Silent Witness (TV Series) Squaring the Circle: Part 2 (2015) User Reviews

Intriguing and shocking.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 1 April 2019]

This was a very good, solid, intriguing and satisfying episode. It was complex in terms of plot, but done in such a way that was easy to follow, and understand.

There has always been something sinister, but undoubtedly enjoyable about Russian agents working in the UK, even if one is Serbian and the other Romanian. A good episode for Jack, who's unlucky in love once again.

Superbly acted, and very well produced, I thought the story was hugely enjoyable. The conclusion was a shocking moment, and took an even darker twist then expected.

Wet good indeed. 8/10

Hasn't really aged

[keysam-02610 · 8/10 · 17 June 2022]

If anything this episode feels even more on point than it probably did when first shown, given what Russia has done in 2022 and the recent exposure of the so-called "concierge" companies that exist to facilitate billionaires in whatever they want, without much regard to anything else.

The fact that at least some of the antagonists are acting out of rage at oligarchs "invading" London is probably even more relevant, as I think many people do find it infuriating. Inventing a group prepared to go further than letters to the editor isn't really a wild fantasy by the writer of this episode.

I prefer my Silent Witness without too much addition of personal angst for the main characters so this (& most of the episodes immediately prior) ticks the right boxes. Even Jack's (ill advised) hook up with Parks isn't too annoying.

A Russian oligarch is threatened

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 28 January 2015]

These comments refer to the entire two part story.

This two part story opens with a man leaving a party with his young daughter, her nanny and his bodyguards; suddenly they are attacked by a man with a shotgun. The body guards return fire and when it is over the nanny and the gunman are dead and a second attacker flees; apparently wounded. The man is Russian oligarch Maksim Bazhanov; the sort of man who values his privacy and is powerful enough that the police feel pressured to keep his name out of the limelight. He has powerful enemies too; most notably the Russian state but also a quasi-terrorist group who are fed up with wealthy foreigners buying up most of London. After a second death and the disappearance pressure is applied on the police officer leading the investigation to quickly charge one of the 'terrorists' despite her misgivings.

This was an enjoyable if somewhat far-fetched story; in the opening attack nobody asked why Bazhanov's bodyguards were armed; that may be believable in much of the world but not London. There are a decent number of suspects and when the real killer is exposed it doesn't come as a complete surprise as their motive had been hinted at earlier… a motive that some may find disturbing. Before the final revelation there are a few twist. Away from the case Jack's relationship with the investigating officer seems a bit unnecessary but didn't detract from the story.

Not Tied Up With a Bow

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 4 May 2019]

The Russians end up a pretty unhappy group. Their ambitions aren't really realized and there is a good deal of death. But when it gets right down to it, it is the British government that is the most corrupt. There are some surprises along the way that will shock. The thing that I enjoy is that unlike American TV, these can have some unsatisfying conclusions.

More realistic that some US shows

[paulinecrawford · 9/10 · 12 August 2015]

Watching the London skylines can be rather beautiful. But, cynically, one reason I love this show is that the "super scientists" sometimes change their minds and when people kick doors in, they take three or four kicks.

The plot usually requires considerable conversations between a range of characters, law enforcement, forensic staff and "the baddies". And car chases, shootouts and fist fights are rare. There are active intelligent female roles, a variety of accents and faces, and in more recent episodes, people "Tweet", "Facetime" have video calls and use technology other than a mobile phone trace.