Zodiac (1974) User Reviews

A sparkling gem of a series.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 5 January 2023]

Detective David Gradley teams up with astrologist Esther Jones, in order to solve an array of crimes.

Such a shame that this show lasted only six episodes, when you compare it to a lot of content from the era, this was wonderfully entertaining, original, and pretty refreshing.

Every episode presents a unique, unusual story, the running thread being astrology, we see Gradley's scepticism challenged by the beautiful, but remarkably talented Esther.

Favourite episode of the lot has to be Saturn's Rewards, that one is so interesting, but every single one of them offers something.

Anouska Hempel and Anton Rodgers are a wonderful duo, they combined incredibly well, and brought out the best in one another.

A great guest cast appear here, including Michele Dotrice, Peter Egan, Michael Gambon, and an awesome performance from Peter Vaughan.

The usual production values of the seventies, I think it looks great, marvellous fashions and cars, and in the first episode, you'll get a glimpse of what they thought the future may look like.

A shame a second series didn't follow, I urge you to get hold of a copy of the DVD, it's well worth seeing.

8/10.

So 'of its time' TV archaeologists should dig it up

[stevelomas-69401 · 7/10 · 21 June 2020]

A brilliant piece of historical TV, you'll learn a lot about the 70s watching this. Aside from that Anouska and Anton are marvelously entertaining.

Only Six - But a Gem of a Series!!

[kidboots · 8/10 · 2 October 2018]

I didn't realise there were only six episodes made, I assumed there would have been twelve and six had been wiped or missing. It's a jolly shame because with "Saturn's Rewards" the pace really picked up. The two stars (Anton Rogers as the likeable but bumbling detective and Anouska Hempel as the psychic) seemed so comfortable with each other and there was a lot of light hearted banter. You could see it settling down into a couple of seasons at least. "Saturn's Rewards" had to do with a politician who sees a murder from his bedroom window - the only problem is the woman with him is not his wife and the murderer is his future son-in-law!! The show has a blend of old and up and coming (for 1974) stars - Dinah Sheridan, Peter Vaughn, Ian Ogilvy, Joanna David and it is pretty action packed with veteran Vaughn stealing every scene.

The few initial shows found it hard to establish rapport between the main characters. The first episode found only a couple of suspects so of course there was really no mystery and Hempel's character was just a tad annoying!! "Sting, Sting Scorpio" was another top one. An old psychic mentor of Esther's is murdered and she then takes over the fortune telling shop, hoping the killer will return. There is no doubt who the killer is - Robert Powell was in the middle of his "weird young man" phase and he plays it for all it's worth!!

Director Roger Marshall (who directed the gritty "Public Eye" and "The Sweeney") took this series up a very quirky and "not taking itself too seriously" approach and it's a pity more weren't made!!

Entertaining

[Adrian Sweeney · 1 August 2018]

He's a policeman. She's an astrologer. Together they solve crimes, using astrology. The show plays this perfectly straight, and it's usually just shrewd psychological insights into the behaviour of different star-signs. I thought it was great fun but you should probably factor that I fancy Anouska Hempel. And my star-sign.

Light but bubbly 70s series

[rodneymarshall · 7/10 · 17 February 2019]

I should put my cards - not Tarot ones - on the table and confess that my father create this show and wrote three of the six episodes.It is not a show which left him with fond memories. Nevertheless, on watching this recently I enjoyed it. There is a nice balance between light comedy and darker drama. The videotape studio stricture adds a claustrophobic atmosphere. Rodgers and Hempel offer a flirtatious rapport which is fun. The inspector's dress sense is tastelessly 1970s, but deliberately so. The gem episode is Sting, Sting Scorpio based in the Lanes in Brighton where Robert Powell plays a chilling, cold killer. The series feels more like stage plays recorded for TV. Rodgers is mid-point between the wonderful dramatic actor seen in Man in a Suitcase in the 60s and the chubby charm of Fresh Fields in the 80s.

Zodiac - a gentle comedy

[bukksfizz · 10/10 · 15 June 2007]

Despite the other negative reviews concerning this programme, it was one of my favourites that year. I well remember this as being a very gentle comedy/drama, and (again contrary to other comments) considered that the chemistry between the two principal leads worked excellently well. The subtle humour and banter between Rodgers and Hempel made it one of those "will they won't they" scenarios, very much akin to the Steed/Peel coupling in the 1960's Avengers. Certainly for 1974 it was a great tonic and wonderful relief from the grim reality of that year of the Heath Government. A great pity there were no more than the original six episodes. However six was probably the right number and I suspect that more would have meant less, so to speak. Nevertheless I would dearly enjoy seeing them all again, they have truly vanished without trace and there are, for example, no listings at all on ebay from amateur recordists. Indeed, even Wikipedia makes no mention of the series under Anton Rodgers - maybe he was also disappointed and wished to remove any connection with it? Nevertheless, Zodiac has one fan - me!

Delightful

[keysam-02610 · 9/10 · 3 June 2022]

I never saw this series at the time, nor even heard of it. On reflection I suspect that's because it was probably on at 9pm or later, because one of the joys of it is the dialogue which is definitely adult. Or more accurately, grown-up. By which I mean the characters make references that are naughty (in a playful way) & occasionally swear at a minor level.

It is that dialogue & the chemistry between the two leads that really lifts the series up.

It's hampered by being studio-bound & the astrology/supernatural aspects while fun are really just hokum. Plus they drive a coach and horses through any semblance of police procedure.

BUT I was left with a huge smile on my face, laughed out loud several times and really, really wish more than 6 episodes had been made.

At time of writing (2022) you can get this on DVD and I really recommend it. It ought to be lauded as lost classic!

good idea, but the stars did not line up

[grunsel · 21 July 2003]

Mystery crime series in which a detective uses the skills of an astrologer to help solve the riddles and puzzles of his cases. Seemed like a good idea at the time, but the result was rather tatty and the show had no redeeming features at all. This was a golden opportunity for the lovely but charmed Ms Hempel to move on to a leading role in her acting career, but she obviously has not done her homework here, stunting a series which perhaps could have lasted a couple of seasons in the hands of a keen and hard working young actress?. Its left to the more than reliable Anton Rogers to up the intrigue and try and hold what there is of the show together.