Anyone can become a murderer, given the right circumstances. The circumstances in episode one involve a strong set up that, in a flash, devolves into a Monty Python skit. I almost expected the vicar to turn to the camera and say, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" Would the math tutor look up from the bottom of the stairs to the cellar and say, "It's a fair cop"? I had seen the mixed reviews but gave this a go, as Tucci heads the cast as a prison sleuth. The key to the premise working is a horrifying chain of events that turns the unlikely killer's life into a nightmare. This fails in such a monumental way that we are left with half cerebral drama, half farcical comedy. Kudos to Tennant for keeping a straight face as the misfire misfires. "Grab a shovel, honey. I'll explain while we dig a grave." Laugh loud at the unintended comedy, or weep for what might have been. Viewers will gasp at the horror, although not as Moffat intended.
Review of Episode #1.1
