Six Four

Gripping four episode thriller based on a Japanese novel, but set in Scotland. Moody and dark, the main reason for watching this is Kevin McKidd who gives a stellar performance as a troubled police detective whose daughter has gone missing. While the plots has enough twists to avoid being in the paint by numbers school of thriller writing, watch it for McKidd as he gets inside the head of his character, a lowly ranked detective. McKidd's performance masterfully avoids the limitations of his character I.e., the cliche of the passed over disgruntled detective, whose brother has made it to the top of the Force. Intense yet under played, McKiidd turns in a slow burn performance that simply steals the show.

STAR RATING: ***** Brilliant **** Very Good *** Okay ** Poor * Awful

After the trauma of identifying a body that turned out not to be her child, Michelle (Vinette Robinson) absconds from her partner, Chris (Kevin McKidd) at a train station in Glasgow, and flees to London, leaving Chris in pieces. Whilst dealing with this, Chris approaches his brother, Phillip (Andrew Whipp), regarding the case of a girl who went missing some time ago. But thing's really heat up when Annabel (Iona Anderson), the daughter of Justice Minister Robert Wallace (Richard Coyle) goes missing, and Chris is plunged in to a dangerous web of deceit and betrayal.

Nearly seven years after the Brexit referendum, and nearly a good ten years after the Scottish Independence vote, politics is still as hotly contentious as ever, and so a fine framework to set a mystery thriller around, such as this adaptation of the novel by Hideo Yukoyama. With a strong, solid cast, and supporting cast, of hot Scottish talent, old and new, there's a whole web of different characters and plot strands threaded in to a fairly condensed four part thriller, that requires a bit of patience to get past the first hurdle.

However thrilling the story eventually becomes, it makes the critical mistake of having a mundane opening, that plays out in a pretty perfunctory and flat manner that doesn't bode well for what's to come, but stick with it, and somehow these characters manage to grow some meat, and play an integral part in something that crucially has a plot and a subplot, with plenty of twists and turns. It doesn't all fit organically together, but there is a genuine sense of intrigue and mystery to the story, with a decent revelation at the end.

You can't beat a good mystery, and while this is far from the best you'll ever see, it's ultimately still a satisfying affair, with some sweeping cinematography of the Scottish Highlands and a neat steady rock soundtrack thrown in for good measure. ***

Was an ok drama only 4 episodes so not to drawn out. The story just wasn't the best. Wouldn't say it was nail biting stuff. Not sure the end was the outcome I would have wanted. But did expect that it would be the outcome. Maybe leaving it open so that they can continue and have another series. I probably would watch another series of it. There probably would be enough to have another one. Liked the actors in the drama nice to watch something set in Scotland with nice Scottish accents. It's nice to see places that you can recognise in a drama. James cosmos is always good as is Kevin Mckidd. Always like to watch a Scottish drama x.

I found this show to be highly engaging, thanks in no small part to the standout performances from McKidd and Coyle. With its bleak atmosphere, intricate plot, and ample intrigue, it evokes the feel of a Scandinavian crime drama.

Based on Hideo Yokoyama's novel, the show successfully transports the action from Japan to Scotland. While the plot may not be the most original - after all, TV is full of thrillers centered around missing girls - the story moves at a satisfying pace and delivers plenty of thrilling moments over the course of its four episodes. What sets it apart is its ability to balance visceral interpersonal emotion with genuine thrills, a feat that's never easy to pull off.

Watchable drama is the headline for this one. At times there are twists. Scottish politics are thrown in for good measure and it all makes a compellable and consumable drama. Would I want a second series? Probably not, does this reflect the real world? Almost certainly not - but then why do I want a drama to reflect the real world.

The characters are standard the grizzled old timer and maverick, a villain who may hold the key to everything - well I expected him to turn to the camera and cackle. The acting was pretty standard too with no stand out performances.

The cinematography at times is stunning without trying to advertise Scotland. The sound track is a little unexpected and forgettable but doesn't detract from a watchable drama.