Umm. As a programme fan, I urge you to backtrack to the middle series of Silent Witness. Take series 9,14 20 even, to experience proper writing and acting. I believed this was a criminal forensic style drama. Nowadays I'm getting soap opera vibes coupled with new age funk. The acting is CBeebies level. I fully understand cutbacks (at the Beeb) in the talent all round is an issue. Once, big names would be falling over themselves to add Silent Witness to the CV. I'm all for giving young actors and writers the opportunity in such an iconic programme. As they did with the likes of Emilia Fox ( Nikki) and for eg Liz Carr (Clarissa) but goodness me. The stories and acting and directing were so superb. I'm sad to say it must end now. Everything is slow and padded. The crowning naff was is this faux relationship between Jack and Nikki. It detracts so much from the plots and is an arc we don't need. This two parter is the highlight of the series so far and I rated it a 5/10. Tells me something!
Review of Hearts of Darkness: Part 1
