Mrs Sidhu Investigates – TV Review
Director: Steve Barron, Ben Kellett
Writer: Suk Pannu, Vivienne Harvey (Screenplay)
Cast
- Meera Syal (Yesterday)
- Craig Parkinson (Four Lions)
- Naana Agyei Ampadu (Ready Player One)
- Gurjeet Singh (Ackley Bridge)
- Gordon Kennedy (The Borderlands)
Plot: Mrs. Sidhu is a caterer with a taste for solving mysteries. Her sleuthing turns into an unofficial partnership with dour DCI Burton, who reluctantly accepts that together they make the perfect pairing to fight crime.
Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Minutes (Per Episode)
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict on Mrs Sidhu Investigates
Ripped (D. Steve Barron)
Ripped starts when Mrs Sidhu (Syal) arrives at her latest catering job and an elite gym and spa. However, one of the clients and a cleaner have been murdered. DCI Burton (Parkinson) leads the investigation, as Mrs Sidhu looks to use her own ability to solve situations. While Burton doesn’t want Mrs Sidhu anywhere near the case, she continues to find a way to uncover a new truth.
This is an excellent introduction to the characters. We get to learn who Mrs Sidhu is and her past, along with her positive point of view. There is also a chance to see how DCI Burton has been struggling and a new lease of life with Mrs Sidhu could change everything.
As we look at the case, we get an interesting one filled with plenty of twists and turns along the way. It shows how Mrs Sidhu could have a connection to someone inside the crime suspects list. This is a great start, leading us to a new path of pairing. (5/5)
Breaking Convention (D. Steve Barron)
Breaking Convention follows Mrs Sidhu and her son Tez (Singh) catering a fan convention for a popular TV show. However, an actor is killed in the same way they were killed off in the show. DCI Burton is called in to investigate the case, reluctantly needing to listen to Mrs Sidhu’s amateur crime-solving skills again.
This is another fun episode that continues to show Mrs Sidhu’s convenient connection to a crime. It shows she can help solve crimes by seeing the smallest details easily missed. The crime itself plays into fans’ conventions and that gets added back around when we see her son being a fan of the product. There is a continuing charm about the series, which only helps her crime-solving skills work well. (3/5)
Killer App (D. Ben Kellett)
Killer App starts when Mrs Sidhu gets hired by a tech company to provide catering with Tez. However, on her first day, the CEO is found murdered in his office. DCI Burton is leading the investigation, which sees him reluctantly needing to accept Mrs Sidhu’s help again. When the investigation starts, we see how many of the potential suspects working in the office, as most of them are about to become rich.
This episode continues to grow the relationship between Mrs Sidhu and Burton. They get to appreciate what they do for each other more. All while giving us an interesting case in the corporate tech world. This has a few more pluses, giving even more insight to have Mrs Sidhu connect to people. While it sadly seems to have one negative coming from how Sergeant Mint is made to look more like a comic relief, which is different to the previous episodes. However, that aside, the comedy hits new heights, and this has become the best episode in the series to date. (5/5).
On the Ropes (D. Ben Kellett)
On the Ropes when Mrs Sidhu and Tez are catering a boxing event. Tez is excited to meet his favourite boxer, however, he loses to his handpicked opponent. That night the rookie rising star is kidnapped on his way home. The next morning a random is left with the boxing club and Mrs Sidhu turns to DCI Burton to help. This takes them down a dangerous path to learn the truth behind the kidnapping.
To finish the series we get to learn the biggest truth about Mrs Sidhu, as we learn what happened to her policeman father. We knew he died on the job, but we learned more about the event in ways she never knew. Elsewhere, the case is interesting and filled with the typical twists and turns along the way. this episode puts more focus on the core cast over the main case, but it is still entertaining. (4/5)
Overall
Mrs Sidhu Investigates follows a bubbly caterer who finds herself in the middle of a host of crimes. She teams up with a reluctant detective Burton as she finds a way to solve the crimes. The cases are all a lot of fun and give us a vibe that makes us feel like we are watching a crime comedy.
Meera Syal is outstanding and incredibly likeable in the leading role. She is magnetic with charm and a human connection, unlike most people in life. Craig Parkinson gets to play off this character with his sulky detective figure and the mismatch partnership is complete. Naana Agyei Ampadu and Gurjeet Singh complete the main cast and bring plenty of laughs along the way. This could be one of the best new detective series in recent years, offering charm and enjoyment throughout.
Where to Watch: Mrs Sidhu Investigates comes to DVD & digital on 30 October.
Final Thoughts –Mrs Sidhu Investigates is a delightfully entertaining series.
