But here he gets the role he has been waiting for, and many chances to carry the production on his shoulders when needed. It is not for this reviewer to wonder why this was done as a series instead of a one-of? The fact remains that any shortcomings in the "action" are more than compensated for by the superb writing, acting, and direction. Give it a chance and you will get caught up. Stories about doing the right thing for the right reasons are so rare today, they should be cherished. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
20 Reviews
Fascinating insight of early use of DNA
peterrichboy18 May 2023
There can be no doubt that DNA has been a huge game changer in solving crimes. And in particular cold case crimes as shown in this four part true crime drama by the BBC.
The story evolves around the brutal murder and rape of three teenage girls in Port Talbort South Wales in 1973. With similarities to the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper the only options were endless hours of door to door searches, index systems and eye witnesses and a hope that they somehow come up with a credible suspect. It's no wonder so many innocent people ended up in jail for crimes they didn't commit.
We move on 30 years and the still early days of DNA and the cold case detectives now can use samples to find matches in the DNA database, and before long a prime suspect emerges.
With nice attention to the 1970s it's a really interesting insight into how policing has changed over the last 30 years.
Despite a dodgy Welsh accent Phillip Glenister does a decent job as the lead detective to help put to rest a crime that many thought would never have been solved. 7/10.
The story evolves around the brutal murder and rape of three teenage girls in Port Talbort South Wales in 1973. With similarities to the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper the only options were endless hours of door to door searches, index systems and eye witnesses and a hope that they somehow come up with a credible suspect. It's no wonder so many innocent people ended up in jail for crimes they didn't commit.
We move on 30 years and the still early days of DNA and the cold case detectives now can use samples to find matches in the DNA database, and before long a prime suspect emerges.
With nice attention to the 1970s it's a really interesting insight into how policing has changed over the last 30 years.
Despite a dodgy Welsh accent Phillip Glenister does a decent job as the lead detective to help put to rest a crime that many thought would never have been solved. 7/10.
Bleak and gritty.
jubilee7723 May 2023
The Steeltown Murders is four-part drama based on real life events that took part in 1973 and 2002 beginning with the series of murders that occurred in the South Wales area. Generally, the TV drama has some time travelling features about that frequently takes us back to the beginning of the basic side of the somewhat painstaking and exhaustive investigation of the murders and then forward to DNA developments to identify the suspect. For those whom are unfamiliar with this case, it might be hard to follow at times as it frequently time travels back and forth but nevertheless it's very gripping, bleak and gritty.
'Neath The Mask
Lejink18 May 2023
The latest in a number of TV recreations of recent, infamous real-life crimes, this four-part BBC series centred on the brutal rape and murder of three 16-year-old girls in the space of a couple of months in neighbouring Neath and Port Talbot in Wales, in 1973. Despite a concerted police investigation at the time, the killer was never apprehended and the case went cold for decades. However, with the discovery and implementation of DNA profiling in police procedures, one detective from the original search, with the help of two able and willing colleagues, reopened the case in the hope of finally solving the murders and in the process obtain some degree of closure for the victims' families as well as dispersing the suspicions about other innocent men in the community at the time suspected of the crimes.
The programme used parallel timelines, switching between the 1973 and early 2000's of each manhunt and in the absence of the expensive new-fangled de-ageing technology, chose to employ pairs of different actors for the main characters with a seeming resemblance, some more credible than others, to tell the tragic and horrific story through to its conclusion. Heading the cast as lead detective Paul Bethell was Philip Glenister, again stepping back in time to play a cop, only this time of course, unlike in "Life On Mars" and "Ashes To Ashes" his character wasn't fictional. He's well supported by his two dogged colleagues played by Steffan Rhodri and Gareth John Bale, as the three of them commandeer an old, dingy out-of-use police station to trawl through piles and piles of written evidence (this of course was in the days before computers and on-line record-keeping) to eventually take the case forward some 30 years after the crimes had first been committed.
Once I got the hang of the unannounced and untitled time-switches, it was easy to get involved in the grim events portrayed. I liked how the director deliberately created the environs of the 70's in particular, where you could almost smell as well as feel the fug of smoke permeating the scenes. It was a nice touch to have any background pop music heard in the background performed by Welsh acts like Badfinger and The Stereophonics. The casting and ensemble acting was generally good throughout and although it wasn't a surprise to see Keith Allen as a suspect, this time at least he met a different fate to his usual.
Again though, I'm pretty certain that hidden away in the legend that composite characters and fictional scenes had been created for dramatic purposes, I think I can say with certainty however that at least three of the leading characters were imagined and inserted for reasons of diversity, a practice of which I'm generally in favour, but not when treating real-life events like this, especially if in living memory.
I also felt the series could have been condensed into three rather than four episodes, the final episode in particular really dragging out the sense of sympathetic guilt of subsidiary characters as well as the exhumation of the prime suspect.
I have to say that this wasn't a case I remembered at all from when the original events first occurred. One can certainly be grateful for modern day devices like CC TV, DNA and mobile phone technology aiding the police in their work but what came across most here was the dogged determination of committed coppers doing their duty to the victims and their families to solve cold-cases even if sometimes the perpetrator doesn't always get their rightful comeuppance in their lifetime.
The programme used parallel timelines, switching between the 1973 and early 2000's of each manhunt and in the absence of the expensive new-fangled de-ageing technology, chose to employ pairs of different actors for the main characters with a seeming resemblance, some more credible than others, to tell the tragic and horrific story through to its conclusion. Heading the cast as lead detective Paul Bethell was Philip Glenister, again stepping back in time to play a cop, only this time of course, unlike in "Life On Mars" and "Ashes To Ashes" his character wasn't fictional. He's well supported by his two dogged colleagues played by Steffan Rhodri and Gareth John Bale, as the three of them commandeer an old, dingy out-of-use police station to trawl through piles and piles of written evidence (this of course was in the days before computers and on-line record-keeping) to eventually take the case forward some 30 years after the crimes had first been committed.
Once I got the hang of the unannounced and untitled time-switches, it was easy to get involved in the grim events portrayed. I liked how the director deliberately created the environs of the 70's in particular, where you could almost smell as well as feel the fug of smoke permeating the scenes. It was a nice touch to have any background pop music heard in the background performed by Welsh acts like Badfinger and The Stereophonics. The casting and ensemble acting was generally good throughout and although it wasn't a surprise to see Keith Allen as a suspect, this time at least he met a different fate to his usual.
Again though, I'm pretty certain that hidden away in the legend that composite characters and fictional scenes had been created for dramatic purposes, I think I can say with certainty however that at least three of the leading characters were imagined and inserted for reasons of diversity, a practice of which I'm generally in favour, but not when treating real-life events like this, especially if in living memory.
I also felt the series could have been condensed into three rather than four episodes, the final episode in particular really dragging out the sense of sympathetic guilt of subsidiary characters as well as the exhumation of the prime suspect.
I have to say that this wasn't a case I remembered at all from when the original events first occurred. One can certainly be grateful for modern day devices like CC TV, DNA and mobile phone technology aiding the police in their work but what came across most here was the dogged determination of committed coppers doing their duty to the victims and their families to solve cold-cases even if sometimes the perpetrator doesn't always get their rightful comeuppance in their lifetime.
Nothing is ever settled, until it is settled right.
Sleepin_Dragon5 June 2023
DC Paul Bethel is part of a team investigating the murder of two young women, he tries to link a third woman, but his superiors block him, years later, with the advent of DNA testing, DCI Paul Bethel is given a lead.
This is a fantastic four part series from The BBC, being from the area myself I can confirm that this case did indeed cast a big shadow over the whole area.
I am a massive fan of writer Ed Whitmore, he has written some great dramas over the years, including the excellent Manhunt series, once again he gets the balance of fact and entertainment spot on.
Of course there are some dramatic changes, new characters etc, but the heart of the story is very much still here.
Production values are spot on, it looks fantastic, the music, sets, clothes and cars are all on point. There is one scene where my old haunt, The Top Rank on The Kingsway is recreated, again they got it spot on.
A super cast, Aneurin Barnard, Keith Allen and many others, Philip Glenister steals the show with a superb performance as Paul Bethel, at times it feels like we've got a real life Gene Hunt, less The Quattro.
9/10.
This is a fantastic four part series from The BBC, being from the area myself I can confirm that this case did indeed cast a big shadow over the whole area.
I am a massive fan of writer Ed Whitmore, he has written some great dramas over the years, including the excellent Manhunt series, once again he gets the balance of fact and entertainment spot on.
Of course there are some dramatic changes, new characters etc, but the heart of the story is very much still here.
Production values are spot on, it looks fantastic, the music, sets, clothes and cars are all on point. There is one scene where my old haunt, The Top Rank on The Kingsway is recreated, again they got it spot on.
A super cast, Aneurin Barnard, Keith Allen and many others, Philip Glenister steals the show with a superb performance as Paul Bethel, at times it feels like we've got a real life Gene Hunt, less The Quattro.
9/10.
Better than current average drama.
crumpytv10 June 2023
A very confusing beginning. Where music is often used to establish a time frame for a drama, the two songs used at the beginning of this one were from 1970. So I thought it was 1970, but then there was one from 1973. The latter being the correct one chronologically to map on to the events that unfolded.
But hang on, this was a flashback, so what year was the new investigative work taking place. It took a while, but I think it was 2003.
So, the start of the drama was very muddled, especially character wise.
Overall I thought it was one episode too long. The third part particularly dragged and the final couple of episodes could have been condensed into one.
Premise: Twenty-first century technological advances help detectives with a cold murder case from 1973.
Geraldine Hughes and Pauline Floyd both left the Top Rank nightclub in Swansea without ever making it home.
Their bodies were discovered later in Llandarcy. Dubbed the case of the "Saturday Night Strangler", it became the first documented case of a serial killer in Wales.
If it hadn't been for the fact it was based on real events it would have seem cliched; young detective should be seen and not heard and not have anything to offer the operation being run by superiors who are seriously flawed policing wise.
A strong cast, particularly Philip Glenister, made this watchable.
But hang on, this was a flashback, so what year was the new investigative work taking place. It took a while, but I think it was 2003.
So, the start of the drama was very muddled, especially character wise.
Overall I thought it was one episode too long. The third part particularly dragged and the final couple of episodes could have been condensed into one.
Premise: Twenty-first century technological advances help detectives with a cold murder case from 1973.
Geraldine Hughes and Pauline Floyd both left the Top Rank nightclub in Swansea without ever making it home.
Their bodies were discovered later in Llandarcy. Dubbed the case of the "Saturday Night Strangler", it became the first documented case of a serial killer in Wales.
If it hadn't been for the fact it was based on real events it would have seem cliched; young detective should be seen and not heard and not have anything to offer the operation being run by superiors who are seriously flawed policing wise.
A strong cast, particularly Philip Glenister, made this watchable.
Wonderfully authentic
slimbrunette16 May 2023
I agree with everything Geordie 101 said. It started quite slowly and in a slightly confusing manner, but that's good. It makes the viewer sit up and pay attention. Really good performances from everyone especially Glenister and the actor who played his younger character. It was marvellous to see 'Coaches' from Gavin and Stacey play such a prominent part and the chemistry between him and Glenister was palpable. I was a young woman working with the police in the 70s and their portrayal of the CID officers in particular was spot on. This is a dramatisation of real events where people really were murdered. I think the tone was perfect. I've just read a review by the The Telegraph where is was described as 4hrs of turgid viewing. Ignore that. Watch it. It's a tremendous piece of drama retelling true life events.
A Captivating Crime Drama with Flaws
steveinadelaide2 July 2023
I recently watched Steeltown Murders, the latest crime drama to hit our screens, and I have to say, I was hooked from the start. The plot immediately drew me in with its mysterious killings and interconnected web of secrets in a small, industrial town. The stellar cast, led by Sion Alun Davies, Steffan Rhodri, and Aneurin Barnard, delivered captivating performances that made the characters feel authentic. I appreciated how the show tackled important issues such as corruption, poverty, and neglecting marginalised communities, although, at times, the execution felt heavy-handed. The gloomy atmosphere of the town was captured perfectly through the cinematography and production design. However, the series' pacing was a drawback, with some episodes lacking the necessary momentum to maintain my interest. Despite its flaws, the emotional depth explored in Steeltown Murders resonated with me, leaving me with a lingering melancholy. Overall, this series is worth a watch for fans of the genre.
Outstanding multidimensional true crime
jaguarjon5323 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Back in the 70s, in South Wales, before the destruction of industry, three girls were raped and murdered. A huge police enquiry went nowhere. Then, in 2002, with the advent of DNA, one of the original officers reopens the case.
This mini-series has extraordinary depth. It shows realistically how the lives of all those affected were, in different ways, unable to move on with their existence. Nobody's story is dismissed without consideration.
The writing, the acting and the filming are all on point. Living as a young adult myself at that time, I can say that the atmosphere, the settings, the clothes and even the lighting are freakily accurate.
This is a real, insightful tour de force.
This mini-series has extraordinary depth. It shows realistically how the lives of all those affected were, in different ways, unable to move on with their existence. Nobody's story is dismissed without consideration.
The writing, the acting and the filming are all on point. Living as a young adult myself at that time, I can say that the atmosphere, the settings, the clothes and even the lighting are freakily accurate.
This is a real, insightful tour de force.
Solid but not that dramatic
paul2001sw-14 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
'Steeltown Murders' is a fictionalised reconstruction of a true story about the eventual identification of a serial killer years after an initially fruitless investigation. It suggests that solving the crime required that the police had access to both new technologies (namely the use of DNA profiling) and a new mindset. It's a tale solidly told, although one feels that the writers have had to work quite hard to create the idea that the shadow of the past lies heavy on the latter-day investigators; without this conceit, there might not be much dramatic tension in the story, given that the prime suspect is by this point dead.
Very good well filmed and great context
david_umpleby18 May 2023
An excellent production. Truly captures the essence of the eras portrayed and most importantly put the eras into contextz a seemingly overlooked aspect recenty. I really enjoyed this and thought that the program was excellently cast. The filming tone is superb. A very good insight into not only the Police but also the early use of DNA. Well done to all involved. The whole series had a good pace to it and shows the stress that these kind of events can have on not only the victims family but everyone associated with the incident and this is graphically shown here, better than any other program I can recall.
A docu that lacks drama
jeffpsy15 December 2023
When I started reading folks' reviews, I was surprised to see how many gushing reactions there were to this series. While I felt compelled to see it through to the end, I was never very entertained by this plodding, monotonous drama. For example, it pales in comparison with a quality cold case show like Unforgotten. To be sure, Unforgotten is fiction, while Steeltown is tethered to actual events; but if you can't find real drama, compelling characters and interesting story lines in your source material, then, perhaps it's better to move on to a different project.
I think that the moviemakers believed that the mere mention of DNA would keep the TV watcher interested. However, Steeltown never surprised the viewer. The whole series was a form of painting by numbers.
I think that the moviemakers believed that the mere mention of DNA would keep the TV watcher interested. However, Steeltown never surprised the viewer. The whole series was a form of painting by numbers.
DRAMATIC LICENCE AT ITS WORSE
arthurcole-9370620 June 2023
I was a young Detective in 1973, and was involved in the investigation. This is not a true reflection of the hard work that was carried out by hard working officers. It made them out to be drunken incompetents, which they weren't. The portrayal of Mr Allen was diabolical. As a drama I thought it was weak, and very Ashes to Ashes. The majority of events and characters were dramatic licence, end of. I would have thought the makers of the programme would have done more research, and had spoken to officers who actually worked on the investigation. The main man in all this was Mr Dark, the expert who made the DNA breakthrough with a shadow of a doubt. For civilian viewers, no doubt they'd enjoy, however it wasn't for me, I'm sorry to say.
Good, But Not Brilliant
dgjones-6225818 June 2023
Personally, I don't know how anyone could award this a 9 or a 10, but I would recommend a watch.
The production values are excellent and the cast was very good.
Usually I don't like flashbacks but this show told the story very well flicking between the investigation in 1972 and the investigation in 2002 (?). The flashbacks aren't used to fill the story but to illuminate how things were done back then.
The story of the investigation is very well written, but my only problem with the writing was the lack of dramatic tension.
Drama needs conflict and there isn't much of it in this show. There were several missed opportunities to develop antagonistic tension that would have made this show a 9 and also give the actors more chance to get the viewer involved instead of just watching.
The first episode was too slow and just full of 'fillers' to set the scene in 1972. Get past the first episode and watch the rest.
The production values are excellent and the cast was very good.
Usually I don't like flashbacks but this show told the story very well flicking between the investigation in 1972 and the investigation in 2002 (?). The flashbacks aren't used to fill the story but to illuminate how things were done back then.
The story of the investigation is very well written, but my only problem with the writing was the lack of dramatic tension.
Drama needs conflict and there isn't much of it in this show. There were several missed opportunities to develop antagonistic tension that would have made this show a 9 and also give the actors more chance to get the viewer involved instead of just watching.
The first episode was too slow and just full of 'fillers' to set the scene in 1972. Get past the first episode and watch the rest.
Gritty Welsh true crime drama that excels in all departments
JRB-NorthernSoul16 May 2023
Writer Ed Whitmore has a couple of decades experience with crime stories, including penning many of the best episodes of 'Silent Witness'. The compelling Steeltown story seemlessly alternates between the original investigation in 1973 and the new investigations in the present.
It had resonances with 'Life on Mars' and shared a lead in Philip Glenister, who shines here along with the rest of an accomplished local cast. Above all it felt totally authentic.
Production values were excellent, it was beautifully directed and photographed by Marc Evans and Sam Thomas respectively, with some tremendous set piece scenes (The funeral - wow!). It had a very strong sense of period with fantastic attention to detail and a fine score by Sarah Warne.
One of the best UK dramas of 2023, highly recommended and hats off to all involved, it was obviously a labour of love created by a close team.
It had resonances with 'Life on Mars' and shared a lead in Philip Glenister, who shines here along with the rest of an accomplished local cast. Above all it felt totally authentic.
Production values were excellent, it was beautifully directed and photographed by Marc Evans and Sam Thomas respectively, with some tremendous set piece scenes (The funeral - wow!). It had a very strong sense of period with fantastic attention to detail and a fine score by Sarah Warne.
One of the best UK dramas of 2023, highly recommended and hats off to all involved, it was obviously a labour of love created by a close team.
Well written and well executed
preppycuber4 July 2023
While this is based on true events, we still have to give credit to a well written script. No drag, no point where you feel like the flow is lost.
A good cast definitely helps. The actors doing the negative roles, nailed it without going overboard. All the supporting cast did their jobs extremely well. Seeing Sion Alun Davies again after Hidden. I liked him in that. Doesn't have much to do here, but still did well.
However, the star of the show has to be Robert Glenister. I noticed him in Paranoid, for the very first time, then in a recurring role in A Touch of Frost and finally in Sherwood. He has been great in each of those and this was no different.
A good cast definitely helps. The actors doing the negative roles, nailed it without going overboard. All the supporting cast did their jobs extremely well. Seeing Sion Alun Davies again after Hidden. I liked him in that. Doesn't have much to do here, but still did well.
However, the star of the show has to be Robert Glenister. I noticed him in Paranoid, for the very first time, then in a recurring role in A Touch of Frost and finally in Sherwood. He has been great in each of those and this was no different.
Wonderful true crime drama handled with sensitivity
Purrceyz24 June 2023
This drama is based on a true story; how Wales' first serial killer was finally identified almost 30 years later. Both of the real life detectives (Paul Bethell and Phil Rees) worked with the writers and producers of the show as did the families of the murder victims. The third detective in 2002 (Gariant Bale) is played by the nephew of the real life detective.
I wanted to see this drama for several reasons. Firstly I thought Manhunt by the same writer, Ed Whitmore handled the real life cases with considerable sensitivity. Secondly, I've enjoyed seeing Philip Glenister in various dramas. All the cast and crew are Welsh with the exception of Phil whose mother is Welsh.
The story flashes back and forth between 1973 and 2002. The 70s were very well evoked in the show. (I was a teenager then, only 1 year older than the murdered girls). A few people online complained they found the flashbacks confusing but I never did even though they aren't labelled. For the lead characters, their younger versions are very well cast and quite believable. Although the show is a bit slow moving at first, I found it drew me in.
It is not gory (the actual murders are not shown.) I thought it handled the true crime aspect with sensitivity and unlike some shows; it didn't sensationalize either the crimes or the perpetrator. To me, the care and sensitivity the writer and the producers took in bringing this story was evident.
Trigger warning: there is some discussion around the forensic evidence resulting from rape and a victim who was raped recounts her story (not in a graphic way).
The story line closely follows the real life events in both investigations. Unlike some dramas, it shows the amount of work the police do and is more realistic in how this process unfolds with the sharp contrast between 1973 and 2002. One character (Sita) is fictionalized, she represents various friends of the real life girls.
As a parent who lost a child myself, I was especially struck by the realism of its depiction of parental grief. Some of the scenes are heartbreaking but beautifully done. .
Although Philip Glenister is playing a policeman again (his most famous role being Gene Hunt, a fictional policeman), this character is very different. He effectively conveys Paul Bethell's determination and tenacity in finding the killer and his sensitivity with the families.
Recommend.
I wanted to see this drama for several reasons. Firstly I thought Manhunt by the same writer, Ed Whitmore handled the real life cases with considerable sensitivity. Secondly, I've enjoyed seeing Philip Glenister in various dramas. All the cast and crew are Welsh with the exception of Phil whose mother is Welsh.
The story flashes back and forth between 1973 and 2002. The 70s were very well evoked in the show. (I was a teenager then, only 1 year older than the murdered girls). A few people online complained they found the flashbacks confusing but I never did even though they aren't labelled. For the lead characters, their younger versions are very well cast and quite believable. Although the show is a bit slow moving at first, I found it drew me in.
It is not gory (the actual murders are not shown.) I thought it handled the true crime aspect with sensitivity and unlike some shows; it didn't sensationalize either the crimes or the perpetrator. To me, the care and sensitivity the writer and the producers took in bringing this story was evident.
Trigger warning: there is some discussion around the forensic evidence resulting from rape and a victim who was raped recounts her story (not in a graphic way).
The story line closely follows the real life events in both investigations. Unlike some dramas, it shows the amount of work the police do and is more realistic in how this process unfolds with the sharp contrast between 1973 and 2002. One character (Sita) is fictionalized, she represents various friends of the real life girls.
As a parent who lost a child myself, I was especially struck by the realism of its depiction of parental grief. Some of the scenes are heartbreaking but beautifully done. .
Although Philip Glenister is playing a policeman again (his most famous role being Gene Hunt, a fictional policeman), this character is very different. He effectively conveys Paul Bethell's determination and tenacity in finding the killer and his sensitivity with the families.
Recommend.
Very good but one flaw bugged me
Mary-Mary15 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I thought this series was very well done, especially with the flashbacks so well plugged into the present. It was a little drawn out, but worth the wait. Geraldine's father in the flashback looked pretty much the same age as Detective Paul Bethel. However the father in the present looked about 20 years older than Bethel. I am a stickler for details. I guess someone might argue that the loss of a daughter can cause a lot of aging, but I doubt it would be that drastic of a difference. Too bad the killer didn't get caught before he died. I cannot imagine the horror of what those three girls went through.
Couldn't get into it, overuse of the 70s
Xavier_Stone18 May 2023
This was downright tough to get into. Usually detective shows have a good catch to start off with or a hook to pull you in so that the audience can continue watching. This was nothing, mostly bars in the 70s, music, clothes, speech, some detective stuff and get slogging slow. It took me 5 mins and then I started skipping ahead.
I kept skipping and watching a few mins, skipping. Soon it's the end of the pilot episode. It's British and old, and I'm not interested in watching 3-4 eps before anything interesting happens.
Might be for others, just not for me. Perhaps true crime junkies interested in the real story would be better off reading the wikipedia articles than subjecting themselves to this. I'm not sure what the other reviewers saw in this and giving it high marks. 2/10 for effort. Nothing of note.
I kept skipping and watching a few mins, skipping. Soon it's the end of the pilot episode. It's British and old, and I'm not interested in watching 3-4 eps before anything interesting happens.
Might be for others, just not for me. Perhaps true crime junkies interested in the real story would be better off reading the wikipedia articles than subjecting themselves to this. I'm not sure what the other reviewers saw in this and giving it high marks. 2/10 for effort. Nothing of note.
Deja Vu - Welsh for 'Familial DNA', is it?
blogward29 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Philip Glenister revisits his 'Life On Mars' part - which may well cause a serious rift in the space-time continuum - to play the 2002 version of a good old Welsh detective put in charge of a (real) cold case from 1973 in which he was a rookie. You need a bit of adjustment to realise which old actors are being played by which young actors, but once you're there, It's um, watchable if nothing else is on, and the Welsh accents are soothing. The music isn't, it's overwrought and ridiculous.
Very heavy on period atmosphere, established mainly by the use of leather jerkins, turquoise Triumph Dolomites, grey Ford Cortinas, blue Morris 1100s (UK car industry - ha!), smoky lens filters and an all-consuming brown palette, with 'car coats', dubious facial hair and kipper ties.
Thing is, there's more to write about the amusing period depiction than there is to write about the actual story or the characters, which seem to have been cut-and-pasted from any police drama of the past fifty, nay seventy, years. Amusing period detail is not enough to hang a four-hour drama on, which hasn't stopped a plethora of similar mediocre period police dramas, by the way.
The only suspense is in finding out 'how they found out whodunnit', rather like one of those freeview Forensic Detective shows drawn out to four long, long double episodes without a demented voiceover. Of course, in those shows the villain is never a copper, is it. This may be a spoiler, I don't know, as I'm only on episode 2 and I'm losing the will to live, but if it isn't one of the coppers, it's going to be an anticlimax, as opposed to a cliche.
Perfectly good, not cheap production, but plot, characters and concept = total deja vu. There's even a bit where somebody says. 'The boss wants to know what's going on'. That's incredibly desperate scriptwriting. Music? Unsubtle, overdone and obtrusive.
OK, since as I'm going to mark this as 'contains spoilers', I'm waiting till the end to see if I was close. That feeling when you know the ending in advance? - deja vu, if you like.
Nah, too boring and music too gonzo; went to Wikipedia. I was wrong. Anticlimax - and murder nostalgia is sick. You wait: 'Fred and Rose- The House of Horrors' before very long.
Pardon the lengthy review, there was a rift in the space-time continuum.
Very heavy on period atmosphere, established mainly by the use of leather jerkins, turquoise Triumph Dolomites, grey Ford Cortinas, blue Morris 1100s (UK car industry - ha!), smoky lens filters and an all-consuming brown palette, with 'car coats', dubious facial hair and kipper ties.
Thing is, there's more to write about the amusing period depiction than there is to write about the actual story or the characters, which seem to have been cut-and-pasted from any police drama of the past fifty, nay seventy, years. Amusing period detail is not enough to hang a four-hour drama on, which hasn't stopped a plethora of similar mediocre period police dramas, by the way.
The only suspense is in finding out 'how they found out whodunnit', rather like one of those freeview Forensic Detective shows drawn out to four long, long double episodes without a demented voiceover. Of course, in those shows the villain is never a copper, is it. This may be a spoiler, I don't know, as I'm only on episode 2 and I'm losing the will to live, but if it isn't one of the coppers, it's going to be an anticlimax, as opposed to a cliche.
Perfectly good, not cheap production, but plot, characters and concept = total deja vu. There's even a bit where somebody says. 'The boss wants to know what's going on'. That's incredibly desperate scriptwriting. Music? Unsubtle, overdone and obtrusive.
OK, since as I'm going to mark this as 'contains spoilers', I'm waiting till the end to see if I was close. That feeling when you know the ending in advance? - deja vu, if you like.
Nah, too boring and music too gonzo; went to Wikipedia. I was wrong. Anticlimax - and murder nostalgia is sick. You wait: 'Fred and Rose- The House of Horrors' before very long.
Pardon the lengthy review, there was a rift in the space-time continuum.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
