Sleepin_Dragon

Secret Agent Alexander Eberlin is sent into Berlin to search for the Russian agent Krasnevin. The Brits and Soviets enter into an intriguing game of cat and mouse.

I'll be honest, I recorded it based on the name and year. I was expecting some sort of comedy with the likes of Kenneth Williams or Ian Carmichael; I hadn't planned for yet another 60s spy movie.

In my opinion, it's pretty good: a decent, if unoriginal, plot, a strong cast, and some excellent location work. It did actually keep my attention, even if it was predictable; I'm sure we all knew how it was going to end.

The two issues are the script and pacing, at times it trundles along, and some of Eberlin's encounters with Caroline are bizarre to say the least.

Visually, it's good; it looks somewhat newer. I liked the opening and closing sequences; a puppet on a string left us in no doubt as to the type of film ahead.

Laurence Harvey did a fine job; I bought his character, but for me, the star of the show was Tom Courtenay; I just found Gatiss to be a little more interesting. Caroline's character made no sense; she didn't really go anywhere. Was she simply a bad penny? Mia Farrow I'd suggest, was ok.

6/10.

The police think that Graham Dowling is their man. A search of his flat shows a worrying obsession with Jack Vance; however, he proves to be a difficult man to track down. Another young woman goes missing in exactly the same manner.

I love the macabre direction this one heads into. There are no limits to the sheer imagination of Val McDermid; she has the ability to take us to some very dark places. This one really does move at a pace and delivers a couple of shocks along the way. Once again we're given a wonderfully dark ending.

Just when you think the show has lost its ability to shock and disturb, this episode takes you one step further on Wire in the Blood's journey of shocking violence.

If I had one minor gripe, it's that I felt they may have let the cat out of the bag a little too soon, removing some or the mystery.

I just love Robson Green's performance throughout, but the scenes where he goes off on a tangent and starts rambling to himself are wonderful; he's great.

I know it's a different show, but I am seeing DI Robbie Ross. Michie has the same swagger and chip, but here we get to see just how good he is; excellent from him; he steals it.

8/10.

The bodies of two young women are dragged out of a stretch of water; however, Carol Jordan's focus is taken up by celebrity TV presenters Jack and Amanda Vance, who are being stalked. Tony is brought in to assist with the bodies.

When you compare this one with the series opener, it's almost tame. The story is just as murky, but visually, they definitely toned it down a little, thankfully.

It's a very good first half; there's enough intrigue to make us wonder if the two strands are linked: the missing girl and the Vances. I like that the previous episode isn't washed away; there are overhangs, such as Tony meeting Angelica.

I'm always blown away by these stories that use facial reconstruction as a tool; it's such a fascinating method.

It's interesting to see that Kevin was kicked off the team and fined; too often, details like his dalliances are overlooked. You can understand Don's annoyance. Good to finally see that Kevin can be an effective Detective

It's an exceptional cast: John Michie, Doon MacKichan, and Kenny Doughty.

8/10.