Gently and Bacchus investigate the murder by bludgeoning of Damenica Charlton. A neighbor tells them that the victim "drank a lot and had a lot of men visitors." Damenica had a 13 year old daughter, Agnes, but was estranged from her husband Alan. Alan becomes a prime suspect and Gently is convinced that there is a lot Alan knows that he isn't telling them. Police interview techniques of the 1960s were occasionally overly forceful. Gently's investigation leads to some dark and disturbing revelations. Gently is a compassionate man but also one who accepts nothing at face value. It is he who questions the previous death of a young girl as being accidental and speculates that there may be a connection between that death and the murder of Damenica. The side story of Gently becoming friends with Bacchus' estranged wife was interesting and Bacchus' reaction to this friendship is, perhaps understandably, quite immature. This is a strong albeit unpalatable episode but the real reason to watch it is for Martin Shaw's performance as Gently. Daniel Casey (Gavin Troy in Midsommer Murders) is excellent as Alan Charlton and the performances of Shaun Dooley as Darren Paige and Natalie Garner as Agnes are also noteworthy.
8 Reviews
A gripping mystery with plenty of suspects
Tweekums11 October 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This episode marks a welcome return for Martin Shaw's Inspector Gently. Those unfamiliar with the series and thinking a police show set in the sixties will just be the BBC's version of 'Heartbeat' will be in for a surprise as this is far less whimsical dealing with murder, the death of a child, incest and a suspect who is only a child herself. When a woman is found murdered Gently and Bacchus are soon on the case; there are plenty of suspects including her ex husband, her brother and a possible client. As the investigation progresses we learn that there was another death in the area; a young girl fell over a cliff a year before but it was believed to be an accident at the time. As the story progresses this case becomes more central and Gently comes to believe she had been murdered, to make matters worse a young boy goes missing from the same camp-site where the girl had been staying.
This was a gripping episode with fine performances from Martin Shaw and Lee Ingleby as Gently and Bacchus in the main roles and from young Natalie Garner who was excellent as Agnes Charlton, the daughter of the first victim and a suspect in the murder of the child. There were enough suspects to keep the viewer guessing and the child suspect mirrored the real-life 'Mary Bell' case that took place in that area a few years later. Some of the 'interview' techniques employed by the police may seem rather shocking but it clearly shows how times have changed since the days it was seen as acceptable to beat a confession out of a suspect.
This was a gripping episode with fine performances from Martin Shaw and Lee Ingleby as Gently and Bacchus in the main roles and from young Natalie Garner who was excellent as Agnes Charlton, the daughter of the first victim and a suspect in the murder of the child. There were enough suspects to keep the viewer guessing and the child suspect mirrored the real-life 'Mary Bell' case that took place in that area a few years later. Some of the 'interview' techniques employed by the police may seem rather shocking but it clearly shows how times have changed since the days it was seen as acceptable to beat a confession out of a suspect.
Very evil very upsetting.
ctyankee125 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
A woman is found dead and the police are looking for a man that left the room with blood on his face.
This is a very upsetting and violent episode. It speaks of evil and how it is acted out.
A young girl named Agnes visits her mother secretly. Her mother is a drinker and has a bad reputation and when she was pregnant did not want to give birth to Agnes even though she was married. Agnes was not her husband's child. Her husband knew that but loved the child anyway.
Agnes is living with her grandmother who has custody and her uncle and they all seem to have mental problems. They don't deal with the things Agnes does that are bad they cover up for her. They believe she is like her mother an evil seed. Agnes is 13 and talks crazy and lures children to play with her. She murdered one child.
Gently and Bacchus try to find out what is going on and they blame adults for the murder of her mother and kidnapping of children on her uncle. In the end everyone was trying to protect Agnes. The man that plays Agnes's is Daniel Casey who plays Sgt Troy in Midsomer Murders. He knows of the past of Agnes' grandfather's and heard he was back in town.
This episode is about child murders, sexual abuse of children and more.
It comes out that Agnes and her mother were sexually abused by one person Agnes's grandfather. Agnes grandfather was her mother's father and also her real father. The grandfather sexually abused them both.
Gently shows compassion for Agnes who has real mental problems from the things that happened in her life. He does not want her free but he wants to to get help and have a better life while she is in the custody of the state.
Bacchus is having marriage problems and after his experience in this case and how important children are he starts to realize this could have happened to his daughter. She could have been kidnapped or murdered. He has more love for his daughter now.
No one can justify evil. You can see how a bad childhood can produce a really sick and evil person. We have to love our children more and if nothing else this episode re-enforces that idea.
This is a very upsetting and violent episode. It speaks of evil and how it is acted out.
A young girl named Agnes visits her mother secretly. Her mother is a drinker and has a bad reputation and when she was pregnant did not want to give birth to Agnes even though she was married. Agnes was not her husband's child. Her husband knew that but loved the child anyway.
Agnes is living with her grandmother who has custody and her uncle and they all seem to have mental problems. They don't deal with the things Agnes does that are bad they cover up for her. They believe she is like her mother an evil seed. Agnes is 13 and talks crazy and lures children to play with her. She murdered one child.
Gently and Bacchus try to find out what is going on and they blame adults for the murder of her mother and kidnapping of children on her uncle. In the end everyone was trying to protect Agnes. The man that plays Agnes's is Daniel Casey who plays Sgt Troy in Midsomer Murders. He knows of the past of Agnes' grandfather's and heard he was back in town.
This episode is about child murders, sexual abuse of children and more.
It comes out that Agnes and her mother were sexually abused by one person Agnes's grandfather. Agnes grandfather was her mother's father and also her real father. The grandfather sexually abused them both.
Gently shows compassion for Agnes who has real mental problems from the things that happened in her life. He does not want her free but he wants to to get help and have a better life while she is in the custody of the state.
Bacchus is having marriage problems and after his experience in this case and how important children are he starts to realize this could have happened to his daughter. She could have been kidnapped or murdered. He has more love for his daughter now.
No one can justify evil. You can see how a bad childhood can produce a really sick and evil person. We have to love our children more and if nothing else this episode re-enforces that idea.
Not so gentle evil
TheLittleSongbird26 May 2018
As a huge fan of detective/crime/mystery series, there is the admission that it took me a while to start watching 'Inspector George Gently', worrying as to whether it would appeal to me for "can't put my finger on it" reasons other than being young at the time and not being as knowledgeable of the period. Getting into the show eight years ago and continuing to watch it without fail, it turned out to be simply wonderful and actually became a favourite.
After a very solid, if still settling, start in "Gently Go Man", it felt like 'Inspector George Gently' started to hit its stride with "The Burning Man" and that continued with "Bomber's Moon". The show hit a high point with "Gently with the Innocents" and the high point standards continued and present here in "Gently Evil". There is a lot here that is particularly good about 'Inspector George Gently' and it shows that it is not at all hard to see why the show appeals to many.
"Gently Evil" is one of my favourite episodes from 'Inspector George Gently'. It is indicative that the show has found its feet and hit its stride. It may not quite have the emotional impact and succeeding emotional reactions after watching of "Gently in the Blood" and "Gently with the Innocents" but it is a powerful episode nonetheless.
However, "Gently Evil", like the rest of the show, looks great, often beautiful. It is strikingly filmed and the scenery and period detail are atmospheric, handsome and evocative, a lot of work and care went into re-creating the period and it shows loud and clear. The music is stirring and haunting, dynamic with what's going on and never intrusive.
The writing has a lot of thought-provoking intelligence and balances subtle humour and drama very well and executing both individually just as well. The direction is alert and accommodating and the story, despite having an air of familiarity at times and not as rich as other stories for other episodes, is easy to follow and absorbing with a good deal of suspense. "Gently Evil", and 'Inspector Gently' in general, is very interesting for how British law was like in the 60s and how much it's changed and come on compared to now.
Love the chemistry between Gently and Bacchus, one of the most interesting and well-contrasted detective/crime/mystery drama pairings (perhaps the most interesting since Morse and Lewis). The two couldn't have more different personalities and how they gel and clash entertains and intrigues. Both are fascinating characters, and became even more fascinating as the show progressed.
Can't fault the acting, the continually brilliant performances from Martin Shaw and Lee Ingleby here and throughout the show are career highs for both actors. All the support is good, particularly from Daniel Casey, Shaun Dooley and Natalie Garner.
All in all, brilliant. 10/10 Bethany Cox
After a very solid, if still settling, start in "Gently Go Man", it felt like 'Inspector George Gently' started to hit its stride with "The Burning Man" and that continued with "Bomber's Moon". The show hit a high point with "Gently with the Innocents" and the high point standards continued and present here in "Gently Evil". There is a lot here that is particularly good about 'Inspector George Gently' and it shows that it is not at all hard to see why the show appeals to many.
"Gently Evil" is one of my favourite episodes from 'Inspector George Gently'. It is indicative that the show has found its feet and hit its stride. It may not quite have the emotional impact and succeeding emotional reactions after watching of "Gently in the Blood" and "Gently with the Innocents" but it is a powerful episode nonetheless.
However, "Gently Evil", like the rest of the show, looks great, often beautiful. It is strikingly filmed and the scenery and period detail are atmospheric, handsome and evocative, a lot of work and care went into re-creating the period and it shows loud and clear. The music is stirring and haunting, dynamic with what's going on and never intrusive.
The writing has a lot of thought-provoking intelligence and balances subtle humour and drama very well and executing both individually just as well. The direction is alert and accommodating and the story, despite having an air of familiarity at times and not as rich as other stories for other episodes, is easy to follow and absorbing with a good deal of suspense. "Gently Evil", and 'Inspector Gently' in general, is very interesting for how British law was like in the 60s and how much it's changed and come on compared to now.
Love the chemistry between Gently and Bacchus, one of the most interesting and well-contrasted detective/crime/mystery drama pairings (perhaps the most interesting since Morse and Lewis). The two couldn't have more different personalities and how they gel and clash entertains and intrigues. Both are fascinating characters, and became even more fascinating as the show progressed.
Can't fault the acting, the continually brilliant performances from Martin Shaw and Lee Ingleby here and throughout the show are career highs for both actors. All the support is good, particularly from Daniel Casey, Shaun Dooley and Natalie Garner.
All in all, brilliant. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Nothing Gentle about the Evil here.
Sleepin_Dragon18 November 2018
Gently Evil stands out as one of the best episodes of this superb series. The writing is just incredible, it's a compelling, intense, utterly engrossing storyline. No doubt it will be upsetting for some, the conclusion is indeed macabre, but the delivery is superb. Neve McIntosh and Shaun Dooley are fabulous, big characters well brought to life, it's again the antagonism between Gently and Bacchus that I find most enjoyable. Terrific production values, all round brilliance. 10/10
Superb: intriguing, original, multi-layered and emotional
grantss28 July 2022
One of the best, if not THE best, episodes of Gently. Far far more than a straightforward murder mystery this time. It involves more than one crime, over more than a year, the perpetrator is not at all obvious (and there's more than one, if you think about it), there's a deep psychological aspect to this (why did they do that?) and a highly emotional side to this as you realise the ramifications of it all.
Throw in the usual Bacchus hot-headedness and family problems, the chalk-and-cheese nature of the Gently-Bacchus partnership and the occasional humour and it's a fantastic episode.
The only negative is the big unsolved mystery: why's Taylor now a PC after being a Sergeant last season?
Throw in the usual Bacchus hot-headedness and family problems, the chalk-and-cheese nature of the Gently-Bacchus partnership and the occasional humour and it's a fantastic episode.
The only negative is the big unsolved mystery: why's Taylor now a PC after being a Sergeant last season?
Average - later episodes get better
dmorris136 August 2022
Am I imagining things or does Gently copy lines from the 1995 film Heat in this episode? The is also a line from Get Carter in an early pub scene?? Perhaps the writer is a fan, but knowing that film so well I found it distracting. The hitler joke at the start is very funny though - the delivery and set up is perfect (though many will find any jokes about Hitler distasteful - yawn)....
Not the best episode
Paulldavidson8 June 2022
This isn't the best episode in the series this episode thrives on police brutality as the DCI watches on this isn't police work and its clearly not acceptable and they would be struck off police do not beat statements out of suspects in the interview rooms a police officer shouldn't bring their personal problems to the job.
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