The 10 Best Crime Dramas This Week (Monday 7th – Sunday 13th May)

Well, here we go then – it’s finally here. We’ll be getting everyone in the mood with a whole week’s worth of Bridge content from Monday, but the real thing starts on Friday. Elsewhere, Midsomer Murders is back (although it looks like it’s starting its new run with the final two, unaired episodes from series 19), Harlan Coben’s new drama, Safe, starts up on Netflix, Salamander finishes, and there are two new radio crime dramas to look forward to. Enjoy!

REVIEW: Salamander: Blood Diamonds (S2 E7&8/10)

At the end of episode six of Salamander, Paul Gerardi found himself in a bit of a bind – the General Bombé film that the Minnebach banks wanted so body had been sneakily stolen from under his nose by young Jamie, while Jacky lanciers (who, it emerged, was Prime Minister de Coutere’s ha;f sister) had suddenly got herself a new lawyer… his best mate René.

Oh, and his partner – Danny – had died in a car crash where he was entirely cuplable.

So Gerardi was not having a good time of things. Things were only going to get worse for him.

The slightly tiresome Jamie-Nicola-Sofie storyline took a turn or two in these two episodes: in the space of an hour’s television or so, Nicola had turned into a raging green-eyed monster and had thrown Sofie (and her belongings) out of the apartment because she suspected her half-sister was the reason why Jamie had wanted to get out from under her feet and go back to his place. (The fact that they had only been together maybe a week or two means pretty much marriage in Belgium.)

But no. Jamie wanted to get away because he had seen what was on the memory stick and was horrified. He telephoned his aunt and demanded 250 grand for the return of the film. Bad idea. He got away from his aunt’s hired hitman (Martine would obviously never win Best Aunt Of The Year award to be fair) and then escaped… taking Sofie with him.

Yes. They were in love. After one night of staying up together drinking and playing cards. They could not keep away from each other. All a bit ridiculous really. He loved her so much he decided to hack off his Salamander tattoo with a razor blade.

Elsewhere, Gerardi was playing catch-up. After poor Jacky was found in her bathtub dead – so obviously not suicide – he put some pressure on René, who spilled the beans about his involvement in  the whole racket (after he and Sabine – who, it turned out, was a major player in the whole scenario, and big mates with Martine – had told each other they just had to stay schtum. He had helped to bury the case against Minnebach and government minister Jonathan Bury (who is now the liaison for Bombé), and now he was in knee-deep; Minnebach head up a global banking cabal who desperately want Bombé in power and the diamonds to flow.

When Sofie went missing (after a row, naturally) Gerardi’s attention switched to his daughter’s whereabouts, despite René being led to Minnebach never to be seen again. Monda – who I really don’t know what is playing at – told him about Jamie, the Salamander tattoo on his ankle, and that he had been released from prison early. Even a detective as bad as Gerardi put two and two together and found that it was Martine – a face from his Salamander investigation – who sprung her nephew.

He decided to break into Martine’s stately home and proceeded to bluster around the place like a bearded, grey bull in a china shop, knocking over lamps and all sorts. Soon Gerardi was face-to-face with Martine spilling his guts, demanding to know where his daughter was… because she was with her nephew, Jamie.

Martine chuckled – Gerardi had just led her straight to Jamie and film.

So, you know… Salamander is still Sillymander, and is still retreading old jeopardy ground and, I realised tonight, using characters like René and Monda purely and expositional conduits. And yet, with only two episodes left I’m keen to know what happens to Gerardi, his silly daughter Sofie and all the bally lot of them.

Just one thing. I do wonder if Adams – our stereotypical man in black – is going to be Gerardi’s saviour. He’s been listening in to Gerardi’s phone calls and could hear he was at the end of his tether. Adams’ expressions suggested he’s starting to feel sympathy for The Bearded One.

Paul Hirons
@Son_Of_Ray

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