The Ink Black Heart: Part 1

I'm writing this having just watched all of season six - as a warning really to those who think this may be of the same calibre as the previous ones. It really isn't and I'm sorry that I bothered.

I never rated any of the series above a 7 anyway but this one is really poor with a rather childish plot based on a very amateurish video game interaction which spoiled the whole thing for me.

The relationship between Burke and Grainger is as frustrating as ever and becomes ever more so in episodes 3 and 4 as Strike's physical condition deteriorates.

Storyline was unexciting and acting mediocre which reflects on the directing and production. I wouldn't watch another series.

JK Rowling writing as Robert Galbraith has done it again. As a franchise continues her books get longer and clunkier.

The Ink Black Heart clocks in at over 1000 pages with reams of chat threads. It renders the book difficult to adapt.

Since the publication of the first Strike novel. Rowling's reputation among some former fans has been in tatters due to her views on certain issues. It is clear that the story here addresses this.

Edie Ledwell comes to Robin Ellacott and seeks her help. She has an online stalker called Anomie. Edie is a creator of a popular online cartoon called The Ink Black Heart.

Robin turns her down claiming she is busy. Robin later feels guilty when Edie is murdered.

The adaptation is a four parter and writer Tom Edge had to dispense with the online discourse in the translation to the screen.

The first episode had an undercurrent of dread. The online game was creepy to the people both Strike and Robin encountered. I liked how Strike managed to deal with the bloke who wanted to rough him up.

I was excited to see that this series was back and had high hopes. I binged all the episodes in one night but have to say when we got to "whodunnit" I thought "when did we come across that character?" The plot revolves around online gaming - a game that everyone (under the age of 25) are mad about. All the possible suspects have user names and nobody actually knows who they're gaming with or talking to or messaging. Very confusing to a non gamer!! We're also subjected to another series of "Will they won't they?" with looks and long sighs when another chance is missed. Just give her a kiss ffs!!!!

The latest season of Strike, The Ink Black Heart, falls short of the standard set by its predecessors. Overloaded with an excessive number of characters and plotlines, the narrative becomes unnecessarily convoluted, making it hard for viewers to stay engaged. What once was a hallmark of the series-gripping, well-paced storytelling-is replaced by an exhausting web of names and relationships that detract from the central mystery.

This season's pacing further compounds the issue. Key moments feel rushed, while others drag on, leaving Strike and Robin overshadowed by the overwhelming complexity. Instead of building suspense, the dense plot creates frustration, losing the balance between character development and mystery that made earlier seasons so compelling.

While the performances of Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger remain strong, The Ink Black Heart struggles to deliver a cohesive and engaging experience. Fans of the series may find themselves yearning for the clarity and intrigue of earlier seasons, where simplicity and depth worked hand in hand to deliver satisfying mysteries.

I love this series, I honestly do. I feel like the production on this season has dropped the ball. If the storyline is going to revolve around a web-series cartoon, then they could have done a better job on it cartoon itself. It looks rather ... cartoonish. Speaking of cartoonish, that's where the romance between Strike and Robin seems to be heading.

I love this series, I honestly do. I feel like the production on this season has dropped the ball. If the storyline is going to revolve around a web-series cartoon, then they could have done a better job on it cartoon itself. It looks rather ... cartoonish. Speaking of cartoonish, that's where the romance between Strike and Robin seems to be heading.