Dalgliesh (TV Series) The Murder Room - Part 2 (2023) User Reviews

A great way to end the second series.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 14 May 2023]

Dalgliesh now has to investigate the young body in the chest, and makes some shocking revelations about The Murder Room.

I thoroughly enjoyed this second episode, quite exciting, engaging and very well paced, that ending was quite something, they handled it wonderfully well.

It's good to see Dalgliesh playing a more active role in this second episode, he was pretty much a bystander in the first part. Finally we see some grit from Carvel's character.

One thing you notice about the book, is that The Murder Room itself is a character in its own right, and an integral part of the story, that element came through here, I enjoyed the whole revelation about The 98 Club.

Very, very well acted once again, Sorcha Cusack was excellent, Sylvestra Le Touzel as always wonderful.

Loved it, and I was so glad to see that a third series has been commissioned, rightly so, there are lots more great stories to adapt.

9/10.

Missing Something?

[AJ_Blanc · 7/10 · 15 May 2023]

I haven't read any of the books, but Dalgliesh the show is great. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw new episodes appear recently and watched them the instant they came out. Having said that, The Murder Room closed the season/series on uneven ground IMHO.

Part 2 starts with a body found in a way similar to another historical case from the murder room, this time in a trunk they said is very rarely opened (and was only opened this time for plot reasons). During the PM however there were flowers discovered in the victim's bra; flowers rare enough they could only come from one place on the estate. This is strange because there's no logical reason for them to be there, and could only be put there purposefully. What's worse is we weren't given a reason why the killer felt the need to do that, since the flowers and crime scene were obviously two different places.

Then there's the killer's motivation for the first murder: what was it? I watched the scene twice because I thought I missed it and there wasn't what I would call a full reveal. We were told more than once the 99 Club (or whatever) wasn't illegal or a source of profit, so why the doctor, because the killer didn't like him? Seems like important parts were either left on the editor's floor or something was lost converting from the book.

Season two ends on a somber tone with Dalgliesh watching his colleagues at the Yard hard at work, but that emotional tone doesn't really match what's happening on screen. Adam made an ultimatum to his bosses to fully prosecute the killer or he would resign, having the option to go on tour in America for his poetry. Not only did they agree to this, but they also gave him a promotion, and in turn his sergeant, so why the sad music and reflective stares? He may not be pursuing his writing career as much as he could be, but he gets to keep doing the other job he loves, and justice is being done in this case... and it looks like season 3 has already been approved. Everybody wins here, but the tone makes you think otherwise. Cheers!

Update: thank you for the reminder MsMisto. Would've been nice if the killer referred to the lease issue in any way; such as the actions were to protect jobs or property rights... By all appearances the killer was unhappy and unliked by almost everyone, so I still question the motivation because it was neither selfless nor selfish. It felt more like the actions of a hired killer, which isn't the case at all. As you said, the killer was not a real factor in the script.

AJ-White - Spoiler response

[MsMisto · 8/10 · 23 May 2023]

I do love these mysteries; however, I think that this one in particular needed an additional hour to fully flesh out the characters and plot. We hardly know anything about Marcus Dupayne at all. The solution comes quickly at the end without any real lead-up to it. It comes totally out of left field and the killer was not even a real factor in the script.

I have read the book and I realize that a tv adaptation must involve choices on what to include and what to omit. Nevertheless the story would have been much clearer (especially the ending) with half an hour added to each segment.

AJ-White: What would have happened to the base of operations if the lease weren't signed? And who stood firmly in the way?

The Murder Room - Part 2

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 12 June 2023]

The body of a young woman Celia Mellock is discovered in the trunk in the museum. She was 20 years old and pregnant.

It seems she was also killed at a similar time as Neville Dupayne.

Now Dalgliesh believes that there is pressure from the top as someone in the Dupayne museum once worked with military intelligence during the war.

However Dalgliesh realises that the murder room was also involved in something murky. A secret sex club called for the rich and famous called the 98 Club.

Meanwhile the actual murderer is tying up loose ends.

Although this adaptation has deviated from the book, it has robbed it off a proper motive. As things stand Neville was killed because he was a bit rude, abrupt and spilled a tray on them. It ignores the fact that Neville Dupayne wanted to open a private clinic rather than the museum continue so he could help out NHS patients stuck in long waiting lists.

Good, but ending bit unsatisfying.

[vitoscotti · 7/10 · 20 October 2023]

The first of the two parts was stellar building up the scenerio. Then, part two still excellent viewing is using political correctness more which has nothing to do with the story. DCI Adam Dalgliesh's (Bertie Carvel) constantly being concerned with DS Kate Miskin's (Carlyss Peer) inner feelings is getting old and takes away from the viewing experience. Dalgliesh shows no concern about his male subordinates well being.

"The Murder Room" still was decent quality. Story being laid out, and clues becoming known unraveling the mystery were top-flight. The villain reveal and her motives seemed like integral components from the original version had to be missing. The lack of a thoroughly satisfying motive for the villain was very un- PD James like.

Overal, the first two seasons have been enjoyable. Looking forward to season 3.