Suspects is the first original drama for Channel 5 in eight years, and the broadcaster didn’t pull any punches when its very own brand new crime procedural premiered on Wednesday, thrusting us into the action from the start alongside the three detectives “Sarge” DS Jack Weston (Damien Molony), DC Charlie Steele (Clare-Hope Ashitey) and “boss” DI Martha Bellamy (Fay Ripley) investigating the disappearance of a two year old girl, Hope Wilkins.
The action moved forward through a series of interviews with Hope’s family and a former convicted child killer – who, it is revealed, is friends with the the missing girl’s brother Toby Wilkins (Jamie F Glover) and who, on the night of her disappearance, had argued in the off-licence where he works with Hope’s father Laurie Wilkins (Michael Colgan) – and the discovery of new pieces of evidence, including cctv footage, finger prints, a blood stained t-shirt and phone records.
With a fly-on-the-wall-filming style and the dialogue entirely improvised by the actors, the innovative format successfully created a galvanising and gritty realism, setting Suspects apart from the current saturation of TV cop and crime shows. Fast paced and completely case-focussed, the ‘real-feel’ factor elevated by a twisty turny plot, the episode maintained a suspenseful momentum, ramping up the tension and the emotion as the true facts of the case unfolded.
Throughout, we are invited right into the interview room and the police department, becoming the detectives ourselves as the pieces of the case begin to fit together, but uniquely (and perhaps most surprisingly, considering the entirely case-driven nature of the show, with no character backstory or context given to the lives of Jack, Charlie and Martha) we are also invited into engaging with those characters and the process via the close-up immediacy of, and intimacy with, their own approaches, their reactions and what makes them tick; a magnifying glass made even more visceral by the improvised lines (and also the improvised silences), a moment to moment spontaneity engaging us in a way that makes Suspects not just compelling but compulsive viewing.
In terms of character intrigue, Jack Weston is the current frontrunner and Damien steals the show, not only for a performance with standout moments of expressive nuance – most notably when interviewing Laurie Wilkins about injuries on his son’s body, and when finally arresting him at the end of the episode – but also for his simmering, just contained intensity. We may not see his life outside of policing, but it is precisely that which makes the brief clues to his character the most delightfully enigmatic treasure.
Don’t miss Suspects episode 2, 10pm Wednesday 19th February only on Channel 5.
To comment on Suspects Series 1 episode 1 and vote in our poll, click here!
Great Review domino. I like that it's being well received (apart from Rob)
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papillon... pamplemousse... bibliothèque... un baiser A lilt in his voice. Every sentence like music... #kisskisskiss A terrible beauty is born. Love me some #Jacksass
Thanks for adding the telegraph's review too Pearl, good to see!
I think you might be right about Keith Watson Laura. Thank for posting the actual paper version (not sure if you saw but I posted the metro review at the top)
Suspects does seem to have divided the audience, most complaints being about the improv aspect, for me they are missing the point slightly, the experience is different and for me, elevated.... And the very thing that adds the extra edge moreso than the fly on the wall format.
I thought my main problem with it would be the lack of character story, but I am finding that need is fulfilled by observing the main 3 in their close up context, Jack is certainly an intriguing character already, how does Damien do that with just a few expressions?
eek! I just noticed I wrote Tuesday in my review instead of Wednesday! how did I miss that? and 5 of us in total to proof read the thing! I have edited it now, sorry for any confusion caused.
that makes 5 of us fifi! lol! maybe we were all busy looking for the detailed stuff that we overlooked the obvious. But I hold myself completely responsible.. i mean.. Tuesday? we all know it is #WestonWednesday All fixed now!!
sorry domino. I had noticed but late at night and forgot to mention. but as you can see, it didn't really affect the quality of the review. our brains fill in what we expect to see sometimes.
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papillon... pamplemousse... bibliothèque... un baiser A lilt in his voice. Every sentence like music... #kisskisskiss A terrible beauty is born. Love me some #Jacksass
its new high-tension police show Suspects makes such powerful, original viewing.
if Suspects had debuted on ITV, the roars of critical acclaim would make your ears pop.
The plots are tightly written but the scripts are improvised, with a pulse of authentic panic in the voices of Damien Molony and Clare-Hope Ashitey as the young detectives.
"There’s one major flaw, and that’s a consequence of C5’s inexperience in new drama. Each episode is self-contained, apeing old-fashioned U.S. procedurals like CSI.
But these actors are good enough to sustain a ten-part Scandinavian-style series, with one vast crime that constantly evolves and unravels — like The Bridge."
Line Of Duty (BBC2) seems dated by comparison.
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papillon... pamplemousse... bibliothèque... un baiser A lilt in his voice. Every sentence like music... #kisskisskiss A terrible beauty is born. Love me some #Jacksass
I find it interesting that he says "if it had debuted on ITV the roars of critical acclaim would make your ears pop." I do hope that more viewers will tune in and discover this gem and that the press keep writing reviews such as this. Damien deserves it. And so does Clare-Hope. She's doing a fantastic job, and is also a rising, promising star.
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papillon... pamplemousse... bibliothèque... un baiser A lilt in his voice. Every sentence like music... #kisskisskiss A terrible beauty is born. Love me some #Jacksass
Argh! You made me go on the Daily Mail website! Argh!
Good review though and I do kinda agree about the long story arc thing - the Europeans are doing some great 10-part dramas atm (watching Salamander on BBC4, excellent) - but I'm not sure whether the documentaryness of the programme would lend itself well enough, I think there would be too much repeating of either dialogue or setup as it's so loosely planned.
My review of Suspects episode2. As with all my reviews, this is not an attempt at a representation of everyones' opnions, but hopefully a catalyst for discussion and sharing of your own!
CRACKING THE CASE AND THE SASS FACTOR: SUSPECTS EPISODE 2 REVIEW
Written by Paul Marquess, directed by John Hardwick Channel 5, 10 pm 19 February 2014.
DS Jack Weston (Damien Molony) and DC Charlie Steele (Clare-Hope Ashitey) are called to the scene at a nightclub in the early hours of the morning to investigate an assault on the owner, Kirk Hawthorne (Robert Boulter). While there, the detectives also find his sister Ziggy collapsed, with a very serious head wound and the possibility of a drug overdose. When searching for clues as to what had happened, the CCTV camera is discovered missing, putting the security manager Dave Mastings (Craig Whittaker) under suspicion when his fingerprints are found all over the cables. When a 19 year old student is found dead in an alleyway with a flyer for the night club and a wrap of PMA in his pocket, the same drug as Ziggy took, the police suspect a connection. DI Martha Bellamy (Fay Ripley) holds a police press conference as the team pieces together the evidence and interview the suspects. Ziggy’s uni friends Hannah (Sabrina Bartlett) and Wakim (Dudley O’Shaughnessy), and bar manager Guy Ollerbury (Graham Butler) also appear on the detective’s radar, while the investigation uncovers some unexpected twists.
We may be biased, but the second episode of Channel 5 cop dramaSuspectsis a bit good.
Here’s why.
In his television career so far, Damien has played a500 year old vampirein supernatural dramaBeing Humanand aVictorian Irishmanin period dramaRipper Street. As fond as we Molonians are of those roles (and we are very fond indeed)Suspectsis a contemporary drama,DS Jack Westonis bang up to date in his present day costume and dialogue, and the fundamental core of the show is it’s hyper-real foundation. Shot as a fly-on-the-wall mockumentary with the actors improvising their lines on the fly too,Suspectscomes unapologetically at us as an edgy, ultra fresh, original-feeling, absorbing and believably realistic bit of drama.
There are no character backstories or subplots, but in this episode, while the case was not as intensely compelling as last week, the less tragic storyline made room for establishing the three main characters and exploring the detective team dynamic. The introduction of a more playful tone was galvanising to watch, some feisty and funny bits of dialogue providing incredible moments of pure entertainment and light relief, interspersed with the unfolding crime story.
From the very first scene, with witty banter and perhaps a hint of rivalry between the two, DS Jack and DC Charlie were trying to out-sass each other in an ongoing repartee that sustained throughout the episode.
Jack: “Go and chat to him, butter him up, use your wit, charm” Charlie: “Is he hot?”
Jack Weston shows himself to be a sharply insightful and perceptive detective (his quick thinking is key in solving the case), with an undeniable swagger to his authoritative self-assuredness and a kind of youthful rebelliousness, epitomised by one of this reviewer's favourite moments of the episode, when he signs an official police form with “kiss, kiss, kiss”
“kiss kiss kiss”
Other standout moments include Jack explaining to Charlie and boss Martha the meaning of ‘sharking’
Charlie: “J Bomb knows what that is” Jack: ” I haven’t sharked in a long time” Martha: “Tell the old lady what sharking is? please?”
and Jack locating the whereabouts of the missing CCTV camera.
“bingo”
We also see more of Jack’s interviewing style, his contained intensity adding to the claustrophobic feel of the small interview rooms, effective in cracking the suspects and powerful to watch.
“No comment? No comment? No comment?”
With each episode being a self-contained, discrete crime story, there are no ongoing storylines to keep longer term attention, or story arcs stretching across the series. But the camera intimately and almost viscerally brings us into the case as it follows the detectives everywhere – into the interview rooms, on location – seeming to involve us, the audience, in the present moment creative process as well, taking ‘drama’ itself to a whole new level.
Without the usual character subplots, we might also be tempted to think there would be no character development or character arcs inSuspectseither, but this episode has proven otherwise. In fact it is the nuggets of character and team dynamics that are the most engaging, and by the end of the episode we are left wanting more.
All three of the leads deliver strong performances, giving us a clearer sense of who their characters are. But Damien brings a level of vivacity and undeniable coolness to Jack Weston, a young Detective Sergeant who really knows he knows his stuff, making his performance the most irresistible to watch.
We ‘suspect’ our ongoing investment will be not only in the ‘who dunnit’ crime story, and how it is investigated, but also in the detectives themselves and who will crack the case next time.
This review is perfect. Encompassed everything I loved about Ep2. Thank you for highlighting all the fun Jack sass moments!
I have to admit, following the case was not a priority for me. These nuggets of character were the best treat. In fact, it felt to me like that really was the goal, that Jack was really the centre of attention. Course that could just be my bias...
I cannot wait to see what Jack (and Charlie, I've fallen in love with her as well) have in store for us next week!
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papillon... pamplemousse... bibliothèque... un baiser A lilt in his voice. Every sentence like music... #kisskisskiss A terrible beauty is born. Love me some #Jacksass