Prime Suspect: The Last Witness

Jane Tennison gets caught up in a Bosnian massacre in "Prime Suspect 6." In this episode of the powerful series, two sisters are murdered and Jane, who promised the second sister that she would be safe, is determined to bring the killer to justice. She believes that a man now living in London was responsible for a massacre in Bosnia and was recognized by one of the sisters, whom he raped when she was 12. Thinking they were dead, he tortured her for information about the whereabouts of the second sister. It turns out that what Jane knows and what she can prove are two different things, and her hands are tied all the way.

Jane is her usual self - tough, controlled, and with a terrifying vulnerability underneath. Refusing retirement, she bucks the system blatantly, and if the subject matter weren't so serious, some of her actions would be funny. And who better to play this complicated woman than one of the greatest actresses of our century, Helen Mirren. With one look, she tells the viewer that no, she is not going to be able to stay alone in her Bosnian hotel room. Listening to her father talk about liberating the Belsen concentration camp, her emotion is palpable but she cannot take his hand. That scene, by the way, is probably the best in this episode.

"Prime Suspect 6" is of the same high quality as all the other "Prime Suspect" episodes and will not disappoint.

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.

This programme just aired in the UK and it is of the highest quality. Prime Suspect has been a consistently good TV drama and although it's been 6 years since PS5 (probably the weakest) this new outing for Jane Tennison is thoroughly gripping and moving. Helen Mirren is typically first rate, excellent support from Robert Pugh, Mark Strong and Frank Finlay. Peter Berry and Tom Hooper have crafted a complicated, emotional rollercoaster that had me glued to the TV for the duration. Highlights are the ending of part one and the scenes between Tennison and her father. Even the music is good. Do not miss.

The four-hour miniseries is, when well executed, one of the most entertaining forms of modern drama. "Prime Suspect 6" is a vivid demonstration of how a well-crafted script put in the hands of a competent director and a dedicated cast and crew can provide cliff-hanging suspense and emotional excursions for viewers of a wide range of ages and backgrounds.

Helen Mirren is possibly at her best in "6" as the ageing senior detective, constantly battling the establishment as she tries to manage a big caseload when a particularly brutal murder opens a Pandora's box of leads, lies and loose ends.

My prize, however, goes to Peter Berry for his writing. The story lets us slowly explore the minds, motivations and especially the passions of all the main characters and makes good use of historical events and present-day tensions to construct a drama of the highest quality. His story has strong Hollywood elements, and for this style of drama, that's precisely what's needed.

If you missed it this time, don't miss the repeat or definitely rent the DVD when it's out.

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....