446. Web-series Reviews – 245

More web-series reviews…

Art Detectives – Came in 2025. In the Metropolitan Police's smallest department, the Heritage Crime Unit, an art-loving detective tackles cases connected to the world of art, antiques, collectibles and cultural heritage.

A review from IMDB...

Granted this review is based on the first three episodes, so it could change.

I found the first three episodes to be intelligent, crisp, deft and witty. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I would encourage others to take a stab at the series.

As long as it is primarily case driven and avoids the temptation to indulge in tick-box family drama, I have high hopes for this. The three episodes thus far have been set in Yorkshire (Portraits and the National Gallery), Gloucester (A Viking dig and artifacts), Cornwall (a listed estate and rock memorabilia).

For those who like comparisons, I would say it's an amalgam of Lovejoy, Dalgliesh and Chelsea Detective. Like Dalgliesh, Art Detectives is also shot in Northern Ireland. What an amazing canvas from which to work.

As the Storyline says, "In the Metropolitan Police's smallest department, the Heritage Crime Unit, an art-loving detective tackles cases connected to the world of art, antiques, collectibles and cultural heritage."

DI Palmer is the head of the Heritage Crime Unit: in point of fact at the beginning of the series he IS the whole of the Heritage Crime Unit. In the first episode, which takes place in Yorkshire, he is paired with DS Malik, a female DS, who is assigned to help Palmer by the regional DI.

DI Palmer reminds me of Bertie Carvel's Dalgliesh, but with a sense of humor to go with gravitas. This is not meant to take anything away from Bertie Carvel's superb portrayal of Dalgliesh -- I am just saying Carvel's is serious, and rightly so, a different variety of the mystery genre. There may also be a bit of Max from Chelsea Detective. Palmer clearly knows his onions, and can notch up the intensity when the case demands it. He is also able to spot talent, separate the genuine from the ersatz (in people as well). He also is willing to listen to input, knows how to be polite, and how to handle hostile forces.

DS Malik reminds me of a combination of Layla Walsh (Chelsea Detective) and Kate Miskin (Dalgliesh). She is keen to learn and has a nascent instinct. It will be fun to watch her grow.

Each episode clearly states why the Heritage Crime Unit are being sent to the case instead of "major crimes or the murder squad." Not sure how edyoung-90901 missed that. Again it is also very clear why in the third episode they were going to commandeer the row boat.

So don't be put off by the other lukewarm reviews. If you like art and mystery, give this a try.

My Take – A good watch!

 

Reunion – Came in 2025. A deaf man who, after committing a horrible crime, is abruptly freed from jail and discovers that everything in his world has drastically altered.

A review from iMDB...

Daniel Brennan is released after serving a ten year prison sentence for murdering his friend Ray. Brennan is keen to meet up with his daughter Carly and is desperate to find someone from his past.

A groundbreaking drama, my honest advice is to ignore the negative reviews, they simply do not relate to this incredible drama. The BBC isn't exactly at its best right now, but there's always a chance that it'll put out a classic series, Reunion is just that.

This deserves to be remembered for years to come, after a good first episode, it opens up in the most unexpected way, as soon as you get used to the formula, you'll be engrossed, I haven't seen anything as good as this for some time.

Mathew Gurney deserves an award for this, his performance quite simply, was breathtaking, in episodes three and four he actually had me in tears, unbelievable, I thought he was phenomenal.

The supporting cast are terrific, Peake, Duff, Marsan, Sims, the whole lot of them did a great job.

So good to be able to give a drama a perfect score.

My Take – A good watch!

 

After the Party – Came in 2023. Penny's world implodes when she accuses her husband Phil of a sex crime against her daughter's teenage friend and nobody believes her. Five years later, he returns from Scotland and moves in with Penny's daughter Grace and grandchild. Grace begs her to put the past behind them, but when Phil takes up a teaching position Penny is again compelled to prove his guilt, reopening barely covered wounds in those around her and causing Grace to cut her out of her life. An increasingly alienated Penny is forced to choose what's more important - the truth or her relationship with her daughter.

A review from iMDB...

The series a New Zealand production spread over 6 x 1 hours episodes.

Unlike most TV series this series excels in developing the storylines and characters slowly over the 6 hours screen time. Unlike 99% of British TV dramas, in which there are cliff hangers at the end of each episode.

In After the Party, the question is how you feel about what you have witnessed and who you believe, not necessarily what you have seen.

I think its unfamiliarity of the actors helps, with no additional pre screen history in the UK apart from the excellent Peter Mullen (Mother Superior in Trainspotting) all the actors are new to me and are all excellent and importantly believable.

The co-writer Robyn Malcolm also stars and she is heart breaking as Penny.

I have since read the Mullen and Malcom are husband and wife in the real world, again perfect casting, their chemistry on screen is real and makes you worry about their marriage.

The story is about free spirit Penny's life slowly unravelling before her. Following has she believes, witnessing her husband Phil caught "in-flagrante" with 14-year-old boy Ollie.

The subject matter is controversial in its portrayal of child abuse, grooming and in turn gaslighting of Penny, is difficult to watch. Again, this is part of its appeal.

Shown on channel 4 in England, on catch up, which enables us to watch over 3 successive night the full series. If time had allowed, we would have watched the full series in one sitting, alas not.

For this wonderful drama it's an 8/10 from me. We can discuss why it loses a couple of points at a later date.

My Take – Worth a watch! 

Adios till next time😊!!