Dark Heart

I'm trying to watch with interest but it is so slow and boring that my concentration is frequently lapsing, so I'm writing this review instead. The deadpan characters aren't helping either.

Is the storyline hard to follow or are my lapses to blame?

Had I known this wasn't a complete series but a canceled one I wouldn't have bothered. I did enjoy it though. Only criticism is none of the female characters were likable.

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.

The plot lines are ok but the show is let down by poor acting and 2 dimensional characters. Tom Riley isn't very convincing as a tough cop who plays fast and loose with the rules and it seems he's unable to act without something in his hands.

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.