PoliteP

A High Court Judge torn between both several lovers (in adultery or otherwise) and the boundaries of justice. For a student of the law almost a text book of cases of likelihood of bias, undue influence, zig-zagging on the straight and narrow and kiss and tell. However, that may well be the reality of major cases. There is no way of escaping the Judge. He is at his best battling with the politicians who would like to stage convictions, mistrials and favoring the cronies of the economy. He is humbled but not humiliated by the women he can't resist. He is brought to modesty by ex-partners, daughters, best friends and those who love him as much as they hate him, without ever being brought to his knees. And the wig does become him as well.

Trevor Eve has come a long way from Shoestring to Boyd. The level of discussions mixed with the passion for the trade is not that unusual. However, the team of men and women of various ages and personalities is so much in the balance that even the worst crimes have more to offer than a mere solution. Cold case teams bring the hot pot to life again and many a criminal had better be stone cold him/herself before trusting that Frankie as the shopkeeper and the other as the forefront fighters won't find out. It is hard to choose between the episodes: one can only hope that more igneous criminals come to a fall. There is always another tree behind which they will not be able to hide.

Andy Dalziel seems to be fighting against his ghosts from the past, as he finds out that there is much more to the death of his colleague (hours after his retirement) than just the involvement of someone who walked because of the errors of that retired colleague. For a man of such ample proportions, he surely can deal with details. Dalziel and Pascoe are amongst England's finest. Not Morse, nor Midsomer murders, but still very much a class of their own. Miss Quick is wonderful as she combines female power in uniform with the sheer elegance of a truly mature actress. If only Peter Pascoe could produce a genuine smile. Qui custodet ipso custodes (who shall overlook the over-lookers).