Trial & Retribution

After 4 seasons we gave up on this because the character of David Hayman was just obnoxious, egotistical and abusive, especially to women.

This behaviour would not be allowed on any police force even in the late 90s. We just couldn't watch it anymore. It would bet an 8 from us with better character development or growth, maturity or decency.

It's depressingly significant that Kate Buffery is not credited here as one of the "stars". I only started watching a vintage series which I assumed would be very dated, because of her presence.

I first came across her in the memorable drama series Wish Me Luck, and was bowled over by her - not just one of the most beautiful women the small screen has ever seen, but a superb actress who sadly seems never to have won the acclaim that was her due.

She's great in this - absolutely convincing. She carries the series which becomes much more ordinary after her departure - then increasingly strident and silly.

If law and order in Britain were anything like this series, they'd get it wrong even when the evidence jumped into their arms and grabbed the ubiquitous scotches and cigs. Well-acted intriguing characters -- always LaPlante's forte -- are worth watching, even if rampant incompetence among police, lawyers, judges and juries seems to be what drives the stories rather than clever twists. Some of the gap between concept and execution should probably be overlooked because this is the first series, and extra points granted for roaming outside the well-defined lines of the genre. The irascible DCI Walker (Hayman) commands the screen and the squadron and the well-fleshed minor characters are hold it well when Walker's not around. Fans of LaPlante's style won't be disappointed, but casual viewers might want to tune in to later series.

One of the most annoying, arrogant and hateful characters on TV. How this guy came to be a Superintendent beggars belief. Him aside, this is a great show, well worth bingeing. Unfortunately series five shares so many similarities with Prime Suspect 2 I wondered how it ever got made? In series 10 there is also a very similar plot to another Prime Suspect story.

If you enjoyed Prime Suspect you'll love this. As you can tell from the other reviews here, Lynda La Plante isn't for everyone. Her storylines can be harrowing - brutal at times, but I loved it. David Hayman, as Mike, is an egotistical, old school misogynist, and you'll hate him at times. But that's what's so good about it IMO. Kate Buffery was amazing throughout. I'm personally annoyed with La Plante, because the story goes that she wanted the Kate Buffery to "glam-up" playing Pat North, but Buffery rightly refused and eventually left. Her character was brilliant, just as it was. So then we get Victoria Smurfit, who is ok but the show loses something from then on. Production-wise, I think it ages relatively well compared to other crime procedurals from the same era. In case it helps anyone reading with a view to watching, I'm a 50yo woman and my favourite detective/police dramas of all time are The Sweeney and Columbo. But I've also sat through the whole of Taggart with my husband (something of an endurance test at times... Now THAT was a hit & miss show!). I hope anyone watching Trial & Retribution (currently on ITV X - you can watch free with Ads) enjoys it.