Dead Man's Time

As a long-time John Simm fan, I watch Grace regardless of how much misery they pile on in the script. And this script, when I could figure out who the heck they were on about with so many random names of characters and connected businesses tossed about, was desperately difficult to follow and relentlessly miserable with it.

A gloomy tale of a ridiculously valuable watch stolen (who cares?) and Grace and his cohorts trying to figure out who took it amongst many possible suspects. I don't really recall too much of the wheres and whys, even though I just this minute finished watching it, because it was convoluted, tiresome and boring.

Probably the worst of all the Grace episodes, in my opinion. If you liked it, fair dues to you. To each his/her own. But I will keep watching because of John Simm. Plus my lingering curiosity about when the heck he's going to figure out that his long lost wife isn't.

It's great to have Grace back on our screens even if the screens are in Finland. Yet another ITV show being screened abroad before the UK (along with the likes of Midsomer Murders, Mcdonald and Dodds, The Bay, D. I. Ray and new true crime drama Until I Kill You starring Shaun Evans).

With that moan out of the way, it has to be said that the usual gloss of the show does see to be missing here with it seemingly being filmed earlier in the year so the background of Brighton seems a bit drab.

OK, that's two moans (don't get me started on it being very different from the book!) but a quality actor in Robert Glenister brings the show a lot of gravitas (and shows up the frailties of John Simm who just seems to talk through his lines).

I assume they paid Robert a lot of money as he is in the show rather a lot for a guest actor and, having seen him in Sherwood and The Night Caller recently, I feel he could have offered much more.

A good watch as it seem to be cutting back on their two hour dramas this year.

Grace and Glenn investigate the death of Aileen Daly, who is robbed and brutally attacked inside her home. Aileen is survived by her brother Gavin, who wants answers.

Very good I thought, an intriguing and dark mystery for a Sunday night, definitely another bleak and macabre storyline.

I'm glad we were given the long recap, I'd forgotten several bits from the previous series.

Evidence of money being spent on this one, it looks terrific, and the scenes of the past in particular look amazing, definitely not your run of the mill TV drama.

Interesting to see Smallbone back, he is a good character, something sinister and edgy about him, I'm sure there's more to come from him.

John Simm is excellent as always, and I look forward to the moment where Grace comes face to face with his estranged wife.

A quality performance from Robert Glenister, as always he delivers.

8/10.