-Not sure that we will keep watching this show. Reminds me of Wallander a bit, in that it's a self-destructive man who does insanely stupid/non-logical things during each episode to solve a case. Wallander and Hinterland ("Welsh Wallander") just seem stuck on repeat for the personal lives of their main characters. Gets kind of tedious. If Jack's professional and personal life just starts being recycled, even if the mysteries are good I don't think I can handle an "Irish Wallander. -In this episode someone mentions Noonan is 10 or 15 years younger than Tayler. Are they trying to set the ground for a romance there? He looks like he could be her father. I just went and looked at their real-life ages. He's 23 years older than her. I think it they went that route it would ruin the show. -I like the addition of the young lad. Loved the young lad's mother. I hope to see more of her. -I wonder if Jack gets beat up in each episode? -(SPOILER IN QUESTION) How did the dad in this episode get the necklace from his dead daughter? Or was it a duplicate that he bought in her memory? This didn't make any sense to me as her body was never found I thought and she was wearing it when she walked away from her brother.
5 Reviews
Good Thriller Episode (I also have a question for other viewers)
tsbotr30 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Underrated Thriller, Great Performances
kirstiec244 September 2012
I watched all the Jack Taylor films and I have concluded that the Pikemen Murders is my favorite. The story is much more exciting than the first. Iain Glen's performance is brilliant as he plays the ever drunk but brilliant Jack Taylor. It's not easy playing such a charismatic alcoholic but it's so hard not to like him. The character development is much more detailed but not a drag to watch. Cody is my favorite addition to the show, he adds a bit comic relief that wasn't in The Guards. Without giving away any spoilers, watch it, if you're an Iain Glen fan and you won't regret it, but even if you're not, it's a good watch on a rainy day. :)
Vigilantes Over the Line
Hitchcoc27 September 2017
When a group of vigilantes begin a crusade against those who have not received adequate sentences for their crimes (or no sentences at all), they begin to play fast and loose with the law. As Jack begins to investigate the death of the son of an old friend, he tangles with these guys and some other bad characters. He also meets a charming young man who is enthralled with our silent hero. He wants to be Taylor's assistant and becomes a bit of a pain. He is also very enterprising. This is extremely well done. Jack takes another brutal beating and comes close to death. His injuries make him less than formidable in the end. There is a plot line involving the leader of the revenge seeker and the son of one of them. This works very well. I wonder if there ever was talk of this series going on.
THE PIKEMEN is a greatly improved second outing for Ken Bruen's Irish PI
YohjiArmstrong4 April 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Plot: An Irish ex-cop turned private investigator investigates a murder linked to vigilantes.
This is the second of three TV films based on Ken Bruen's novels about alcoholic Irish ex-Guard (Irish policeman) turned private detective Jack Taylor. It's also a much better film as the cast and crew get into the swing of things. This time Jack is hunting down balaclava-wearing vigilantes (shades of Irish history there). He gets some unwanted help this time from a young man who wants to be his partner but then finds himself in trouble when he is accused of murder...and can't remember if he did it or not (the booze, you see). There's a great chase scene in a stream, some witty dialogue, the characters are all interesting, it's interesting to see the non-tourist side of Ireland, and the whole thing moves briskly towards its bleak but satisfying conclusion (this is TV noir after all). Roll on the third in this series!
This is the second of three TV films based on Ken Bruen's novels about alcoholic Irish ex-Guard (Irish policeman) turned private detective Jack Taylor. It's also a much better film as the cast and crew get into the swing of things. This time Jack is hunting down balaclava-wearing vigilantes (shades of Irish history there). He gets some unwanted help this time from a young man who wants to be his partner but then finds himself in trouble when he is accused of murder...and can't remember if he did it or not (the booze, you see). There's a great chase scene in a stream, some witty dialogue, the characters are all interesting, it's interesting to see the non-tourist side of Ireland, and the whole thing moves briskly towards its bleak but satisfying conclusion (this is TV noir after all). Roll on the third in this series!
30 mins too long
robathome26 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This was a baggy, saggy episode. The main interest was in the burgeoning vigilantism of our hero Jack.
Otherwise it just had all the staples of a routine crime drama. Heavy drinking CHECK. Slightly wavering Galway accent CHECK. Hero recovering from near death beating in less than 12 hours CHECK. Incompetent and corrupt police CHECK.
There's no doubting Glen's charisma but this went on so long it drove me to drink. But not as much as he got through in between flirting, fighting and getting totally hammered (literally)
Otherwise it just had all the staples of a routine crime drama. Heavy drinking CHECK. Slightly wavering Galway accent CHECK. Hero recovering from near death beating in less than 12 hours CHECK. Incompetent and corrupt police CHECK.
There's no doubting Glen's charisma but this went on so long it drove me to drink. But not as much as he got through in between flirting, fighting and getting totally hammered (literally)
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