The Commander: Virus

Commander Blake is still having to deal with the fallout of The Lampton case, she's also trying to help her sister, and has to deal with someone who's hacked The NHS records.

Pretty much a direct continuation of the pilot episode, it combines the original story, as well as a new one, Commander Blake once again central to events, she's trying to juggle several pressures, including a stalker.

I quite enjoyed it, gritty, well paced, quite chilling, considering that The NHS was hacked some years back I'll give credit to Lynda La Plant for foreseeing such a chilling scenario, and making it so terrifying, it's an almost unthinkable scenario.

An unsettling watch, the hospital scenario worked incredibly well, I thought The Lampton story should perhaps have ended in the pilot.

It's well acted, I really enjoyed Anthony Valentine in particular, Burton was excellent once again.

7/10.

Commander Blake is caring for her terminal sister. The Lampton case continues as he pleads not guilty. Embarrassing details of their relationship are publicized. A sister of Lampton's victim is stalking Blake. A hacker has gained access to the records at St. Barnaby's hospital and is causing patient deaths. He threatens to kill one patient every 24 hrs.

I still don't like the Lampton case coming from the first movie. I would rather the case be settled before this movie. The victim's sister isn't that interesting and serves mostly to remind about the Lampton case. The computer hacking has some compelling drama mostly centering on the incompetent response. The problem is that tapping on the keyboard is not the most dramatic stuff on screen although I still prefer that than the Lampton case.

The show's message is clear: when a nymphomaniac becomes a London police commander, don't expect to have good results in criminal investigations.

... and I do mean unwatchable as my wife and I had to give up.

We'd managed to get through the first incredibly painful episode (barely) wondering how we were supposed to believe that a woman this stupid could rise to the position of Commander and then how she could possibly survive all the mistakes she was mistaking without being dismissed from the force (with a slap on the wrist as it turned out: "who's been a naughty girl then? Just don't do it a again and all will be forgiven. Tsk tsk tsk.") We'd thought that things could only get better in this sequel. We were wrong.

Once again, the plot is beyond belief and the actions of the Blake character impossible to credit. She's being stalked so does she take action? No. There are murders in the hospital so does she call for the tech support that is obviously needed? No because it isn't serious enough (two murders not serious enough???). Does the hospital itself act to shut down the problem internet access? No. Are we expected to believe that the sister would think that Blake would buzz for entry into her own flat instead of using her key (and thereby admit the stalker)? Apparently.

I'd write more but I'm getting annoyed thinking of all the time we wasted on this drivel. As I said, unwatchable. We gave up after half and hour and I've cancelled my orders for the remainder of the series from our local library. I would suggest others try Burton's earlier "Silent Witness" series which was far better than this nonsense.