The Commander

Commander Clare Blake has become head of the serious crimes unit. Her first case involved the release of prisoner James Lampton, who served 12 years for murdering his girlfriend, a seemingly reformed character who is now writing a book.

It's worth noting that Amanda Burton pretty much took up this role straight after Silent Witness, having been on that great show for so long, this was tipped to be the next big thing, and though very, very good, it perhaps didn't quite take off as it should have. Blake is very much working in a man's world.

Burton is as always terrific as the lead, and though Blake isn't a million miles away from Sam Ryan, she's different enough, the show has a very different flavour, it has the laPlant signature all over it.

I thought it was a cracking pilot, complex, intriguing and very dramatic, it's a thought provoking, well paced drama, if you're a fan of the laPlant lineup, you'll particularly enjoy this. The ending was excellent, one of the best moments, wonderfully dramatic.

The acting throughout was terrific, High Bonneville and Matthew Marsh both stood out.

9/10.

If you can get past the totally unbelievable plot premise of a tough, female top cop in male dominated profession and the silly, soap opera dialogue, you'll enjoy the great acting. Other than that don't waste your time. There's way too little else in this show and far, far better ones.

Moments of intensity followed by gross abuse of the viewer by having the Commander of an elite police unit fall under the spell of a convicted murderer. WOULD NOT EVER HAPPEN, NOT EVER, NOT IN THIS UNIVERSE !!! I will be writing the producer as well. They should watch good murder mysteries and then at least copy them !

Usually I like Amanda Burton's acting, honestly. But accepting this role was a complete mistake.

The Commander in this series does everything a good cop wouldn't do. She garbles evidence and sleeps with suspects. On top of that, she has a huge ego. Now, ordinarily this wouldn't kill a series - it would maybe even be an interesting touch.

The problem, however, is: this is about all the series has to offer. Obviously the title "The Commander" wasn't a misnomer for this one; the commander is all the series is about. No interesting crime or mystery, just this commander being a disgrace for the whole British police. It's not credible that a person like this would ever become a commander and moreover, it's not interesting to watch.

As an alternative title I suggest "The Clare Blake show".

Another reviewer said this started as a police drama and ended as a Harlequin romance. So true! It's hard to believe that Lynda LaPlante wrote this garbage. Although "Lynda LaPlante" does sound like the pen name of a sleazy romance writer....

LaPlante's Prime Suspect was one of our favorite series, and of course anything that Helen Mirren is in is automatically worth watching. But Amanda Burton is not in her league, and never will be. At least Hugh Bonneville went on to do something worth watching with Downton Abbey.

Give it a pass; it isn't worth a couple of hours of your life. Actually, it wasn't worth the time it took me to write this review.