After an early release from prison due to cancer, Dean Price is beaten, stabbed and left for dead. Eight years ago, Polish immigrant Alekz Wojnar suffered an identical assault and was found in exactly the same alley where Price has just been found.
At the time, Dean admitted taking part in Alekzʼs beating, but denied administering the fatal stabbing. When he was convicted of ABH (actual bodily harm) rather than murder, the victimʼs grief-stricken family was furious. Deanʼs brother Robbie says that he warned him not to return to the area. Have the Wojnars taken the law into their own hands?
Alekzʼs father Marek comes under suspicion when Deanʼs neighbours report witnessing a ferocious quarrel between the two. Inside the house, Deanʼs kitchen floor is covered in blood, indicating that he was stabbed there and then moved.
Marek admits to seeing red when he learned that Dean had used a false identity to arrange a meeting with his daughter Kamilla. However, Kamillaʼs husband Stan was also furious when he found out and the fact that he has already washed all the familyʼs clothes from the day of the attack on Dean looks decidedly suspicious.
The detectives decide that the only way to get to the bottom of what happened to Dean is to reinvestigate the original crime…
Channel 5
Cast
Damien Molony - DS Jack Weston
Clare-Hope Ashitey - DC Charlie Steele
Fay Ripley - DI Martha Bellamy
Christian Brassington - News Reader
Chris Simmons - Robbie Price
Velibor Topic - Marek Wojnar
Joe Absolom - Stan Clarke
Edyta Budnik - Kamilla Clarke
Director - Sylvie Boden
Writers - Sarah-Louise Hawkins (story by), Darren Fairhurst (Co-creator), Steve Hughes (Co-creator), Paul Marquess (Co-creator)
Producers - Mary Hare (line producer), Kara Manley (series producer), Paul Marquess (executive producer)
I need a re-watch to fully digest this episode ... so intense right from the start. Emotionally powerful again too.. It felt very Jack-centric.. lots of close-ups! And Jack's magical crime solving pen!
Really enjoyed this episode. Excellent episode full of twists and turns. Jack's hair deserves an award of its own, I keep wanting to reach out and smooth it!
This ep was great and full of funny Jack and intensive scenes, love to see him running
Hard story line to follow and I was surprised about the outcome in the end of the ep. I think best part in the ep was when Jack was interviewing Robbie Price in his home (when Jack found the phone behind the radiator). So sassy scene, so sassy Jack!
And the ending! That smile.. so sweet! "Can we please not go to that scabby Irish place that you love?" Haha! I wonder was that line based on a true story
"Jack, help me puzzle this out please" <-------- I need a t-shirt which says this
Ok, I have to say that I watched this twice and the first time I was actually a bit disappointed in the whole thing. It's not about anything in particular I think. Damo was great as sassy Jack as always, Charlie the good sidekick, lots of twists and turns. BUT, I think I have to agree with an article that was posted last week (don't remember which) that pointed out that as good as the show is, it doesn't EVOLVE. It's the same formula, and for me it's starting to get too predictable. The fact that the solicitors say nothing has started to grate on me. The fact that they NEVER have a happy ending (like common, not everyone assaulted person dies, not every family has to be so tragically torn apart). For this episode, was it absolutely necessary that the dad of the first victim shot his son's killer (by accident). Couldn't it have been enough that they found his son's killer, and brought him to justice? The poor woman lost her mom (that's a common thread too, many of the families on this show the mom recently died of some disease or committed suicide or something) then her brother, now her dad has to go to jail. And sure they throw in a few jabs here and there about Jack's personal life, we know Martha has kids, but we've heard NOTHING about Charlie. I just feel like it's starting to feel stale, and they throw in so many twists and turns just for shock value. I guess what I'm starting to be disappointed in is the writing.
However, enjoyed Jack, he really has the lion's share of attention of the trio. More manhandling by suspects, more interview time. Hot pursuits (and by hot I mean gotta love that #JacksAss in action... ), and also a wide range of situations that showcase his emotional sensitivity. My favorite lines were "So I got my extra special forensics team to look at the creases and they found microscopic drops of blood. See, I'm a fucking good detective." and "I wasn't going to go in there. I wasn't going to get wet." He's such a prima donna sometimes! LOL
So overall I gave it a 4. As a standalone episode it was good quality drama. Action, suspense, emotion, a sprinkling of humor. BUT, I don't think it's necessarily getting better. I really would like them to change up the format a bit for S5. S2 had a change, with the 2-parters and more on personal backstory, and it's my favorite.
As an aside, last weeks was clearly an episode shot from the original block meant for S1, this week's feels like it's from the second set shot last summer. I think that means there are still one episode from each filming, or the next 2 are from the original filming. Dunno, I have to go back and add it all up...
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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'm just watching this again on Channel 5 + 24. I hadn't thought about the lack of happy endings until you mentioned it, whimsy. I wonder if it is part of the pseudo-documentary style - if it was an actual documentary following a team of detectives it would probably focus on the most shocking, interesting cases as opposed to all of the more routine stuff detectives would work on.
I'll be interested to see what happens in series 5 particularly if there is a suspicion that Fay isn't in it.
I always assumed that the solicitors didn't speak because you have to pay extras who speak more money!
Just realised that we have Jack's magic crime fighting pens at work!
I think I actually enjoyed this weeks ep more than last week, maybe it was from the 2nd set of filming..... I have to agree with much of what whimsy said, although I do think it has evolved to some extent. It's been obscured a bit by jumping about with the sequence they're being aired. I mentioned last week that series 2 was my favourite too...for all of the same reasons. I really don't want to see suspects become another soap style cop series, but it is nice to feel that you're kind of getting to know the main characters....making a connection with them. I've got my fingers crossed that they will follow that through a bit more in what has just been filmed for next series.
I think you're right about the solicitors, rosie. But that doesn't make it any more plausible or realistic. Although personally I can happily just ignore their presence!
And I did actually find myself thinking for the first time this week that it would be nice to have a happy ending.......
Still a brilliant story, though. I never guess what's coming. And I continue to be amazed by the fact it's improvised and most of the time I don't give that a moment's thought while I'm watching it. I wish I could be that conversationally fluent in my everyday life! And yes....much as I enjoy the detectiving, and the interviews, and the banter, its nice to see a bit of action (Jacktion? )
You brought up a lot of good/interesting points, Whimsy.
I agree with a lot of what has been said. I said the same thing last week about the lack of info on the characters. I still really think a little bit of a personal touch would help to develop the characters and help to connect with them too... without it going over board and taking over the story at all. I like that the show doesn't focus on their lives as a main theme, but the fact that they have absolutely NO information on these characters makes me feel very disconnected while I'm watching.
Even if I didn't watch the show specifically to see Damien, he really is the shining star in this.
I laughed when Jack said "We're gonna ask the questions"
I LOVE all the questioning with Jack. He is so quick with his remarks and so to the point LOL And of course I loved the part at the end about the pub. One shining moment of humanity.
I noticed the solicitor thing too and always thought it was weird LOL... glad I'm not the only one.
His hair really is stealing the show for me HAHA I love how it's so unruly, I find myself staring at it and getting distracted from the fast paced story sometimes :)
I agree, Ellie, it really does deserve its own reward
I hate to disagree, but for me thre is nothing predictable about this show! the format is what sets it apart from all others and makes it the opposite of predictable! The story lines are always cleverly woven and utterly absorbing, gripping all the way from start to finish. I never find myself separated from the full immersion of it all. I also like that we do not go home with the detectives. what we do get are little flashes of insight from their working relationship and the dynamic. That always leaves me wanting more, but in a good way!