Strike

The one-legged character from Soho and his discreet Watson, with no prospects for a pay raise. There is good chemistry between the central duo, focusing more on character than tension, lots of promenades through London streets, and a resolution in the style of Poirot's confrontations (but in a riskier one-on-one format). That Clooney with a cleft, who drinks six pints at the pub every evening, seems like the right choice for Cormoran Blue. It appears that Doyle’s work under Cowley has left him quite unrecognizable. (27.07.2023)

“Anyone who takes their own life over a bit of criticism shouldn’t be in the business.” The plot from a harsh environment that Robert Galbraith knows intimately, even without being as famous as Rowling. With his biting sarcasm, the character of writer Andrew Fancourt (Peter Sullivan) is intriguing, and I remain undecided whether the central duo’s sensitive nature and lack of negative traits bore or entertain me. This Poirot-like resolution features two against one, with the killer joining in out of curiosity. (31.07.2023)

The percentage of the plot devoted to tracking down the criminals starts decreasing in favor of character relationships and the unspoken tension in the air. The ending seemed like it was heading for a certain film with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere (not My Prostitute Lady), but we, who know what a jealous Matthew is like, remain calm about future installments. Shanker’s knife has forcefully kicked the door open in this series, and Holliday Grainger is dangerously starting to morph into Michelle Pfeiffer. (31.07.2023)

Relationship issues open the door to a spontaneous half-kiss, Robin, despite panic attacks, manages several infiltrations, and the Cornwall fox Corm once again proves he can catch criminals without a specific type of movement. Expanding to four episodes benefits the story, including space for cathartic emotional outbursts. Rising ratings over the series suggest that viewers have grown fond of that sympathetic detective duo from Denmark Street. (23.08.2023)

The fifth season can be divided into two halves. In the first half, following the pattern of Nordic crime dramas, the distant past is revived through archives and witness memories, and I’m fascinated by how people remember things after 40 years that I’d forget after 40 days. The second half somewhat loses its way and focuses on relationships, sentiment, and the troubled blood of the central duo (it’s a shame it doesn’t more often feature scenes like when intellectual theory clashes with drunken experience at Robin’s dinner). The parallel unraveling of the case, which revealed the involvement of a man named Oto, honestly bored me. And what about Corm and his best employee? Will they play Queen’s "Friends Will Be Friends" while they’re at it? (26.02.2024)