Criminal: UK Review


No Comment.
Scrolling around Netflix in a blind haze of procrastination, I came across Criminal: UK in my search for an easy, enjoyable but short viewing before I (hopefully) continue with the essay due far too soon. Instead, what I discovered was a meticulously crafted crime drama which gripped me from start to finish. Creators George Kay and Jim Field Smith should be commended for taking the tried and tested formula of police shows and homing in on one part of the law and order process, namely the interrogation of suspects, in order to focus more explicitly upon the battle of wits and words which takes place behind a two-way mirror.
A star-studded cast supports this innovate concept, with David Tennant and Hayley Atwell featuring in guest roles as the wrongdoers sitting opposite our team of interrogators. The pair shine in their roles with emotionally powerful performances, the former as one Dr Edgar Fallon who has been accused of murdering his 14 year old step-daughter, and the latter as a street-smart loudmouth called Stacey Doyle whose brother-in-law was recently poisoned under questionably straight-forward circumstances. Atwell in particular should be commended for her portrayal of the broken, guilt-ridden older sister of a domestic abuse victim.
The detectives, whom reprise their roles throughout all three episodes, include Paul Ottager (Nicholas Pinnock), Natalie Hobbs (Katherine Kelly) and Tony Myerscough (Lee Ingleby), along with young constables Hugo Duffy (Mark Stanley) and Vanessa Warren (Rochenda Sandall). During the roughly 129 minutes we spend with this group, we learn tid-bits about their personal lives and relationships, which subtly flesh out the characters whilst still focusing upon the core focus of each episode - the interrogation. There are even a couple of effective story arcs given to these characters despite the disappointingly short number of episodes in this mini-series. Alas, I enjoyed finding out new information about our protagonists, as it allowed me to invest in these people and left me wanting to know more about what happens outside of the police station.
This is the most unique aspect about Criminal: UK - it is filmed entirely within the interrogation room, the room behind the two-way mirror and the hallway that connects the two. It is a design reminiscent of a stage set for a play, and the smaller focus enables the writers to concentrate more on building suspense, exploring emotional responses and examining strategies used by law enforcement to extract information. These all come together nicely to form a coherent, addictive and genuinely thrilling short series, which conveys chilling crime stories and forces the viewer to constantly question what to believe in a claustrophobic setting. 
The only gripe I have with the Netflix original is that there are not enough episodes to satisfy my addiction. Indeed, I am almost tempted to delve into the other three branches of Criminal (Germany, France and Spain) to see what they too have to offer, albeit through the wonders of subtitles. Kay and Smith have created something truly special in this show and I can only hope they collaborate again in the future, potentially even on a second series. After all, the final episode dropped a number of bombshells and it would be great to see these narrative threads tied up in a sophomore outing for Criminal: UK.

 REVIEW: 8.7/10

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Office (US) S3 E6 - 'Diwali' Mini-Review

Image
The Festival of Lights. Michael's inappropriate jokes were in full swing this episode as the office attended Kelly's family's Diwali celebrations. Ryan was grilled ruthlessly by Kelly's parents in a number of brilliant scenes, whilst Michael proposed, unsuccessfully, to Carol in a cringe-inducing moment. The irritating boss went on to sink even lower by attempting to kiss Pam. It's certainly the lowest we've seen Michael this season, and it will be interesting to see how he brings himself back from this. Karen and Jim meanwhile earned my approval, proving their chemistry is undeniable. Also, it's Rashida freakin' Jones, so WHY is he not leaving the Pam thing behind him and getting with Ann Perkins!! Either way, a solid and gag-filled episode, one of the strongest so far. BEST MOMENTS "One of our most ethnic coworkers" "Pam wishes" "I wish some of us still had our shoes on" "At lezst I'm not dressed as a...
Read more

The Office (UK) S1 E1 - 'Downsize' Review

Image
Investment in People. The first ever episode of The Office (UK)  sets up an entertaining and relatable workplace, although a number of jokes fall flat. 'Downsize' is light on story and heavy on exposition as it aims t o establish the characters and relationships within the fictional offices of  Wernham Hogg, whilst encouraging the viewer to sympathise with these characters and plot threads. As such, the best way to address this episode would be to view it as a character study. Here is what I got from the characters: David Brent (Ricky Gervais) - The protagonist, loveable idiot boss David Brent drives the show forward and his cringe-inducing gags and interactions form the core of the humour in the show. He clearly wants to do good, but is misguided and inappropriate, resulting in awkward office interactions which many viewers would likely associate with. Despite his rudeness and poor sense of humour, I instantly rooted for Brent and his passion for his colleagues. Ti...
Read more

Arrow S1 E16 - 'Dead to Rights' Review

Image
So... Who Needs Two Bullets in the Chest? 'Dead to Rights' is a solid episode in Arrow 's first season. The episode chooses to refocus upon the Undertaking and the overall running arc of the series, and it is all the better for it. We see fractures in the List organisation, as Moira and Frank turn on Malcolm. Similarly, we see Malcolm struggling to maintain the lie of his identity from his son Tommy, and this conflict plays out well across the 42 minute run time. He kills in front of Tommy and almost reveals his Dark Archer outfit to his son, before Lawton interrupts by shooting Malcolm. Lawton's reintroduction as Deadshot is another excellent move by the showrunners. Deadshot, now missing an eye thanks to his last encounter with the Hood, is a great foe and I'm glad he's back in action and likely to return in the future of the Arrowverse. His new robotic eye is bad-ass, as was the fight scenes between Oliver, the Triad and China White. In the past, little...
Read more