Silk continues the fine tradition of British court dramas such as Rumpole of the Bailey and Kavanagh QC. A Silk is the nickname given to QCs (Queens Counsel), the elite of British (and Anglophile former colonies) barristers (a more highly trained and paid lawyer who is exclusively allowed to prosecute or defend the more serious criminal and civil cases in the Crown or Superior Court and higher appellate courts). In the lower Magistrate and County courts in the UK, people can be represented by the retail lawyers in the British system called solicitors who are the referral source of most barristers' work. A handful of the elite and most experienced and respected barristers are awarded the QC title and "take silk" and thus are allowed to wear a special recognizable silk robe in court denoting their elevated status. Barristers and QCs practice in special offices called Sets or Chambers, in London they are grouped near the Royal Courts of Justice in the Temple and Lincoln Inn buildings with many buildings being centuries old.
Silk brilliantly covers the machinations of the Set at Shoe Lane, the triumphs and defeats in the cut and thrust of Britain's most eloquent and persuasive lawyers. The series recreates accurately the incestuous nature of life in the fishbowl of the legal elite, the love affairs, the rivalries, the intense competition between barrister sets to get the plumb cases from prominent solicitor firms overseen by the Senior Clerk and his team usually of working class boys made good who run the firm.
Silk's primary characters are soon to be new Silks Martha Costello (Maxine Peake), a Manchester native who never went to the right schools and handsome and suave Clive Reeder (Rupert Penny-Jones) who went to Harrow (Englands no. 2 most prestigious private school) and Oxford and has all the trappings and connections of the English upper classes. Martha and Clive are both brilliant lawyers but intensely competitive and were briefly former lovers. The lions share of courtroom scenes involve Reeder or Costello as lead counsel. Their performances are passionate, compelling and realistic.
They are ably supported by the brilliant Neil Stuke playing Head Clerk Billy Lamb who maneuvers through the egos of the barristers, knives out for his head and a myriad of fickle referring solicitors conducting the complex orchestra of Chambers with working class cheekiness and charm. Head of Chambers Alan Cowdrey (Alex Jennings) provides guidance and gravitas and Season 2 sees the addition of prosecution specialist (to a mostly defense Set), the acerbic and aggressive Caroline Warwick (Frances Barber).
Enduring sub plots in all series are the Pupils (recently graduated law students seeking to be appointed to their first starting barrister position). Series 1 pits the polished privileged daughter of a judge Niahm Cranitch (Natalie Dorman - later of Game of Thrones fame) against baby faced Liverpool lad Nick Slade (Tom Hughes - later of Victoria fame) as the winner of the race to a foot in the door at Shoe Lane. It's clear Nick wins but we never see him as a starting barrister in favour of Season 2 pupil Daniel Lomas ironically a former cop (Shaun Evans - later of Endeavour fame). Season 3 features Amy Lang (Jessica Henwick) in a dramatic twist. The series does end a bit disappointingly on a note that seems to preclude further seasons.
In in all, a thrilling, compelling look at a very unique institution, the UK Criminal Bar and the gripping dramas of the Crown court.
Silk brilliantly covers the machinations of the Set at Shoe Lane, the triumphs and defeats in the cut and thrust of Britain's most eloquent and persuasive lawyers. The series recreates accurately the incestuous nature of life in the fishbowl of the legal elite, the love affairs, the rivalries, the intense competition between barrister sets to get the plumb cases from prominent solicitor firms overseen by the Senior Clerk and his team usually of working class boys made good who run the firm.
Silk's primary characters are soon to be new Silks Martha Costello (Maxine Peake), a Manchester native who never went to the right schools and handsome and suave Clive Reeder (Rupert Penny-Jones) who went to Harrow (Englands no. 2 most prestigious private school) and Oxford and has all the trappings and connections of the English upper classes. Martha and Clive are both brilliant lawyers but intensely competitive and were briefly former lovers. The lions share of courtroom scenes involve Reeder or Costello as lead counsel. Their performances are passionate, compelling and realistic.
They are ably supported by the brilliant Neil Stuke playing Head Clerk Billy Lamb who maneuvers through the egos of the barristers, knives out for his head and a myriad of fickle referring solicitors conducting the complex orchestra of Chambers with working class cheekiness and charm. Head of Chambers Alan Cowdrey (Alex Jennings) provides guidance and gravitas and Season 2 sees the addition of prosecution specialist (to a mostly defense Set), the acerbic and aggressive Caroline Warwick (Frances Barber).
Enduring sub plots in all series are the Pupils (recently graduated law students seeking to be appointed to their first starting barrister position). Series 1 pits the polished privileged daughter of a judge Niahm Cranitch (Natalie Dorman - later of Game of Thrones fame) against baby faced Liverpool lad Nick Slade (Tom Hughes - later of Victoria fame) as the winner of the race to a foot in the door at Shoe Lane. It's clear Nick wins but we never see him as a starting barrister in favour of Season 2 pupil Daniel Lomas ironically a former cop (Shaun Evans - later of Endeavour fame). Season 3 features Amy Lang (Jessica Henwick) in a dramatic twist. The series does end a bit disappointingly on a note that seems to preclude further seasons.
In in all, a thrilling, compelling look at a very unique institution, the UK Criminal Bar and the gripping dramas of the Crown court.