To Be a Somebody: Part 1

Any sympathy I had for Robert carlyle's character immediately evaporated when he first spoke to the shopkeeper, a lousy 4p and immediately he's morphed into a total psycho, with absolutely no build up or development into it, no just bang there he is fully formed.

Of course this form of storytelling makes for 'impact' but I can't help feeling that it's somewhat lazy writing, something like 4p may niggle in itself, but the only way it would be the 'last straw' is if it's built up to that over a period, and there is no sign of that.

Britain's multicultural society is a product of millennia of invasions and imperialism, shop keepers of many differing nationalities, still in this 21st century of the Christian calendar, feel afraid to even open for business but they, have to pay their bills to survive.

Fitz's lemming like behaviour continues unabated though the sole difference between a lemming and Dr Edward Fitzgerald, is that the lemming is not trying to make excuses for its behaviour, or to blame them on someone else.

Now the time is here

For Iron Man to spread fear

Vengeance from the grave

Kills the people he once saved

If you don't know the song, then flog yourself mercilessly with a heavy lead boot, then come back here.

"To Be a Somebody" is perhaps the most chilling portrayal of a serial murderer because he is not some misfit scumbag who grew up torturing kittens. He is the epitome of an "everyman", a completely ordinary human being--if not a nice guy--who ends up turning into one of the most remorseless, amoral, detestable killers you've seen on TV. Why and how does he take this turn? Listen to Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" and you'll start to get the picture. Better yet, watch the show.

Also if you're American and completely ignorant of world news outside the USA bubble like me, you may want to keep your smartphone handy so you can google "Hillsborough disaster" near the end of the show. It is extremely significant, and you can spend a good day reading about the complex twisting of truth, lies and outrage surrounding the event. This episode of Cracker came 6 years after the disaster, and that was still almost a decade before the scandal was properly investigated. So the gravity of the event and its significance to this story is very pressing.

You will find yourself disgusted, intrigued, hateful and sympathetic toward the killer. As always, this excellent show bends the boundaries of good guy vs. bad guy, forcing not only your brain but your heart to work overtime to keep up.

This 3-part episode is full of top notch acting by everyone, especially Christopher Eccleston (police chief "David") who gets to shine with an explosive performance. The story is very provocative, and I'm not just talking about a psycho killer who guts people with a bayonet. I'm talking about the story of a serial killer who is exactly like you or me, a normal person who, for reasons that are shown in the beginning and which unfold & intensify all the way up to the rattling conclusion, switches over to the dark side.

Give this show your full attention, and I promise you won't be disappointed. I say this after watching every episode of Cracker, this is hands down the best crime drama that ever hit the screen.

The most controversial episode mainly because of the press build up in advance of the story being broadcast.

Some parts of the press linked the killer's motivations with the Hillsborough disaster of 1989. Even the scum newspaper that blamed Liverpool fans for the disaster.

Robert Carlyle with a slightly dodgy scouse accent, is Albie. A working class welder who has just buried his father.

He is a Labour voter, who believed in progressive issues and is intelligent. He is frustrated that his work colleagues ignore his answers to the crossword puzzle.

Albie snaps over 4 pence to an Asian shopkeeper. He becomes a skinhead and returns to stab the shopkeeper with a racial motivation behind the killing.

Later Albie admits to wanting to kill a Sun journalist but settles to stab a psychologist who built a completely incorrect profile of him.

Albie is not the only one having a breakdown. So is Fitz. He has won big at gambling but then loses it again the next day.

His health is declining, Fitz still will not have sex with his wife. The doctor at the hospital wants Fitz to see a psychiatrist.

Two contrasting personalities and the end of their tethers. At least for Fitz there may be a way back in this dark story.

A strong startling start to the series with again, a strong cast, humour and writing. The arrogance of Fitz, yet Judith still puts up with him. Robert Carlyle shows off his talents that has led to a great career.

I was disgusted, intrigued, yet empathetic toward the killer. This anthology film pushes the usual genre boundaries. "To Be a Somebody" is a chilling portrait of a serial killer who goes from being a completely ordinary human being to becoming one of the most ruthless, amoral and detestable killers around. It combines the best elements of British crime drama: fantastic writing, impeccable acting, precise direction and editing, and an ultra-engaging story. We see how an essentially good man allows himself to be destroyed from the inside out. He would be someone else if he could. Coltrane, on the other hand, sickeningly violates other characters. He walks free, feels no remorse, and views his actions merely pragmatically. It's mind-boggling to understand in the end that Fitz will not suffer any consequences, will never be accused and will walk free scaring whoever comes his way.