The Sixth Commandment -
Streaming on Foxtel. My Rating 10/10
I first saw this fine series a few months ago and remember being so impressed by the quality of the script which was written by Sarah Phelps who also wrote the wonderful series A Very British Scandal and Dublin Murders plus adaptations of various Agatha Christie novels.
The Sixth Commandment is a four-part British true-life crime drama, written by Sarah Phelps and directed by Saul Dibb. Based on the murders of Peter Farquhar and attempted murder of Ann Moore-Martin a retired Head Mistress.
In 2015 two murders occur in the village of Maids Moreton,Buckinghamshire the murder victim Peter Farquhar is an esteemed academic who is brilliantly played by Timothy Spall in yet another fine characterisation to add to his impressive achievements on screen.
The other attempted murder victim Anne Moore -Martin is equally brilliantly played by another favourite of mine Anne Reid both characters are lonely and elderly and both are easy prey for the charismatic con man Ben Field a 28 year old trainee clergyman .
Éanna Hardwicke gives a great performance as a charismatic Ben Field the manipulative and calculating criminal who convinces a closeted elderly gay retired university lecturer who has never experienced a loving same sex relationship to allow him to become his companion eventually convincing him to alter his will in his favour.
After Peter Farquhar dies in mysterious circumstances that at first appear to be natural causes the charismatic Ben turns his attentions to a neighbouring widow Ann Moore-Martin who's only companionship is her devoted niece Annabelle and her beloved dog Rosie.
The Sixth Commandment is a study in the power of faith ,loneliness and the endless vulnerability of the elderly who no matter how intelligent can fall prey to obsessive flattery and manipulative criminal minds.
In Peter Farquhar's case he was easy pickings especially because of his faith and temperament he barely ever acted on his homosexual impulses. . "Even my deviance is pathetic," he tells his priest and counsellor.
The Sixth Commandment is superbly directed by Saul Dibb who has directed many fine television dramas one an all time favourite of mine The Line of Beauty 2006 plus Dublin Murders, The Salisbury Poisonings and The Duchess.
I'd love to see Sarah Dibb and Sarah Dibb get together when the dust settles and more is revealed on a current true life Australian mystery drama involving a couple of deadly mushroom fatalities,it's a most intriguing story.
I first saw this fine series a few months ago and remember being so impressed by the quality of the script which was written by Sarah Phelps who also wrote the wonderful series A Very British Scandal and Dublin Murders plus adaptations of various Agatha Christie novels.
The Sixth Commandment is a four-part British true-life crime drama, written by Sarah Phelps and directed by Saul Dibb. Based on the murders of Peter Farquhar and attempted murder of Ann Moore-Martin a retired Head Mistress.
In 2015 two murders occur in the village of Maids Moreton,Buckinghamshire the murder victim Peter Farquhar is an esteemed academic who is brilliantly played by Timothy Spall in yet another fine characterisation to add to his impressive achievements on screen.
The other attempted murder victim Anne Moore -Martin is equally brilliantly played by another favourite of mine Anne Reid both characters are lonely and elderly and both are easy prey for the charismatic con man Ben Field a 28 year old trainee clergyman .
Éanna Hardwicke gives a great performance as a charismatic Ben Field the manipulative and calculating criminal who convinces a closeted elderly gay retired university lecturer who has never experienced a loving same sex relationship to allow him to become his companion eventually convincing him to alter his will in his favour.
After Peter Farquhar dies in mysterious circumstances that at first appear to be natural causes the charismatic Ben turns his attentions to a neighbouring widow Ann Moore-Martin who's only companionship is her devoted niece Annabelle and her beloved dog Rosie.
The Sixth Commandment is a study in the power of faith ,loneliness and the endless vulnerability of the elderly who no matter how intelligent can fall prey to obsessive flattery and manipulative criminal minds.
In Peter Farquhar's case he was easy pickings especially because of his faith and temperament he barely ever acted on his homosexual impulses. . "Even my deviance is pathetic," he tells his priest and counsellor.
The Sixth Commandment is superbly directed by Saul Dibb who has directed many fine television dramas one an all time favourite of mine The Line of Beauty 2006 plus Dublin Murders, The Salisbury Poisonings and The Duchess.
I'd love to see Sarah Dibb and Sarah Dibb get together when the dust settles and more is revealed on a current true life Australian mystery drama involving a couple of deadly mushroom fatalities,it's a most intriguing story.