Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness

Just finished watching #6 which was screened in two parts this week on SVT1. Was on the edge of my seat for both episodes.

Mirren is, as always, a joy to watch.

This riveting story is blessed with a great ending. It felt really good after this one. Quite a lot of thriller/police dramas end without one feeling that justice has been meted out. Here, the main antagonists get their just desserts. And I mean everybody. Especially the woman from the secret service. That look she gives her man at the end is priceless.

Beautifully shot and nicely scored. A great bit of telly to be sure.

Top marks here!

I saw the 2nd part of this on Masterpiece Theater, and it's definitely the best of all 6. In this latest Prime Suspect Helen Mirren uncovers the murderer of 2 Bosnian refugees. The suspect turns out to be a Bosnia Serb war criminal, but is protected by the British government a la Szell in Marathon Man. Jane Tennison is older and wiser as she goes against orders to bring the mass killer turned smooth London professional to justice. The script writing is superior, even to the earlier episodes, as we get this psychological cat and mouse between Jane and the suspect, his wife, and his underling. And as part of the investigation Jane even travels to Bosnia and has the inevitable affair with her assistant. This shows the Bosnian war should not be forgotten and we've got to bring Mladic, Karadic, and the others to justice.

Is this the best of the lot? Those who've seen all of them talk a lot about 1 and 2. I haven't seen them yet. I'm tempted to order all seven on DVD.

This is a new format this time. Some things have changed but some things stayed the same. Again it's an intriguing case woven expertly in the lay-up by the writer and the filming team. And in this one perhaps more than in the others I've seen the cinematography is fantastic. Angles as if they're coming out of a Kubrick classic. There is much eye candy in here.

So Jane Tennison is back - and she's battling the same bad guys as ever. This time she's surrounded on all sides by the same type of motley crew: the ambitious career types, the slacker types, the mens club types - you know the drill.

But the lady's acting never gets boring. Mirren brings something special, something extra to whatever she's in.

This one will take you on an exotic journey. And it's not a walk in the park either. If 5 was one of the most intense (of those I've seen) then 6 can't be far behind.

As always, on top of all the other excellent work done on this series, you have the star. She's inimitable.

I've watched (and was hooked) the entire series from Day 1...I only wish there were 10 more episodes to look forward to....This series, and this particular episode, set the standard for all TV detective series....I don't like to go into the story line for a couple of reasons...One is to let a new viewer have the full experience without prejudice (I envy you), and two, by not revealing the smallest detail, I add my tiny part of suspense and drama to the work....so no details here....Jane Tennyson and company are superb actors...My coda........Here is quality, intense television melodrama at its best....

The first three 'Prime Suspect' series were absolutely brilliant. 'Prime Suspect IV' changed the format from two episodes compromising of one case for each of the previous three series to three different cases and actually did it very well.

'Prime Suspect V: Errors of Judgement' was wonderful, but 'Prime Suspect VI: The Last Witness', having watched all the series over-time since reviewing the first series in 2016, ties with it as the best 'Prime Suspect' series since 'Prime Suspect III'. 'The Last Witness' is to me the darkest and grittiest since 'Prime Suspect III', and is one of the more suspenseful ones of all the series put together. Also with one of the more satisfying endings, not rushed, not too crammed, too convoluted or too pat, instead making one bite nails and may induce a few tears.

As is the case with all the 'Prime Suspect' series, 'The Last Witness' is stylishly and cleverly filmed, with slick editing and atmospheric lighting, and there is a consistently wonderful atmosphere throughout. It is very gritty, dark and effectively claustrophobic. It is very hard to forget the music score too, plus mood-wise and with some exotic moments in the mix it's one of the more action and atmosphere-enhancing music scores of all the 'Prime Suspect' series. The scripting, like its predecessor, is some of the best there is of any mystery/detective drama, being superbly constructed and intelligent, plus it is hard to not be impressed by the cunning subtlety of the conflicts.

Story-telling is very compelling and twisty, with an atmosphere that is gritty and harrowing but also intricate and honest. It is a complex story that keeps one guessing right up to the end while also being easy to follow. Plus the suspense of a lot of it is nerve-shredding. The deliberate pacing did not harm it at all, in fact it was executed incredibly well and was necessary considering the amount going on.

Jane Tennison continues to be an interesting character, the character and the depiction of the police force was very ahead of the time back in the 90s and holds much fascination now even if not so novel. There is the sense too that the character has evolved significantly, a feeling that one didn't get before.

Helen Mirren gives a typically magnificent performance in the lead. Frank Finley's performance is deeply felt and one wishes agreed that there was more of him.

Overall, just wonderful in every sense. 10/10 Bethany Cox