'Above Suspicion' has some good elements, but also a number of weak ones. It's not bad, but it's not completely gripping either. The first series is slightly better, due to Jason Durr and an interrogation scene that's the best of the entire series, but 'The Red Dahlia' doesn't improve on the first series' flaws and makes more on the way.
Kelly Reilly, despite being a beautiful woman (though maybe unrealistically so, and she's too young), continues to not do much for me, with flat line delivery, limited range and pallid presence. The relationship between her and Langton is still contrived, and again Langton is too much of a sleaze.
The characters are still cliché-ridden and are not particularly interesting, sound is sloppy and out of sync, and the shock value rather gratuitous. Also it is really hard to believe that nobody has knowledge of the Blue Dahlia, one of the most famous unsolved there is.
However, it is a good-looking series and never is over-drab or choppily edited. The story, despite the over-familiarity, didn't have me doing something else or looking at my watch, and there is some atmosphere. Interrogations are interesting and there are fewer clumsy scenes.
Acting is quite decent, Ciaran Hinds is commanding and doesn't phone in, and while no Jason Durr Simon Williams is suitably menacing.
Overall, 'The Red Dahlia' evoked mixed feelings. 5/10 Bethany Cox