A Certain Justice - Part 1

DS Kate Miskin and DCI Adam Dalgliesh find out that life is rough justice.

Garry Ashe is an arrogant young man who is accused of murdering his aunt. He was spotted leaving the house.

At his trial he is successfully defended by Venetia Aldridge. She proves that the witness's eyesight was so bad, that she could not had seen anything with her old prescription glasses.

Venetia later has a showdown with the partners in her barristers chambers. Accusing them of running it like an old boy's club and that she plans to become the head of chambers.

She is later found dead and her body had blood poured over her after she died.

Miskin discovers that Ashe is engaged to Venetia's daughter.

Dalgliesh thinks that the murderer could be connected with someone that Venetia successfully defended. She took on unpopular clients such as terrorists.

Another atmospheric episode. There are a lot of suspects with a question mark hanging over Ashe. Once again the story is very atmospheric.

I did groan when Venetia humiliated the witness at trial. I know your prescription can change over time but really so rapidly from one prescription to the next. The scene might have worked better if she had to take her glasses off entirely rather then wear her old one.

The character of Dalgliesh is flat line, no emotion, except when he's pampering his sergeant in a pandering gratuitous manner. Oh look, she's black, female and young. This is very unrealistic. I can't think of a time when any boss could give two hoots about how their employees feel. But Dalgliesh is frequently asking her how she's feeling, or apologizing for nothing. This is not real world, certainly not in the 1970s (when I first started work), and certainly not these days. I'd love to hear how many people work for someone who is so concerned with their well being and always checking in with them. British TV producers and writers have this alter-reality that they wish the world was like. It's nothing like this, never has been, never will be.

Also, it seems to be against the law in the UK for a male lead to work alone now.

I can't get passed this, as it throws any realism off. Also would it kill the writers for Dalgliesh to use more than one tone throughout the entire series? The stories aren't that interesting to hide these flaws.

Dalgliesh unfolds like a flower bud in a vase. The series reveals a gentleman with depth, sensitivity and briliance. It has been 40 years since I read the novels so I can't compare to accuracy and defer to the positive reviews of others. I have for the most part given up on detective programs and I remember the old series. I believe this a fabulous remake.

The cinematography, locations, casting and attention to period detail are award winning quality so it is a pleasure to behold in many places. As an American. I like seeing old architecture and the lovely countryside in England. The script and acting are top-notch as well.

Too often TV series have an ongoing character that grates on my nerves to the point it is unbearable. I am happy to say there is none of that here.

I hope that a third series with more episodes is forthcoming.

Having successfully defended an apparently guilty Garry Ashe, Venetia Aldridge is found dead after a confrontational meeting with her fellow partners. The crime scene is left in a very curious, almost mocking scene.

Was Venetia killed to make room for a place as Head of Chambers, or was she killed for some other reason.

As with last week's two part story, I wondered how this adaptation would compare to the book, and previous adaptation, and I have to be honest, once again, incredibly well.

Yet another terrific adaptation, that absolutely nailed it, Bertie Carvel is terrific once again, but the script, the visuals, production values, all are absolutely on point. Sara Stewart really did bring Venetia to life (no pun intended.)

Well paced, it didn't lull or drip for a second, I hope Channel Five keep this standard up.

Excellent adaptation.

9/10.

This is tough to review because I am watching this 2021 version of PD James's Dalgliesh Series screenplay after I watched the 1998 classic, Roy Marsden, Inspector Dalgliesh series. The 1998 version set an unattainable precedent for screenwriting literature for stage or screen. This 2021 adaptation therefore, sadly, hails as an abridged sample of the extremely well written and greatly detailed penmanship associated with the writer, the late great Ms. James. Indeed the author who developed this script for screen may have encountered deadlines and financial constraints that produced this condensed version that merely communicates the mystery PD James sought to create. The mysterious aspect of this adaptation is found in the viewer, who, like me, watched another version, and was thus drawn to memories of Ms. James's mystery by wondering thoughts, like, "Wait. What happened to the part about...?" I will therefore now have to read the book in its entirety, which will possibly make me question my beloved 1998 adaptation's interpretation. But currently, I am in shock that the first "part" of this series has concluded in 51 minutes. What PD James story can be halfway through its retelling in less than 1 hour? Get it?