User Reviews

In the opening scenes protagonist DCI Gabriel Markham approaches the man suspected of a string of acid attacks which left a number of people dead and Markham heavily scarred; the man reaches for his pocket and is shot by a police marksman… The question is; did they get the right man? One might expect to jump back to the very start of the story then see how we got to what we just witnessed then move on to a final resolution but instead we keep jumping backwards from these events; sometimes hours sometimes days or even weeks; each time getting closer to the beginning and learning more about the investigation to date. Each jump back in time reveals something new; sometimes making somebody seem suspicious and other times explaining what seemed suspicious wasn't. We also see how Markham has been having an affair with his partner DI Elaine Shepard. We learn who the killer is at the end of the penultimate episode then have a final episode set after the events at the start of part one for the final resolution.

As a one off this series has an interesting central conceit; I'm not sure I'd want too many series taking the same route but it seemed to work here. As with a more conventional mystery there are a decent number of suspects which should keep the viewer guessing and watching how characters developed to become the people they are in the opening episode was rather fun. The central mystery is fairly dark… made all the more pertinent by an increase in real life acid attacks in London recently. The ultimate resolution is unfortunately more than a little melodramatic. Richard Dormer does a fine job as DCI Markham even if the more we learn about the character the less sympathetic he seems; the rest of the cast are solid too. I wouldn't normally think to comment on the make-up but those responsible for Markham's scarred face did a really impressive job. Overall I'd recommend this to fans of gritty crime dramas but would acknowledge that some may find it a bit irritating at times.

I had a very strong impression who the killer was in the very first scene was see them in. Then, in episode 2, I had worked out everything pretty much. I don't think I've ever seen a movie or TV show where it was so painfully obvious from the start who the killer was than Rellik. It was so frustrating having to then sit through 4+ more hours of obvious red herrings when I was certain who the killer was. Even the more vague stuff like the footage on the laptop, I knew exactly who that was as soon as Christine mentioned it, Ellaine's roommate, I knew exactly who/what that was several episodes prior to the reveal, its just all too obvious too soon.

Also, it does feel like a rough first draft of a script. It feels very amateurish in that respect, but then in other areas it's great. It's shot really well, the acting is good, music is great. I feel as if this could be edited down into a movie and you'd have a much better product at the end of it.

The actors were well selected, the story or idea is intriguing, the execution however failed terribly. I watched the first episode and thought, wow this is confusing. The constant rewinding and starting or retelling the story from a different time-line or perspective or whatever that is supposed to be.

Despite it all, I thought the first episode was interesting and decided to reserve judgment until I watched episode 2.

I could not even finish episode 2. Firstly, I completely lost track of what is going on. This whole going backwards to different times was too confusing and I found myself not being able to keep up. Second, when that messed up detective dragged the suspect out of her apartment, not letting her put on clothes and shoes and then went driving down a one way street cluttered with traffic, finally making her get out of the car on the side of the road and just driving away. That was just too damn stupid even for a fictional TV show and I turned it off at that point.

Sorry but not a show I will recommend or watch any further.