Tag: Dalgliesh

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TV Series Review

Dalgliesh – Series 3 – Review

Dalgliesh Series 3 – Review

Dalgliesh Series 3 features slow episodes but culminates in a captivating finale, showcasing complex mysteries and compelling character dynamics.

First Reaction – Dalgliesh Series 3 has a couple of slow episodes but a great last one.

Where to Watch

Dalgliesh Series 1 – 3 DVD Box Set, courtesy of Acorn Media International on 23 December 2024.

Director: Geoffrey Sax, Bertie Carvel, Roger Goldby

Writer: Colette Kane, Helen Edmundson (Screenplay)

Writer: P.D. James (Books)

Cast

Plot: Follows Dalgliesh’s crime-fighting career from 1970s England to the present day.

Runtime: 45 Minutes per episode

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Dalgliesh Series 3

Death in Holy Orders

Death in Holy Orders follows the murder of Archdeacon Crampton. He is visiting the local church, which is already battling a scandal and a potential sale. The suspects include the religious figures there and the other visitors. DCI Dalgleish (Carvel) and DS Tarrant (Brammer) investigate the murder. The pair meet the suspects and look for answers to the murder.

The first case back moves at a slow pace despite being set in and around church grounds. It presents plenty of suspects and secrets the people hold. There is a look at how the church operates and covers up factors. However, the mystery doesn’t seem to get going and struggles to get out of first gear as no character is sticking out from the crowd. (2/5)

Cover Her Face

Cover Her Face follows a live-in maid who dies overnight in the aftermath of a big celebration. The host family has plenty of secrets and they must get exposed if Dalgleish is going to learn who is behind the murder.

This continues the idea of putting the detectives in a more singular location with a big household with secrets. It touches on a more sensitive subject for the era the show is set, with an Asian family being the one with wealth and people looking down on them. While the situation is an interesting twist on the class system, the mystery ends up feeling overly long for what we end up getting. (2/5)

Devices and Desires

Devices and Desires follows a potential serial killer operating near Kent. Dalgliesh is assigned to join his former partner DS Kate Miskin (Peer) investigating the murders. The victims worked for a power plant company and they have faced campaigns against their work. Meanwhile, Kate has her own challenges with this case as the pair work together to solve the case.

This is easily the best episode of the series and reunites Dalgliesh with Kate. The pair’s past takes over the episode even with the mystery being fascinating with them hunting a potential serial killer. It feels like a lot more is happening and far more engaging compared to the previous two. (4/5)

Dalgliesh Series 3

Dalgliesh Series 3 is the return of the series following the 70s detective solving more complex cases. Sadly, the show struggles to get going, with the pace of the episodes being way too slow, everything seems too serious and lacks any sparks. It could be argued it reflects more realistic detective work. The singular locations can make them feel like murder mysteries, rather than actual murders.

Final Thoughts –Dalgliesh Series 3 brings a calming presence to the murder mysteries.

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Movie Review

Dalgliesh – Season 2 (2023) TV Review

Dalgliesh – Season 2 – Review

Dalgliesh

Director: Andy Tohill, Ryan Tohill, Geoffrey Sax, Jon Wright

Writer: P.D James (Novel)

Cast

Plot: Follows Dalgliesh’s crime-fighting career from 1970s England to the present day.

Runtime: 45 Minutes Episodes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Dalgliesh – Season 2

Death of an Expert Witness (D. Geoffrey Sax)

Death of an Expert Witness starts when a forensic doctor Lorrimer gets murdered while investigating the crime. DCI Dalgliesh (Carvel) and DS Kate Miskin (Peer) are called in to investigate. They learn quickly, he wasn’t the most popular man around town, but his work is always praised.

As the pair investigate, they start learning more secrets of the town. This leads to twists and turns along the way as each clue seems to reveal something new about the crime.

The first chapter of this series gets to give us a nice mystery of clues to follow. It gets to show Dalgliesh’s ability to solve crimes by looking from the outside, rather than being too close. However, this does end up getting drawn out a little bit too long for the mystery in play. (3/5)

A Certain Justice (D. Andy Tohill, Ryan Tohill)

A Certain Justice starts when DCI Dalgliesh (Carvel) and DS Miskin (Peer) are investigating the murder of Doroty Scully. The case looks like an easy case to solve, with Garry Ashe (Aroussi) being tried for the case. However, when defence attorney Venetia Aldrige (Stewart) gets the case thrown out.

The detectives get called on a new case after Venetia is murdered in her office. They are joined by rookie detective Daniel Tarrant (Brammer) and between them, must investigate a group of barristers. This only becomes more complicated when Venetia’s daughter starts dating Garry Ashe.

The second story gets to dive into a much more personal case for the detectives. By having somebody as a suspect for the lawyer getting killed who was against the pair, shows that we are left wondering if they can keep things away from a personal approach. This gets to prove more difficult as lawyers don’t want to tell the whole story. It is a much more interesting one that keeps us guessing all the way through. (4/5)

The Murder Room (D. Jon Wright)

The Murder Room starts when DCI Dalgliesh (Carvel), DS Miskin (Peer) and DS Tarrant (Brammer) are called in for a horrific crime scene. A victim is found in a burning car, which is quickly dismissed as not being an accident or suicide.

With the investigation underway, the location is the most interesting, as it holds artefacts from murders during the war. This is clear with the fact that the crime happens in the same way one of the cases in the museum happens. The clues send them in a range of directions, which could see them uncover a bigger truth.

With the third story, we get a highlight from the locations. A place with such mystery and seeing a copycat using the crimes creates a new motivation. Much like the rest of the stories we have seen unfold, we are kept guessing. This one helps create the biggest amounts of suspects throughout the movie. (4/5)

Dalgliesh – Season 2

Dalgliesh – Season 2 brings us three unique cases, with each one becoming more interesting as they unfold. We get the unique crimes, despite the shows being played out in the same format. The 1970s theme works well for the whole series with Bertie Carvel & Carlyss Peer working extremely well together. We could easily come back for a season 3 with more crimes for the detectives to solve.

Final Thoughts –Dalgliesh Season 2 is an entertaining detective series.