Zodiac

I never saw this series at the time, nor even heard of it. On reflection I suspect that's because it was probably on at 9pm or later, because one of the joys of it is the dialogue which is definitely adult. Or more accurately, grown-up. By which I mean the characters make references that are naughty (in a playful way) & occasionally swear at a minor level.

It is that dialogue & the chemistry between the two leads that really lifts the series up.

It's hampered by being studio-bound & the astrology/supernatural aspects while fun are really just hokum. Plus they drive a coach and horses through any semblance of police procedure.

BUT I was left with a huge smile on my face, laughed out loud several times and really, really wish more than 6 episodes had been made.

At time of writing (2022) you can get this on DVD and I really recommend it. It ought to be lauded as lost classic!

A brilliant piece of historical TV, you'll learn a lot about the 70s watching this. Aside from that Anouska and Anton are marvelously entertaining.

Detective David Gradley teams up with astrologist Esther Jones, in order to solve an array of crimes.

Such a shame that this show lasted only six episodes, when you compare it to a lot of content from the era, this was wonderfully entertaining, original, and pretty refreshing.

Every episode presents a unique, unusual story, the running thread being astrology, we see Gradley's scepticism challenged by the beautiful, but remarkably talented Esther.

Favourite episode of the lot has to be Saturn's Rewards, that one is so interesting, but every single one of them offers something.

Anouska Hempel and Anton Rodgers are a wonderful duo, they combined incredibly well, and brought out the best in one another.

A great guest cast appear here, including Michele Dotrice, Peter Egan, Michael Gambon, and an awesome performance from Peter Vaughan.

The usual production values of the seventies, I think it looks great, marvellous fashions and cars, and in the first episode, you'll get a glimpse of what they thought the future may look like.

A shame a second series didn't follow, I urge you to get hold of a copy of the DVD, it's well worth seeing.

8/10.

He's a policeman. She's an astrologer. Together they solve crimes, using astrology. The show plays this perfectly straight, and it's usually just shrewd psychological insights into the behaviour of different star-signs. I thought it was great fun but you should probably factor that I fancy Anouska Hempel. And my star-sign.

I should put my cards - not Tarot ones - on the table and confess that my father create this show and wrote three of the six episodes.It is not a show which left him with fond memories. Nevertheless, on watching this recently I enjoyed it. There is a nice balance between light comedy and darker drama. The videotape studio stricture adds a claustrophobic atmosphere. Rodgers and Hempel offer a flirtatious rapport which is fun. The inspector's dress sense is tastelessly 1970s, but deliberately so. The gem episode is Sting, Sting Scorpio based in the Lanes in Brighton where Robert Powell plays a chilling, cold killer. The series feels more like stage plays recorded for TV. Rodgers is mid-point between the wonderful dramatic actor seen in Man in a Suitcase in the 60s and the chubby charm of Fresh Fields in the 80s.