Benefit of the Doubt: Part 1

This may be my favorite episode. It has good writing and great characters. We get to meet Reid, who has been assigned to Frost. He is on his last legs as an investigator and his hope now is his work with our favorite detective. Unfortunately, he has addiction problems and a past that is suspect. In this offering we have two cases, both of which are the deaths of women. The first involves a woman whose body parts are found strewn over a railroad yard. She has been run over several times by various trains, but the odd thing is that her arm was found in another place. The second concerns a superb heart surgeon. She is a terse, driven woman who alienates her fellow, much less competent, colleagues. They recognize her talents but resent her methods. She has operated on a boy who has died. She had assure the parents that there would be no problem. During the operation, the primary surgeon's work is interrupted by her when he can't handle a complication. One day she disappears. The episode ends with a startling revelation when a young woman whom we have seen several times delivers a startling pronouncement.

There's a lot going on in this one. No less than 6 storylines. Good guest stars along with some Frost back story legend. Must see for fans. Its terrific how rewatchable so many Brit murder series are for me.

You'd think that after 7 seasons and 7 years of A Touch of Frost the quality would diminish as ideas dry up and/or the cast lose motivation. Turns out, quite the contrary.

The series is actually getting BETTER. The producers have figured out that the ideal format for Frost is not several independent 90-minute episodes in a season but one 150 or so minute episode split into two parts. You have more time for plot and character development and can mesh several concurrent mysteries into one episode.

Season 7 was the first time this was tried and it was great. Season 8 is even better and is absolutely brilliant. There's a few mysteries, some of which get wrapped up pretty quickly and one, the centrepiece, that goes the distance. With any other show there'd be a connection between the different cases but not with Frost, showing that policework isn't about tackling one crime at a time but tackling them simultaneously.

Add in a great human aspect as Frost is teamed with a Sergeant who is a war hero but who also has many issues and an emotional sub-plot involving Frost's private life and this is about as complete and as perfect an episode of Frost (or almost any detective drama) you'll get.

As has been said by me numerous times already, 'A Touch of Frost' is a personal favourite of mine, and one of my favourite shows from the detective/mystery genre. Do have a preference perhaps for the earlier-mid-show episodes over the later ones, but none of the episodes are less than watchable and none do anything to embarrass the show.

So much appeals about 'A Touch of Frost'. Love the mix of comedy (mostly through Frost's snide comments and quips) and dark grit, the tension between rebellious Jack Frost and by-the-book Mullet which has led to some humorous moments, how he interacts with the rest of the staff, the deft mix of one or two cases and Frost's personal life, how Frost solves the cases, the production values, music and of course David Jason in one of his best roles.

There may have been people initially sceptical about whether the show would work, and with Jason (a mainly comedic actor) in a departure from usual in the lead role. Scepticism very quickly evaporated, with the first season containing three consistently great episodes, even with the darker and grittier approach with less humour, that established the tone and characterisation so brilliantly so early on with no signs of finding-their-feet. Seasons 2 and 3 continued that high standard, "Appropriate Adults" and "Stranger in House" particularly being show highlights. Season 4 was also very good, particularly "Paying the Price" and "Deep Waters", the weakest "Unknown Soldiers" still being pretty good. All four episodes of Season 5 were brilliant, especially "Penny for the Guy" and "No Other Love". Season 6 wasn't quite as consistent, but all episodes ranged from good to great, the best being "Keys to the Car".

"Benefit of the Doubt" is the second of four two parters on 'A Touch of Frost', and it is every bit as wonderful as the first two parter episode from Season 7 "Line of Fire". Can be iffy about episodes being split into half, having been done with variable execution on 'Lewis' for example, but not here.

It's a very well made episode as to be expected. It matches the dark, gritty tone of the episode beautifully with atmospheric lighting and the stylish way it's shot. The music is haunting without being over-bearing.

The script is well written, with a few very amusing quips from Frost, and is thought-provoking with lots of things you don't expect. The story is absorbing with a good deal happening while not rushing through it or trying to do too much. Plenty of suspense and intrigue, with a truly shocking end to the first half.

Frost is a remarkably well-established character , and one cannot help love his interaction with the rest of the officers and his chemistry with Bruce Alexander's stern and by-the-book Mullet, who constantly despairs of Frost's unconventional approach. Frost's new partner is a good character and works well with Frost.

Jason is superb as always and everybody else is every bit as good.

In conclusion, wonderful. 10/10 Bethany Cox