In Divine Proportion (17 Mar. 2005)

The unusual shotgun murder of an interior decorator is linked to the rape and subsequent suicide of her sister fifteen years earlier.

Director:

Brian Stirner

Writers:

Elizabeth George (character), Julian Simpson

Stars:

Louise Hickson, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Craig Parkinson

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Louise Hickson	...	Samantha Walthew
Sylvestra Le Touzel	...	Paula Marshall
Craig Parkinson	...	Simon Dawkins
Nathaniel Parker	...	Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley
Jimmy Yuill	...	PC Pat Garratt
Sharon Small	...	Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers
Roderick Smith	...	Bob Harris
Simon Wilson	...	James Walthew
Richard Armitage	...	Philip Turner
Burn Gorman	...	Billy Verger
Adie Allen	...	Liz Hughes
James Buller	...	David Hughes
Eve Best	...	Amanda Gibson
Jamie Martin	...	PC Blackmore

Storyline

Inspector Lynley and Sergeant Havers are sent to a small village in East Anglia to investigate the murder of an interior designer who was shot inside the house but her body was deliberately moved outside. As the investigation proceeds they discover that the dead woman's sister was raped and committed suicide fifteen years earlier and the perpetrator mysteriously disappeared. These events are somehow connected to the current crime but the perpetrator's son refuses to co-operate with the investigation and attempts suicide to avoid doing so. As the pair close in on the murderer, Havers, becomes trapped in the local pub with several villages and the murderer. During the siege the villager's dark secret is revealed and the reason for the current murder becomes clear and Havers is forced to relive the horror of her recent shooting in order to prevail.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | investigation | shotgun | village | pub | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

BBC [uk]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 March 2005 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Philip Turner: [about Sam] She'd sleep with you, but she didn't want to wake up next to you.

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Connections

Followed by The Inspector Lynley Mysteries: Natural Causes (2006)

User Reviews

Richard Armitage was definitely "In Divine Proportion!"

Firstly, I only watched this to see the lovely TDH* "Blue-Eyed Wonder" Richard Armitage as Phillip Turner. I've been a devoted fan of his since seeing him as John Thornton in the BBC's 2004 "North & South." Of course, I would have preferred seeing 90 minutes of RA being on-screen but it's called, "Inspector Lynley Mysteries" and not the "Richard Armitage Mysteries." LOL!

Secondly, the story was pretty interesting but there were a few gaping holes of credibility. It could have been better written and consistent. And frankly, too much time was spent on the byplay between Lynley and his Sergeant, Barbara Havers. Nearly five minutes of watching Havers breaking down in the tall, handsome Lynley's arms at the end was unnecessary. Especially since that time could have been inter-cut with updates on what happened to the other characters (i.e., Phillip Turner! After all, he did stand up heroically to the killer and get shot for his attempt at redemption!)

Thirdly, as this was the first full episode of "ILM" that I've ever watched, I'll reserve judgment about the series overall until I've watched the other three eps in this series. But, my overall impression was that both the writing and directing could use some sprucing up. I did like watching the TDH Nathaniel Parker and to some extent the SDP** Sharon Small prance around on-screen. But the pacing seemed very slow. I had expected to see it flowing better and the dialogue snappier. The two leads looked and sounded like they were running lines with each other rather than talking.

I guess I've just been spoiled by watching that old curmudgeon Inspector Morse before.

Overall, I did like it and watched it twice last night. I saw more things that I enjoyed the second time around since my attention wasn't quite as focused on wondering when RA would appear. Also, I liked Burn Gormley as Billy Verger. I'd just seen him as "Guppy" in "Bleak House" and liked seeing him in this very different role.

Now, I'm anxiously awaiting RA's performance as Claude Monet in the BBC's "The Impressionists" which should be broadcast sometime this Winter.

RA Rulez! LDB

*TDH (Tall Dark Handsome) **SDP (Small Dark Pretty)