Review: The Missing (S2 E8/8), Wednesday 30th November, BBC1

(C) New Pictures – Photographer: New Pictures

And so it came to this. The final instalment of a crazy, dual timeline-hopping story that has taken in Germany, Iraq and Switzerland as its three main locations. A story of family breakdowns, shocks, twists and a power drill. Yes, this second series of The Missing has had a bit of everything and is the closest thing on television to a high-concept, page-turning crime novel. What I mean by that is novels – especially crime novels – often rely on unreliable narrators, different timelines and all sorts of literary tricks and devices. This series by Harry and Jack Williams has felt like that at times, and they’ve pulled out the structural trickery to deliver some real pyrotechnics in pretty much every episode.

NB: Spoilers inside

The Bridge IV starts filming: Here we go again, says Sofia Helin

 

(C) Carolina Romare – Photographer: Carolina Romare

It’s a busy time of year, for lots of different reasons. Not only are we preparing our end of year lists, but things are gearing up for 2017’s new releases. One of the things we’re keeping an eye on is progress with the fourth (and likely final) series of The Bridge. It’s one of our favourite shows and ever since Hans Rosenfeldt announced that there would indeed be a fourth series, the countdown has been on. Now, thanks to our eagle-eyed contributor Charlotte, we know that it has started filming.

Review: Rillington Place (S1 E1/3), Tuesday 29th November, BBC1

(C) BBC – Photographer: Des Willie

The real-life story of 1940s and 50s serial killer John Christie has been told before (famously in a 1971 film starring Richard Attenborough). What made Christie’s heinous crimes even worse was that there was a shocking miscarriage of justice during the investigation, which allowed Christie to carry on his dark work. There’s no doubt that Christie’s story is a chilling one viewed from every angle, and this three-part re-telling has brought out the big guns to give it some clout – Tim Roth and Samantha Morton star as Christie and his doomed wife, Ethel, with Jodie Comer and Nico Mirallegro as their equally doomed neighbours, Timothy and Beryl Evans. As with all dramas based on real-life events where the facts and endings are known, it’s always interesting to see whether something can keep us gripped and keep us with it.

BBC confirms Agatha Christie’s The Witness For The Prosecution transmission date

If last year’s And Then There Were None is anything to go by, 2016’s Agatha Christie adaptation – The Witness For The Prosecution – is set to be a real festive treat. Adapted once again by the excellent Sarah Phelps and featuring a stellar cast that includes Kim Cattrall, Toby Jones, Andrea Riseborough, Kim Cattrall, David Haig, Billy Howle and Monica Dolan, it’s a two-part affair set in 1920. Now we know when it’s going to go out.

Interview: Tim Roth, Rillington Place

This week sees the start of a new, three-part crime drama on BBC1, which tells the real-life story of serial killer from the 1940s and 50s, John Christie. Reconciled after living apart for nine years, John Reginald Christie (Tim Roth) and his wife, Ethel (Samantha Morton), move into the ground floor flat of 10 Rillington Place, West London. The adjustment to a new life, in a small, rundown property, is particularly felt by Ethel but she strives to please her husband. Ten years on, Timothy Evans (Nico Mirallegro) and his wife Beryl (Jodie Comer) move into a flat upstairs and fall prey to Christie’s influence and tales. When Beryl becomes pregnant with a second child, already struggling to make ends meet following the birth of baby Geraldine, the Evans allow Christie to help them with deadly consequences for the young newlyweds. We managed to get hold of an interview with Tim, which you can read after the jump.

Review: Y Gwyll/Hinterland (S3 E5/8), Sunday 27th November, S4C

We’re progressing nicely in this third series of Y Gwyll, with some neat character progression and plenty of intrigue. However, if there’s a criticism of Y Gwyll it’s that each case Mathias and Rhys investigate follows a pretty standard routine: the duo gets a call, they go out, they investigate the scene (which usually means Mathias snaps on a pair of blue rubber gloves, and processes the scene meticulously) and then the interviewing starts, which is where Rhys comes in (her greater empathy and human connectivity often coming to the fore). But in tonight’s episode there was something different and new, and certainly something we haven’t seen before in this programme – the killer was revealed from the very first scene.

NB: Spoilers forthcoming

The 10 Best Crime Dramas This Week (Monday 28th November – Sunday 4th December)

(C) New Pictures – Photographer: New Pictures

It’s a decent week in crime drama land, with the finale of the twisty-turny Missing, a well as the continuing Modus over on BBC4. But there’s also something starting this week – the three-part series Rillington Place, which sees Yim Roth and Samantha Morton star in the re-telling of the John Christie story. Advanced reports suggest that it’s a goodie. Also look out for out for vintage radio drama, with a new adaptation of Jacque Futrelle’s The Thinking Machine.