and killed, her husband watching her die. There are several characters, including an old friend of Geordie's who is the opposing lawyer, who hav no moral sense. This is contrasted against the idiotic trial of Leonard who finds being honorable a kind of curse.
Episode 6.5
Prismark101 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
An episode of two subplots. Leonard's trial is imminent.
The Bishop has stripped Leonard as a curate. There is no future for him in the Church of England now that his sexuality is out in the open. The subtext clearly being it would have been fine if Leonard kept it a secret.
Leonard wants Jack Chapman to be a character witness. Will is itching to give a character reference.
Meanwhile Will and Geordie are investigating a bank security van robbery. An elderly woman was run over in the getaway.
There is an over earnest witness, Miss Scott who just seems too keen to help.
The lawyer Johnny Richards from London who is representing the robber turns out to be an old army buddy of Geordie.
There was something about this episode that really did not convince me.
Leonard pleads guilty at court. Yet he is cross examined and humiliated by the prosecuting barrister. Hold on, he pleaded guilty, get on with mitigation and then sentencing. It was the kind of artistic liberty that did not grab me.
Even the robbery part was a far fetched. Everybody owning up because Miss Scott flashed her glasses. Almost as if there was a Moriarty pulling the strings.
It was clear that Johnny Richards was going to be a recurring character for the rest of the series.
As for Leonard, he should had called Johnny to be his lawyer.
The Bishop has stripped Leonard as a curate. There is no future for him in the Church of England now that his sexuality is out in the open. The subtext clearly being it would have been fine if Leonard kept it a secret.
Leonard wants Jack Chapman to be a character witness. Will is itching to give a character reference.
Meanwhile Will and Geordie are investigating a bank security van robbery. An elderly woman was run over in the getaway.
There is an over earnest witness, Miss Scott who just seems too keen to help.
The lawyer Johnny Richards from London who is representing the robber turns out to be an old army buddy of Geordie.
There was something about this episode that really did not convince me.
Leonard pleads guilty at court. Yet he is cross examined and humiliated by the prosecuting barrister. Hold on, he pleaded guilty, get on with mitigation and then sentencing. It was the kind of artistic liberty that did not grab me.
Even the robbery part was a far fetched. Everybody owning up because Miss Scott flashed her glasses. Almost as if there was a Moriarty pulling the strings.
It was clear that Johnny Richards was going to be a recurring character for the rest of the series.
As for Leonard, he should had called Johnny to be his lawyer.
Inept plotting
Pegasus-106 September 2022
I thought the plot line about Leonard vastly more interesting than the inane robbery story. And I still can't understand why Will acts more like a policeman than a vicar, actually driving the police car and chasing the suspect through the streets. It's so unbelievable, as it has been through most of the series. Just drop the quote mystery unquote plots and concentrate on the character studies and there would be less eye-rolling. ..... .......... .......... .............. ........................ .............. .......... ............ ........... .......... ....................................................................................................................................
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