Prime Suspect 5: Errors of Judgement

As good a show these days as it was back in 1996.

Always interesting to see what the actors are doing these days.

Not just the main cast but the minor players as well.

All cast are on top form with stand out performances from Steve Macintosh ,David O Hara, Julia Lane and the ever dependable Helen Mirren .

A great script but with a grubby feel of city life with a realistic look at the drug scene. Really enjoyed it again even after eighteen years as it has dated very little.

I bought the box set from Amazon and this is by far the best story line from the entire set. 8/10

Prime Suspect's star, Helen Mirren, was indeed irreplaceable. In Errors of Judgment, on the verge of retirement, Jane (Mirren) approaches the case of a missing teenager, which she refuses to abandon until the killer is brought to justice. Simultaneously stricken by personal problems, including her father's illness and her alcoholism, Jane is eventually drawn to a young girl pivot of the case, a smart and fiercely independent sort that reminds her of herself. The story line, as usually, was great. Phil Davies did an excellent job directing, which continued the style employed by Tom Hooper in the previous episodes. Prime Suspect was a TV series that both renewed the post-modern crime series and unfortunately fed the commonplace, undignified sex & violence elements that plague it nowadays.

Supt. Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren) is sent up north. She witnesses an organized thieve ring. The kids she talks to are cynical. Drug mule Nazir is killed and Tennison has a case. The Street is the leader of the drug gang and he's immediately the prime suspect. He sees himself as the celebrity ruler and blessed constantly escaping prosecution. He's not the killer and tries to find the killer himself as a gang war looms. DC Henry Adeliyeka, DI Devanney, and DS Rankine are the main investigators for Tennison who starts sleeping with the married boss. Local kid Campbell Lafferty comes in and confesses to the shooting.

The franchise is going back to the extended episode which ends up with quite a bit of filler. This could easily be turned back to the previous two hour slot. Julia Lane and David O'Hara are great supporting actors in this. There is always Mirren. Steven Mackintosh plays The Street a little over the top. There are scarier ways to play the character. Overall, this is solid Prime Suspect but a little stretched.

Most of the Prime Suspect Series are gritty but this one is the most intense. The nothing to lose attitude of the "bad guys" added with the subtle defeatist attitude of the detective team brings this movie to almost a horror boiling point.

Of course Superintendent Jane Tennison doesn't know or have such problem. Even in this new assignment and new culture Tennison is her usual "get the bad guy at all cost" self. It's a must see but you might not want to watch it alone.

Prime Suspect 5 is as close as I have seen to outshining the original (though truth be known I have not see 2 or 3). The first thing we notice about PS5 is that Jane Tennison has a new hairdo, and has been moved to a different area (she's there to terrorise those men at Manchester now), and there is a line in the beginning of the film that captures the mood of the station perfectly:

"That bloody Jane Tennison, she'll be storming into your nic, the balls of your best officers trailing from her jaws, spraying people with claret, calling people masons, threatening resignation. Well I just wanted to let you know I'm not a complete maniac." And this line is said by Tennison herself!!!

Jane Tennison's investigations lead her this time into the world of organised crime and drugs, when she goes after a man known as "the street". What makes this miniseries so interesting is that it keeps you gripped until the very last frame, especially when you find out the person who is leaking information to the bad guys is ****************** (thought I was going to tell you didn't you?)

Twists and turns in the plot, an excellent storyline and excellent performances on every part (though Mirren seems to make them all fade into the background with her superior acting ability - I'm a biased member of the HMAS, and I'm the biggest fan of Helen Mirren to ever be, especially because I'm 15!!).

Thankyou, Helen, Thankyou, Lynda LaPlante, and thankyou, channel seven (for actually showing the series - prime suspect is scarcely available on video to buy or hire over here in Oz) - but I'm still waiting for 2 & 3!!!! .....you fink whateva you want babyluv, whateva tickle ya fancey, whateva lift ya dress......

9 out of 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!