Dalgliesh (TV Series) A Certain Justice - Part 2 (2023) User Reviews

What an ending.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 7 May 2023]

Dalgliesh steps up the investigation into the hunt for Venetia's killing, and he believes that Octavia is in real danger from Ashe.

I'm actually sad that next week's two part story is the end of this series, I don't want it to to end, I didn't want this story to end.

A high quality production, immaculately produced, it's a real feast for the eyes, they got everything spot on, it looks so authentic.

A great ending, this was dramatic, fast moving and very tense, it seemed as though Octavia was in real danger, and that time was very much running out for her.

Bertie Carvel once again shone, quality acting, but his casting was spot on, great in the role

The title really does make sense, A Certain Justice.

PD James would have definitely have approved of this. I'd put this up there with the likes of Lewis, Grace and Vera.

9/10.

A Certain Justice - Part 2

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 7 May 2023]

Watched this Dalgliesh story back to back straight after watching the finale of Magpie Murders. Oops!

I might as well cut and paste my review of the last episode of Magpie Murders. Actually apart from the flaw in the casting. It worked very well.

With the help of the police surgeon. Dalgliesh reckons that Janet Carpenter's death was murder disguised as a suicide.

Janet had a personal history with Venetia. A person she acquitted went on to kill a family member of Janet. She was planning revenge, maybe hire a hitman to kill Venetia.

Desmond Ulrick also had a connection to the past with Venetia. Her father was a brutal sadistic headmaster. His brother was a pupil of his and had commited suicide because of the neverending bullying.

Garry Ashe finally reveals his hand. It seems having been rebuffed by Venetia after the court case, Ashe had targeted her daughter and get her to fall in love with him. Truly, madly deeply.

There was a double reveal in effect. It looked like the story was wrapped up but Dalgliesh had one more trick up his sleeve. A scoop you might say.

Political correctness creeping in

[vitoscotti · 7/10 · 13 October 2023]

Though I'm not one for the main villain to be exposed so early the viewing was mostly enjoyable. Two other villains later on revealed did make up for it. A decent episode but not stellar. The involvement of meek Janet Carpenter (Barbara Marten) invigorated the unraveling of clues details intensifying the viewing. The Desmond Ulrick (Michael Maloney) involvement was too obvious midway and his admission was somewhat flat.

Series unfortunately trending in a few areas that I'm not a big fan of in British detective mysteries. DCI Adam Dalgliesh (Bertie Carvel) is gradually becoming a bit too much of the sensitive guy using the shtick as a crutch. A lead officer constantly apologizing to subordinate DS Kate Miskin (Carlyss Peer) wanting to get in touch with her feelings just doesn't happen in 1970s real world policing. Also, the emotional weakness and sappiness of Miskin was a disappointment to the extreme level it surfaced. The right guess of where the villain is in the final climatic scene out of multiple choices as here is common in British mysteries.

Fails in the logic department at the end

[Pegasus-10 · 3/10 · 11 May 2023]

An enjoyable series with a competent Chief Inspector who shows (maybe too much) empathy towards his colleagues and even some suspects.

I probably read the book years and years ago so can't compare it to this teleplay, although there are some plot holes and inconsistencies.

My reason for rating this episode so low (I gave the first part a 7) is the scene in the forest. And even before that, why the daughter didn't just run off at the petrol station was baffling. But why she allows the policeman to be stabbed when she could have prevented it had me yelling at the TV screen. She was portrayed as a complete fool.