ITV presents yet another crime/detective/mystery/thriller. Yawn. Or is it? Advertising seems to present this show as something different, something we haven't seen before. With one claim so bold as to say it is "Better than Broadchurch". A big statement to make and a lot to live up to. However, 'Unforgotten' just about seems to be pulling it off, so far that is. At its opening we are introduced to a whole heap of characters, most of a certain age, (and most who seem to look the same if we're being honest), and in a flurry of names and faces it gets a bit confusing. But by episode 3 (at the time of writing) we seem to getting into the flow of things. Character traits have been established, personality ticks and flaws and secrets unraveled.
We focus in on DCI Cassie Stuart, played by the brilliant, 'Last Tango in Halifax' actress Nicola Walker (who seems to be in everything at the moment with a stint on 'River' on its rival, BBC) and DS Sunny Khan portrayed by Sanjeev Bhaskar in a different role for him, normally playing comedic roles on his own comedy shows. (However after a bit-part in Doctor Who last year playing a more 'serious' role, perhaps this a future move for him?). They find a body, or rather a skeleton under the concrete of an abandoned building, after much investigation we discover this is a grave 39 years old. This is what makes 'Unforgotten' stand out amongst the others, it manages to bring the past to the present, focusing on the then trying to fix the now.
It took a whole episode, a whole 50 minutes of content just to figure out who this skeleton belonged too. Clearly from the outset, this is establishing itself as a slow-burner of a show, gradually climbing to its pivotal moment of 'whodunnit'? In a strange way, there is an element of 'Sherlock' about this show, clever little bits and pieces all linking here and there. These make the best crime thrillers. It's only after episode 3 that we know which characters link to the dead body and why with further plot holes to fill. Episode 3 sees scenes with breaking of the news of the death to the young boys mother. This brings a different side to the story, a softer side to both the character of DCI Cassie Stuart and to the harshness of the content of the show. In TV drama or in any situation, there is no harder scene than watching a mother who has lost their child, especially after nearly 40 years of not knowing. This was portrayed beautifully and well put together.
Ultimately, this show has a lot of promise. It has endless possibilities of where it could go, with the killers identity not obvious at the present moment. It may be a slow burner but the content is packed full of clever little treats and tricks for our crime-solving delights. With a stellar cast, I just hope the climax to the series will not be a disappointment,
