Suspect

I've watched 4 episodes so far but I am struggling with it as I am feeling quite bored. I want to continue as I like James Nesbitt in most things, but there is something about this that stops it from holding my attention and I've probably missed some key dialogue in the fourth one by only half concentrating on it.

I am sticking with it because I want to see Sam Heughan, who I love in Outlander, but that is really now the only reason I'm not giving up on it.

But I am mesmerised by JN incredibly dark eyebrows, they give him the look of Ming the merciless and Griff Rhys Jones!

I am enjoying his portrayal of burnt out policeman grieving the death of his daughter and the mystery of her life!

Suspect has an unusual format with 30m episodes that are essentially two handers between detective Danny, (James Nesbitt) and a different character each week that he believes will bring him closer to the murderer.

Its a straight remake of a 2019 Danish Noir,' Forhoret' which had two seasons and it keeps the dark tone of the original.

On the positive side production values were good and a lovely score by Stefano Cabrera helped a lot. The major draw was the cast and the format allowed the big names the chance to show off their acting chops.

Unfortunately it was let down by the uninspired script, there were a lot of improbabilities in the story, (detective investigates his own daughter's murder?) some of the dialogue was downright odd and the two handers made it one-paced. Nor did we get to know the daughter except for brief and often inaudible flashbacks. I watched four and gave up.

We have come to like James Nesbitt, whose face resembles a chunk of hard road that broke off & landed in a ditch. This show starts (it's no secret) with him as a cop visiting a morgue, greeted by an unenthusiastic lab tech and discovering the corpse under consideration is, in fact, his own daughter. I want to share a tidbit with you. Nesbitt thereupon tears up and lets out a grievous wail. Where does THIS come from?

Nesbitt, no doubt, borrowed the device from Lear- last Act when the aged King carries dead Cordelia in his arms. 'Howl howl howl howl.. O you are men of stones. Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them so heaven's vaults should crack.. ' (I think-- my high school Shakespeare is decades ago!). So, Nesbitt pulled this out of his hat! Lear is 'unactable', of course-- especially THAT scene! But Olivier and Finney have done clinics with their own interpretation. Nesbitt 'tries it on!' (Wondering if anyone would make the cinnection?)

The series may be a but slow, but Nesbitt always shines, if you stick with him. 7/10.

This show is terrible. Every episode is the same Meets up with a suspect, beats them up, gets info out of them then moves on too the next episode and does the same thing. Meet, beat, repeat.