TV I like: George Gently - Pilot

The opening episode from 2007 begins in 1964 London with George Gently, a Chief Inspector at Scotland Yard, attending his wife’s funeral, the accident that took her life playing in his mind during it. Based on a story by Alan Hunter entitled “Gently Go Man”, he transfers to Northumberland following a lead that he thinks will bring the man he believes to be behind his wife’s death to justice. Once in Northumberland, he effectively poaches the case from the local police and works with an ambitious and keen Det Sergeant, John Bacchus, who, despite his youth is very confident in his abilities but lacking in experience and what also becomes clear, incredibly middle class (very homophobic, borderline racist, materially focussed, a bit of a social climber, with a disdain for the wealthy and privileged, but I don’t think he’ll be too conservative to engage in adultery) and very eager to work with someone of Gently’s stature. Nicknamed “St George”, Gently is concerned about corruption in the police force which I think will be a recurring theme for this programme.   

The cast in this episode is impressive: Martin Shaw and Lee Ingleby all have fairly established careers. In addition, Sean McGinley as Gently’s Irish snitch China who Gently brings to Northumberland; Richard Armitage is Ricky Deeming, the leader of the “Durham Defenders” motorcycle gang and, as it turns out, knows Bacchus from grammar school; Phil Davis is Joe Webster, the London gangster Gently was investigating and who disappears north after Gently’s wife’s death with Durham connections; and Clare Rushbrook plays Valerie Lister, mother of a youth who is at the centre of the case that brings Gently north were listed as guest stars in the opening credits. Other familiar faces included those of Neil Watkins, Shaun Evans 

Contextualising 1964: 
* Forensic science is being used in that blood analysis is mentioned and
   Northumberland has a forensics department.
* The amphetamine “speed” is already in circulation. 
* World War II ended only 9 years previously. 
* Murder is a hanging offense

This cohesively structured episode was shot in Ireland and directed by Euros Lyn, a name I recognised primarily from Doctor Who. The dynamic to drive the plot forward will undoubtedly come from these two characters. Gently and Bacchus have different views on morality and on what constitutes justice and since their professional purpose is to enforce the law, this is clearly where much tension and drama will originate from.  

Photo from blogcritics.org.