A quality episode but typical of Granada TV dramas at the time, had a bit of a weird ending. It's as if the writer was out of ideas.
Great cast with some good humour. Just a bit of a disappointing ending.
5 Reviews
Calm down. Calm down
xmasdaybaby196610 February 2021
Disappointing ending
Victor-fitforlife7 August 2022
Great episode but without giving anything away I'll just say the ending dropped an otherwise perfect programme from a 10 to a still impressive 8.
The acting as is usual in Cracker was excellent, and there was dark humour interspersed with dramatic and explosive action. Still...a very, very watchable episode.
The acting as is usual in Cracker was excellent, and there was dark humour interspersed with dramatic and explosive action. Still...a very, very watchable episode.
Does the end justify the means?
ygwerin122 May 2022
When anyone is murdered there is concern, anxiety, anger from the public, coupled with an understandable expectation that the police get the culprit ASAP, for the old bill public pressure is multiplied by the internal one driven through the system itself.
All I see of the police and their workings is via television shows like Cracker, which of course is absolutely no guarantee of accurate representation, of how a police force actually operates.
The impression I am left with is that the police may not necessarily, be so keen to find the actual murderer as they profess, expediency may in the end be as much if not more of a motivation as diligence.
Parents who have lost their son may not necessarily be overly concerned, if the person arrested is the actual murderer, there is after all no way for them to know, one way or another. They are expected to be able to trust in the 'Justice System' and believe that, the old bill have investigated the matter and arrested the culprit.
The term 'closure' can become some form of cliche but parents want, to feel some kind of relief that at least the killer is not still at large, they need to be able to grieve for their loss, uncertainty can eat away at one and increase their anxiety beyond human endurance.
All I see of the police and their workings is via television shows like Cracker, which of course is absolutely no guarantee of accurate representation, of how a police force actually operates.
The impression I am left with is that the police may not necessarily, be so keen to find the actual murderer as they profess, expediency may in the end be as much if not more of a motivation as diligence.
Parents who have lost their son may not necessarily be overly concerned, if the person arrested is the actual murderer, there is after all no way for them to know, one way or another. They are expected to be able to trust in the 'Justice System' and believe that, the old bill have investigated the matter and arrested the culprit.
The term 'closure' can become some form of cliche but parents want, to feel some kind of relief that at least the killer is not still at large, they need to be able to grieve for their loss, uncertainty can eat away at one and increase their anxiety beyond human endurance.
Incredibly good.
Sleepin_Dragon30 July 2022
With Nigel Cassidy in custody, an angry mob gathers outside.
It's easy to see why this particular two part story has such a high rating, it has been tremendously good, it's such a powerful story, but it's the true, raw emotions from the characters that have made it, throw in the personal issues of the regulars, and you have a virtually flawless episode.
The pacing is a true triumph, it doesn't let up for a single moment, multiple moments of brilliance throughout.
Beck is a somewhat mixed bag, he's like a bad guy on the side of the good guys, I love the way Fitz concludes that he's A Guardian reader, I would assume he's more a Daily Mail reader. His comments about two guys, and two lesbians, no words for that. The scene where Fitz analyses Beck, incredible.
'I would rub oil in your back, 'til Boots ran dry,' is that not one of the best one liners of all time.
The cast have been terrific throughout, the guests, Christopher Fulford, Tim Healy and Frances Tomelty, tremendous.
10/10.
It's easy to see why this particular two part story has such a high rating, it has been tremendously good, it's such a powerful story, but it's the true, raw emotions from the characters that have made it, throw in the personal issues of the regulars, and you have a virtually flawless episode.
The pacing is a true triumph, it doesn't let up for a single moment, multiple moments of brilliance throughout.
Beck is a somewhat mixed bag, he's like a bad guy on the side of the good guys, I love the way Fitz concludes that he's A Guardian reader, I would assume he's more a Daily Mail reader. His comments about two guys, and two lesbians, no words for that. The scene where Fitz analyses Beck, incredible.
'I would rub oil in your back, 'til Boots ran dry,' is that not one of the best one liners of all time.
The cast have been terrific throughout, the guests, Christopher Fulford, Tim Healy and Frances Tomelty, tremendous.
10/10.
One Day a Lemming Will Fly: Part 2
Prismark103 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
With Nigel Cassidy (Christopher Fulford) being the main suspect and taken in for questioning. The police are not shy about telling the press that they believe that Cassidy is gay despite his denials.
The second part is looking to follow the same beats as the series opener. Where everyone thought the amnesiac priest was the killer.
Writer Jimmy McGovern anticipates this. With no other suspect on the horizon. McGovern sets out his stall for the second series.
His focus is DS Beck. Fitz cannot let go of Beck's homophobia and knows that Beck dislikes him.
At one point Fitz interrogates Beck about his childhood right in front of Cassidy.
When Fitz turns his attention towards Cassidy, he promises to share Cassidy's burden with him.
With his life in ruins, Cassidy confesses to murdering the schoolboy. Only to later confide in Fitz that he was not the killer. Knowing that one day the real murderer will strike again. It will bring embarrassment to the police and Fitz. That is the burden he wants to share with Fitz.
It is a concept I can buy into or else it would had been the repeat of the first story.
The second part is looking to follow the same beats as the series opener. Where everyone thought the amnesiac priest was the killer.
Writer Jimmy McGovern anticipates this. With no other suspect on the horizon. McGovern sets out his stall for the second series.
His focus is DS Beck. Fitz cannot let go of Beck's homophobia and knows that Beck dislikes him.
At one point Fitz interrogates Beck about his childhood right in front of Cassidy.
When Fitz turns his attention towards Cassidy, he promises to share Cassidy's burden with him.
With his life in ruins, Cassidy confesses to murdering the schoolboy. Only to later confide in Fitz that he was not the killer. Knowing that one day the real murderer will strike again. It will bring embarrassment to the police and Fitz. That is the burden he wants to share with Fitz.
It is a concept I can buy into or else it would had been the repeat of the first story.
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