Innocent

This excellent crime drama has just aired in New Zealand. Each episode keeps moving and new twists to the story introduced. Obviously a tragic situation with a huge impact on the affected family, but the story keeps moving to discover who is the perpetrator. I gave this a 10/10 (which is rare) simply because I was captivated to the end.

This a fine piece of television with a constantly weaving story line that keeps you rivited to your seat. All the characters are well acted and the direction is top class. Best of all, it keeps us thinking - there is no chance to nod off or or pop out to put the kettle on - you'd miss too much. The atmosphere of the coast comes through really well - Hayling Island near Portsmouth is a relatively unknown place to non-boating folk and has a bit of a reputation as a caravan/holiday camp place yet the atmosphere really comes alive here. Great atmospheric cinematography that never gets in the way - no gimmics just good.

But on UK transmission, something is very wrong with the sound - especially the outdoor scenes. It sounds like it wasn't recorded properly - almost just as though they used the built-in mic on the camera! They've used a lot of compression to try to make it more distinct and ADR people are in the credits so it doesn't make a lot of sence. Oh well, we must not let it spoil a great piece of TV but please ITV, get your quality control working!!!!!

Ticked all my boxes, a decent script, well directed, good performances from all. From start to finish it kept me hooked, and the story was plausable, unlike some dramas. Well worth viewing, and I liked the four consecutive night scheduling, as waiting for a month to find the truth, is frustrating for some of us.

I really enjoyed this. I've pretty much ran out of new series ( I've been watching all the UK crime ones) and found this last night. I like how they keep you guessing throughout, did he didn't he. Well acted and good script. Stayed up til almost 4am watching all 4. I clapped at the end. Haha. I don't know why but I did. I highly recommend if you are into these type of series. Very good one!

Directed by Richard Clark, Innocent is a four-part whodunit that is half by-the-book, paint-by-numbers, nothing-you-haven't-seen-before, and half superbly and realised and expansive family drama. The show begins with David Collins (Lee Ingleby) being acquitted for the murder of his wife, having already spent seven years in jail for the crime. Viewers are never left in any doubt as to Collins's innocence, which does have the unfortunate side-effect of making the characters who are convinced of his guilt seem either naive or antagonistic-by-default. Collins's quest to uncover the truth and learn why people he trusted lied during his trial is never especially gripping, with no real urgency, no major twists, and a decided sense of "is that it?"

Where the show really succeeds, however, is in the depth of Matthew Arlidge and Chris Lang's depiction of the secondary characters whose lives are changed irreparably as the effects of Collins's release ripple outward; his brother Phil (Daniel Ryan), with whom he moves in; his sister-in-law Alice (Hermione Norris), whose testimony that he beat his wife was an important factor in his conviction; her amiable husband Rob (Adrian Rawlins); DCI William Beech (Nigel Lindsay), the original lead investigator, who may (or may not) have suppressed evidence; DI Cathy Hudson (Angel Coulby), the new lead investigator, who also happens to be Beech's girlfriend; Collins's children, Jack (Fionn O'Shea) and Rosie (Eloise Webb), who were adopted by Alice and Rob after the trial; Tom Wilson (Elliot Cowan), Collins's former best friend, whose failure to provide him an alibi led to his conviction; Melissa Wilson (Hannah Britland), Tom's wife, who suspects he knows more than he's letting on; and Louise Wilson (Christine Cole), Tom's ex-wife, who left him after she discovered his affair with Melissa. Each of these characters are given a fair amount of dialogue, screen time, and character development as the show lets the whodunit plot fade somewhat into the background, and it's here where the narrative is at its most enjoyable. It's not going to change your life, but it's worth a look.