STRIKE: TROUBLED BLOOD (2022, UK, 4 x 60m) ****
Crime, Drama
net. BBC One; pr co. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) / Bronte Film and TV; d. Susan Tully; w. Tom Edge (based on the novel by J.K. Rowling (as Robert Galbraith)); exec pr. Neil Blair, Tom Edge, Ruth Kenley-Letts, J.K. Rowling, Tommy Bulfin; pr. Alex Rendell; ph. Piotr Sobocinski Jr. (Colour | 2.00:1); m. Adrian Johnston; pd. Robert Foster; ad. Charlotte Meakin, Katrina Stewart.
cast: Tom Burke (Cormoran Strike), Holliday Grainger (Robin Ellacott), Sophie Ward (Anna Phipps), Abigail Lawrie (Margot Bamborough), Kerr Logan (Matthew Cunliffe), Samuel Oatley (DI George Layborn), Fionnula Flanagan (Oonagh Kennedy), Ruth Sheen (Pat Chauncey), Jonas Armstrong (Saul Morris), Jack Greenlees (Sam Barclay), Carol MacReady (Irene Hickson), Anna Calder-Marshall (Janice Beattie), Ben Crompton (Shanker), Michael Byrne (Roy Phipps), Mary Roscoe (Cynthia), Ian Redford (Ted Nancarrow), Linda Bassett (Joan Nancarrow), Phill Langhorne (DI Simon Layborn), Morgan Jones (DI Bill Talbot), Andy de la Tour (Nico ‘Mucky’ Ricci), Cherie Lunghi (Gloria Conti), Sutara Gayle (Kim Sullivan), Billy Boyle (Brian Tucker), Tracy Wiles (Donna), Robin Askwith (Steve Douthwaite), Dayo Koleosho (Samhain Athorn), Claire Dunbar (Delia Athorn), Kenneth Cranham (Dennis Creed), Jessica Impiazzi (Gloria Conti (1970s)), Genevieve Hulme Beaman (Oonagh Kennedy (1970s)), Giles Matthey (Paul Satchwell (1970s)), Toni Peach (Irene Hickson (1970s)), Eliza Collings (Janice Beattie (1970s)), Jack Morris (Steve Douthwaite (1970s)), Kierston Wareing (Leda Strike), James Corrigan (Al Rokeby), Phil Cornwell (Carl Oakden), Suzanne Burden (Linda Ellacott), Joe Johnsey (Martin Ellacott), Syrus Lowe (Max Priestwood).
The fifth in BBC’s adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s Cormoran Strike mystery novels sees private detective Strike (Burke) approached by Anna Phipps (Ward) for help in finding her mother, Margot Bamborough (Lawrie), who went missing in 1974 when psychopathic serial killer Dennis Creed (Cranham) stalked the streets. Rowling’s overlong and complex book has been skillfully distilled into four hour-long episodes by Tom Edge, who manages to retain to core ingredients of the novel without the need to oversimplify the main plot. Some of the sub-plot elements of the story have been dialled down – an editing move that perhaps is something Rowling herself could take heed of with her books. Burke and Grainger are fully immersed in their characters of the detective partners, who also have hidden feelings for each other, and they are supported by a large cast spread across three time periods. The mystery element is extremely satisfying in that the solution is hiding in plain sight, but will remain a surprise to those who have not read the book. Director Sue Tully’s refreshingly old-fashioned approach to the material means the plot has room to breathe without the need for flashy and distracting visuals making for a slow-burn, but fascinating, mystery.
