Dark Heart

Good cast and storyline love the two parts stories on path with Luther ..need more police dramas on this level

DI Wagstaffe comes across as a fairly competent detective, but he seems to rely on feelings more than logic in his personal life. Considering the severity of the crimes he investigates there seems to be a marked lack of support officers. For example in episode 3 & 4 it seems that Special Branch should have gotten involved considering the possible international connections of the criminals. We also see a surprising lack of discipline in handling evidence with some left lying on his desk instead of being logged in and properly stored. This series is not up to the normal standard of the better British police procedurals.

Most of this is a workmanlike unspooling of a mysterious series of killings. The victims are all men who were accused of sexually abusing children but whose cases were not brought to trial. Links are found to a killing which took place two years ago, but the man who did that confessed and is in prison. He was father to the abused child. But parents of the children abused by those targeted in the latest round all have alibis. Helped by some very good performances, notably by the lead actor, the riddle is unwound.. But the narrative is confused by a scene which seems pointlessly confusing inserted for no apparent reason.

Great idea and great acting. Tom Riley, Charlotte Riley and Amanda Raison are wonderful actors and it's worth watching the series just for them. The problem is the plotting; it all feels underwritten, or more likely either over edited. There's a lot of "what happened there?" moments. Nevertheless, still a superior bit of TV drama.

Protagonist is ok, not great though. Female cast is horrendous, worst is Mohindra. Also agree with another reviewer not enough police work and too much boring soap opera personal life. Luther vibes?? They could only wish! You need a great personality, character, actor to pull that off. Wasted potential.