Silent Witness (TV Series) Covenant: Part 2 (2017) User Reviews

Complex, rewarding drama.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 26 July 2019]

This was a very enjoyable conclusion to the story, it benefited from having a range of suspects, and a very unexpected, but excellent conclusion.

As a viewer you get caught up in the engaging story, and are left baffled by the identity of the killer.

Harry Lister Smith was particularly good as Michael Maitland, but the cast in general were excellent, Clarissa's other half Max always adds something.

You need to concentrate, because the plot is very complex, and there is lots going on, but ultimately it's rewarding. 8/10

A solid mystery with a Hitchcockian twist

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 25 January 2017]

These comments cover the whole two part story not just the concluding episode.

As this story opens a young worker at Billingsgate Fish Market is chases by other workers and left chained and covered in blood. His friend and his friend's father drive off in his car; shortly afterwards they are run off the road and his friend is shot. DCI Tony Underhill is convinced that the boy's uncle was involved as he has recently ended a prison sentence for a violent crime. This theory is somewhat undermined when DNA evidence shows that in reality he was the boy's father… something he knew. When the boy's phone is analysed it points to another possible motive; he and his friend had apparently raped a girl, filmed it and posted the video on line… a definite motive to kill him. It isn't long before his friend is shot and killed too. Strangely a DNA sample doesn't match with one taken at the first crime. Even more strangely there is a completely unrelated murder on the other side of London where the killer's DNA matches the sample taken at the second shooting that is known not to come from that killer.

To my mind this story was a step up from the previous one; it is also quite a bit darker. There are a decent number of suspects but interestingly either they didn't the opportunity or they motives are disproved. The ultimate resolution is a nice nod to a Hitchcock classic… something that is clearly stated by Jack when he realises what happened. There are disturbing elements of the story; most notably when we learn that we learn that the shooting victims had committed a rape and the victim of that is driven to attempt suicide. The attacks are also quite brutal; especially when a man is stabbed to death. Thankfully this time the pathology team are just working to solve the case rather than getting caught up it… an unfortunate cliché in too many episode. That is not to say there is no office politics; when Clarissa's husband helps recover data from a broken phone Tom worries that he will try to poach her. The ending is likely to split viewers' opinions as 'justice is served' outside the law… I won't say more as details would spoil the end too much. Overall I'd say this was a really good story.

Lots of Players

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 15 May 2019]

Assume makes an ass out of you and me. There are so many assumptions that lead us down the road, so it takes a great deal of explanation and plot development to bring us the real news. There has been a rape and that rape is central to much of what evolves. Two young men seem to have something to prove and they are linked. Ultimately it's a good episode.

Spoiler alert.

[bittermelonisgoodforyou · 7/10 · 19 January 2021]

Complex plot based on Strangers on a Train. But the story did not explain why dragnot wanted his father dead. Also, did the police reveal the name of the suspect, knowing someone is going to do their dirty deed for them?

twisty

[frieda-92366 · 4/10 · 6 December 2022]

Ultimately I found this one unsatisfying. I thought it was very enjoyable all the way through...until it got to the end and then I felt there had not been sufficient evidence to come to that conclusion. Some mysteries are like that. It seemed like a cheat to re-use a well known device. If it had been the first time I had seen that particular twist of plot, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. But I thought geeezzz, can't you come up with something more original?

It always bothers me a bit when the cast brought in for an episode are always the beautiful people -- young men with touseled curls and classicly handsome profiles, the standard good-looking calloused youth who laughs it all off, older men who all look quite a bit alike (confusing), never any older life-worn care-worn people who have seen a bit of life. Then the odd fellow out is a walking skeleton illustration. I would like it better if they stuck to the real world of murders and decectives and pathologists...and sometimes used fewer of the Hollywood-type finely chiseled bodies and faces. I understand they are trying to appeal to a certain audience, but still.