Der Anwalt des Teufels

You might love or hate this piece, however one thing is absolutely sure: David Tennant has given us some brilliant acting in this show, and even if it is for that only it deserves 10/10.

I completely agreed with the review of another IMDB user.

For me the clever ending just about rescued this from a lower rating. The main problem was the plot's lack of credibility I found the characters all rather unexciting. They were uniformly unpleasant, perhaps with the exception of the villain who was really nasty. But it was not all bad. The story moved on at a reasonable pace, and the viewer is pulled in to see how it all ends up.

I am not a huge fan of David Tennant. He always seems too smug, so perhaps this was the perfect role for him.

I was relieved to see no particular evidence that it would continue with a further series a la Netflix. I certainly wouldn't be keen on more.

This is one of the finest televised dramas I have ever seen. I was watching it on the TV channel that brings us wonderful British shows, Part 1, knowing that Part 2 would be aired the next week. About and hour into the telecast, the TV went dark and I looked about and there were no lights anywhere. We were undergoing a power outage. Determined to see the entire production, I ordered the DVD which I then did as gifts for film aficionados. I had no prior introduction to the work of David Tennant but was so impressed. Learning of his amazing career is a pleasure. He admires Derek Jacobi, an actor long admired in the States beginning with "I, Claudius." I was privileged to have drinks with Sir Derek in Stratford in the autumn of 1982 following his stellar performance in "The Tempest." He continues turning out marvelous performances.

BBC Crime has always been a certain sign of quality - I have never discontinued any of their series because of disturbing implausibility or something. On the other hand, as so many similar works are created monthly, it is evident that not all can be up to par or they just do not bespeak you as much.

The Escape Artist is such a series where the share of court events and dramatics sometimes tend to overshadow the thrill and the urge to find out what was really the case. David Tennant as Will Burton, Sophie Okonedo as Maggie Gardner, Toby Kebbell as Liam Foyle are more than good, but often the aridity of scenes with-around them does not bring the suspense along as it could be. Still, the logic of events remains and some steps odd at first obtain the satisfactory solution and motivation later on. Bearing in mind Burton´s profession, the final outcome is logical as well.

Thus, the performances excel the script decidedly, but 3 episodes only let you dig yourself not in too big redundancy or have blah! feelings. Watch it, ponder a bit and then find other works where the stars of this series perform :)

This BBC mini-series was short on credibility but pretty long on tension and suspense, helped by convincing acting and pacey direction. David Tennent, who appears to be everywhere on TV at the moment, is a hot-shot young city barrister who gets a sadistic murderer off on a technicality, but who by snubbing him after the trial wreaks a terrible fate for his family. Although an eye-witness to the horrific crime perpetrated on his wife in their holiday cottage, Tennent finds himself the biter-bit as the perpetrator turns to his chief rival in the "Young Lawyer of The Year" stakes, Sophie Okinedo, who also appears to be everywhere on TV at the moment, as his defence solicitor, her character's detachment and ambition now ironically reflecting Tennent's own character earlier.

Like I said, the plot was unbelievable but once you cottoned onto this and surrendered to it as a sort of UK-based John Grisham entertainment, it was an engaging enough production. The acting helped to paper over the plot holes, Tennent as the high-flier brought to earth with a crash, Toby Kebbell as the clinical but devious psychopath Liam Foyle and Okinedo as Tennent's young legal rival, her ambition clouding her judgement in taking on the case of such a brutal killer.

Spread over three nights you could see the padding and as I indicated earlier the sensationalist story-line probably belonged more in a Stateside rather than London-based setting, over the top final confrontation and all.

I personally prefer my thriller dramas when they're a bit more grounded in reality but as escapist nonsense I suppose it just about justified three hours of my time.