An incredible show

qv1879

I started watching this show in series 1. It was edgy and gritty, with  strong performances from everyone. It still is. "Wire in the Blood" is  the story of Dr.Tony Hill (Robson Green), a slightly eccentric clinical  psychologist who works part time with the police force of  Bradford, England. He has a reputation of taking small seemingly  unconnected facts puzzling them together and providing a profile for  the police to follow. The show is bases on the books written by crime  novelist Val McDiarmid. In series 1-3, Hermione Norris played Detective  Inspecter/Chief Inspecter Carol Jordan of Bradford CID, who managed to  rein Tony's scattered abilities and make sense of them. In series 4, Ms  Norris has left the show and Simone Lahbib as Inspecter Alex Fielding  has the dubious job of reining in Hill.  Green is, of course, the lead of the show and he is brilliant. He mixes  in just enough idiosyncrasies to make Hill human, endearing and  sometimes down right aggravating. Norris brought an adult, feminine,  vulnerability to her role as Carol Jordan. Brought up to believe in  hard case police work, her world was turned upside down by Tony's  presence. In the end, she asks for a transfer. Enter DI Alex Fielding,  Simone Lahbib. Ms. Lahbib is an unknown entity to me, but as I finished  watching series 4, I felt a bit queasy. When one actor leaves a show  and is replaced. It is important to give the newcomer a distinctive  identity. Fielding is a single mother with a son and a cat, yet in the  second episode of s4, "Torment", the writers were able to slide her  easily into the role that would have been Norris'. The "Jordan"  character was specific to the McDiarmid book "Torment of Others", of  which the episode was derived. The Jordan/Fielding character played a  large part.   The writing is exceptional, especially for the episode, "Torment". The  acting is exceptional. This statement is meant to include: Mark  Letheren(DI Kevin Jeffries); Emma Handy (DC Paula McIntyre) and Peter  Sullivan (ACC Paul Eden). When there is an ensemble cast and crew that  work their hardest to put out the best product possible, it makes  viewing a very satisfying activity.  Note: this show is designated TV-MA, because of some intense or violent  scenes. I would not recommend this show for anyone under the age of 16.

score 10/10

qv1879 30 November 2006

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1533969/