User Reviews

We might feel sorry for newcomer DCI Jessica James, although she might be just as obnoxious without her husband's revelation. But I watch this for the interesting mysteries, not to have to put up with mean main characters. At least the writers are acknowledging the loss of. DCI Stuart. Having James start out disparaging Stuart's managing the unit is a turn-off. I expect all the many characters in this first episode will somehow tie together by the end- but I don't know if it will be worth subjecting myself to the way James treats Sunny. (I'm repeating myself to get to the required number of characters). Surely the writers could have managed interesting cases without a new DCI who treats everyone like dirt.

The skeleton of a dead young woman is found in the chimney breast of a house, which is now in the hands of a new owner. Sunny's on the case, but still grief stricken over Cassie's death, he's joined by new governor DCI Jess James.

The main question, is there life in the show after Cassie, and could Nicola Walker's shoes be filled?

For me, I'd say this is a solid start to series five, Unforgotten has always given me Waking the Dead vibes (probably my favourite show from the last 20 years,) and there is that vibe here once again. I don't think it's a brilliant start, but it's got my attention.

Sinead Keenan makes a good start, she's a fine actress, and she adds something a little different to Nicola Walker. My big gripe, the husband sequence, it just wasn't necessary, talk about that old chestnut, again!!!!

It was good to see Sunny battling his grief, Bhaskar stood out here for me. Andrew Lancel seems to do a line in dodgy husbands.

I liked the international flavour of the episode, and the filming in France looked good, thankfully they didn't try and dress up a street in Leeds or Andover to try and look somehow French.

I'm curious, perhaps not gripped.

7/10.

A house being renovated in Hammersmith has a blockage in its chimney brest. It turns out to be a human leg and it does not belong to Santa Claus.

Forensic analysis suggests that the recovered cadaver is that of a skinny woman and she could had died over 60 years ago.

Just the type of case DI Sunny Khan's team have made a reputation in solving. The trouble is the new DCI, Jessie James (Sinéad Keenan) wants to spend resources in current cases, not historical cases.

It seems Sunny and Jessie will be at loggerheads. Luckily the corpse was wearing vintage clothing that was purchased more recently.

The crime scene is contrasted with the lives of some disparate strangers. One of whom mugged a woman and left her severely injured. His partner is a drug addict. Another is a couple that runs a restaurant, one of whom has temper issues. There is an older man who has been told he has cancer. A university drop out who works at Paris airport.

Given the house that is being renovated was once a squat. Just maybe these people are connected with the dead woman in some way.

After the death of DCI Cassie Stuart, Unforgotten has a soft relaunch. The cosy team has become more abrasive as a result. No one likes Jessie James.

The first episode was left with more than the usual heavy lifting. Hopefully it will come together more in the second episode.

Nicola Walker is one of my favorite actors period but so is Sinead Keenan! Sinead will always be "my Nina" from Being Human. I'm American but I only watch international shows don't know why I just do. Sanjeev Bashkar is so brilliant as Sunny and his performance in season 4 and season 5 had me literally ugly crying. Not sure why the BBC ended his other show The Indian Doctor absolutely loved that show. The story's in Unforgotten are some of the best writing along with their ability to cast actors that bring the best performances to the table. I know most viewers aren't comfortable with change to a show they enjoy but change is vital for survival. Unforgotten is a show I can watch on repeat. I'm looking forward to Sinead Keenan being part of the team.

I loved the first four seasons of this series and wondered what this fifth season would be like without the wonderful Nicola Walker, who was the heart and soul of series (with apologies to the also excellent Sanjeev Bhaskar - Sunny). Generally, Sinead Keenan is fine, and the rest of the team are still good, along with all the characters rolled out as suspects. My disappointment with this particular season is the blatant and one-sided politics of the script. In the writer's view, every single problem in the UK is the fault of the Conservative Party, primarily Maggie Thatcher. Maybe the show's creator is young and unaware of what a mess the UK was before Thatcher became PM, with huge unemployment, high inflation, non-stop strikes, and all the key industries, many of them nationalised by earlier Labor Governments, in total decay. The UK had become the basket case of Europe. By the end of Thatcher's reign, the UK had low unemployment and Europe's strongest economy. Yet in this series, we get endless speeches delivered by every second character insisting their lives were a mess because of Thatcher and Conservatives generally. Sorry, but I can do without the left wing lectures when I watch TV.

DCI Jess James is probably the most unlikeable character-who is supposed to be a good guy-on any police procedural I've seen. Her attitude is absolutely vile. She runs roughshod over her entire team. She's selfish, self absorbed, dismissive, and she doesn't care what trauma her team has experienced. It's taken me more than 2 days to get through the first episode, and I'm not sure I will keep watching.

I saw another reviewer say this was lazy writing and stereotypical. I disagree. This is HORRIBLE writing. It's like they decided, "Let's put a bull in a China shop, and have this narcissistic DCI destroy everything this team loves about their jobs".

I thought replacing Jimmy Perez on Shetland was a bad idea, but Ashley Jensen's character doesn't disrespect the team like Sinead Keenan's character does here.

It's painful to watch, and I'm not sure I can stomach continuing to watch this series. Why on earth would the writers decide to make Sunny's life a living hell?!?! Why didn't they just promote HIM to DCI?!?! This is a hugely negative change for such a phenomenal tv show.

I'm hoping it improves, but I don't actually think it will. You might want to just stop watching after season 4.

Well let's see where this goes but, OMG, it's started with rather biggest cliche in the book. How unimaginative.

Why do all, or certainly most TV detectives have to exhibit a disastrous personal life with one ( pick from a well use tired list) fundamental , life flaw? Is it just lazy writing or do the writers somehow think this is alluring/ interesting. Who knows. However this is where we find ourselves at the beginning of series five. Time will tell if the character can develop beyond this or if it becomes an all consuming sub plot to cover up sloppy plot writing. A shame we got to this as replacing key characters is always hard but to rely on threadbare cliches from the off is a bit dull and shows no imagination.

Update having watched the series in full. Well done writers and actors. It really plays out realistally and is up to the excellent standard of previous series. Not an easy transition to a new key character but well done in my view👍

I really miss Nicola Walker, she was marvelously as the guv... do not like Sinead Keenan. Especially alongside Sanjeev, who is brilliant. But the chemistry is off and she gives a real Karen and Daren vibe. She rolls her eyes a lot, and just seems truly annoyed with her role. I hope they find someone else next season. Just feels so different and all over the place this season. No substance with the cast. I stopped watching after the 2nd episode because I can't deal with Sinead's character and how she portrays the guv. The rest of the cast is great but they seem like they no longer have any cohesion anymore.