The Commander

It's the first movie or tv show I've seen where I kept saying "stupid" or "you're so stupid" out loud. Noone this clueless could possibly have risen to the job of commander.

I generally love police procedurals. This one was awful, because of its premise.

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 !

I just finished season 2 of this farce. I will not be continuing. Commander Blake is a silly and annoying representation of someone in that kind of position. Sure...we all make mistakes but her wanton flaunting of the law she swore to uphold as well her seemingly boundless willingness to engage almost everyone in her tawdry story is fantasy at its finest. And to top it off, she faces absolutely no accountability for her lack of an ethical compass. Enough... Oh...one last thing...the acting is abysmal, for Blake and most others. Bad acting, bad writing...what more could you ask for...write off.