The previous Nichols and Wheeler episode "Astoria Helen" is a big surprise. After two underwhelming previous ones beforehand in a row, so much drastically improved and things started hitting their stride. That is including Nichols himself, who did little for me to begin with but grew on me a lot in "Astoria Helen". And anybody who also felt this improvement will understandably hope that "The Glory That Was" would be closer to that than the first two episodes of his.
Good news is that "The Glory That Was" is closer in quality to "Astoria Helen", except not quite as good, than to "Rock Star" and "In Treatment". Luckily too, the character writing for Nichols doesn't regress and instead continues to grow. "The Glory That Was" is a very good episode and compares favourably when ranking Nichols and Wheeler episodes. Do prefer marginally "Astoria Helen", which was a little simpler, but at the same time some of the improvements are actually even better here.
Photography and such as usual are fully professional, the slickness still remaining. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed. The direction has some nice tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way.
Script is tight and constantly intelligent and intriguing, a few of my favourite lines coming from Rodgers. The story never stops being entertaining and suspenseful, with a lot packed in, with many clever twists and turns that aren't too predictable or incoherent. The identity of the perpetrator is not a massive shock, but the why is not obvious or not suspectable until quite late in and the fun comes from how as usual the detectives get to the truth. The final scene is glorious and one of Nichols' finest ever moments, Goren would be proud.
Nichols' quirkiness is thankfully toned down in comparison to his first two outings, and he and Wheeler work a lot better and more naturally as a team with equal roles. Really liked too that Ross is more active and more of a team player than usual, rather than being aggressive, just giving orders and making it too clear who he likes and who he doesn't. Have no issues with any of the acting.
Issues in fact are few with "The Glory That Was". It did get for my tastes slightly too complicated towards the end from trying to cram in too much going into the final quarter.
Concluding, very good. 8/10.
Good news is that "The Glory That Was" is closer in quality to "Astoria Helen", except not quite as good, than to "Rock Star" and "In Treatment". Luckily too, the character writing for Nichols doesn't regress and instead continues to grow. "The Glory That Was" is a very good episode and compares favourably when ranking Nichols and Wheeler episodes. Do prefer marginally "Astoria Helen", which was a little simpler, but at the same time some of the improvements are actually even better here.
Photography and such as usual are fully professional, the slickness still remaining. The music is used sparingly and is haunting and non-overwrought when it is used, and it's mainly used when a crucial revelation or plot development is revealed. The direction has some nice tension while keeping things steady, without going too far the other way.
Script is tight and constantly intelligent and intriguing, a few of my favourite lines coming from Rodgers. The story never stops being entertaining and suspenseful, with a lot packed in, with many clever twists and turns that aren't too predictable or incoherent. The identity of the perpetrator is not a massive shock, but the why is not obvious or not suspectable until quite late in and the fun comes from how as usual the detectives get to the truth. The final scene is glorious and one of Nichols' finest ever moments, Goren would be proud.
Nichols' quirkiness is thankfully toned down in comparison to his first two outings, and he and Wheeler work a lot better and more naturally as a team with equal roles. Really liked too that Ross is more active and more of a team player than usual, rather than being aggressive, just giving orders and making it too clear who he likes and who he doesn't. Have no issues with any of the acting.
Issues in fact are few with "The Glory That Was". It did get for my tastes slightly too complicated towards the end from trying to cram in too much going into the final quarter.
Concluding, very good. 8/10.
