Season 10 - Episode 4 discussion

[JHyde]

Hmmm. I disagree with the characterisation of this episode being the best so far. This whole episode didn't quite fit together right. The first half was full of coincidences that didn't quite ring true and the second half had all these big dramatic moments that were then followed by....meh. Essentially there was just some very bad dialogue and some real cheesiness. Julian Holmes did a decent job with what he had, but the writing was all over the shop, disappointing given that it could have been a really good episode if it had been planned better. (The reveal about the two kids being kidnapped should have come much earlier in the game for a start.) A good example of the writing being the most important thing, in the end.

Oh and where was Erin's mum? I almost expected to see her with a bullet in her head at any moment.

I still don't buy Ruth going to work for Towers. He's much too cynical for her and I am not convinced that what she is leaving is less important then what she is going to. I did like the Harry and Ruth bench scene, probably the best writing of the episode. I agree with Harry that not everything needs to be known but I get that Ruth will never completely trust him, so the middle line is walked finely once again in the writing, as it must be done.

I'm probably not being completely clear about what was wrong with this episode but I am not prepared to give a blow by blow account and no one would want to read it anyway. I thought this was the weakest of the season so far.

Next week looks like fun, at least we'll have some car chases.