By Anne Brodie
The nine-episode British psychological police procedural DEPT. Q is a simmering look at law enforcement in Edinburgh, with traumatised DCI Carl Morck (Matthew Goode, emaciated, for the role) at the centre of the storm. He and other police officers were taken by surprise while investigating a murder; they died or sustained serious life altering injuries but not him. Carl suffers survivors’ guilt and has become unmanageable, disliked for his edgy, relentless acting out. His boss asks if he ever wonders why people hate him and orders him to meet with the department therapist (Kelly Macdonald). The force is under-resourced and unable to cope with its growing load, and he’s just another irritant, a brilliant detective but a dud of a human being. He’s sent to the basement to run the hastily dreamed up Dept Q, tasked with finding cold cases, assisted by newcomer Akbar (Alexej Manvelov), to sort and evaluate for further investigation. Akbar who envisions and solves crimes like a savant, suggests they reinvestigate a lawyer’s (Chloe Pirrie) disappearance four years prior beleiving they can solve it. Merritt Taylor had received graphic death threats and disappeared while on a ferry with her brother; her body was never found. This series is DEEPLY gritty and unpleasant at times but what it offers is nothing short of astounding. I’ll let you investigate, but trust me, Dept Q is killer. Netflix now.
Prime Video’s The Better Sister begins with Chloe (Jessica Biel), the wealthy wife of Adam (Cory Stoller) and mother of Ethan (Maxwell Acee Donovan). Chloe runs a glossy magazine and Adam’s a high-powered lawyer; they enjoy high profiles in Manhattan and she’s bruited as a political candidate. One evening she attends an opening without Adam; on her return home he’s lying in a pool of blood, murdered. Police warn she was likely the intended victim, folks love to hate Chloe – a FemiNazi, a Libtard- subject of vile remarks on social media, threats and X-rated deepfakes. She’s alibied, but Ethan is not. They retreat to their Long Island cottage, the media hot on the the trail, when police come to arrest Ethan. Thus begins a helluva tale woven over eight episodes interconnecting personal and family failures, conspiracy theories, resentments, politics and things swept under carpets. Chloe’s friend and colleague Catherine (Lorraine Toussaint) rallies around her but estranged sister, addict Nikky (Elizabeth Banks in a fearless performance) shows up, loaded for bear. She’s Ethan’s biological mother and Adam’s onetime partner, and things are strained between the sisters. Ethan seems afraid of Nikky. Before you know if you’ve seen the whole thing, it’s a ride. Whew. Prime Video May 29.
No wonder they call it Death Valley. The new 6-part BritBox Original murder mystery series with a strong whiff of humour is set in a dangerous Welsh village, another Cabot Cove! The place is beset by murders. John Chapel (Timothy Spall) an actor, played a television detective whose unique knowledge and crime solving capabilities made him a star. Turns out, he learned during the series and developed superior crime solving skills; he’s just retired to Death Valley. Local detective sergeant Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth) has excellent intuition but unlike Chapel, people like her. She can disarm folks into spilling, useful in that deathtrap of a town. The two become unlikely partners; she calls on Chapel for help and unearths the nice person inside and they get along famously and productively. All the fun stuff of British crime series is here – generational clues, red herrings, curtain twitchers, the stranger in town, the tree hugger determined to protect the forest from developers, along with its own unique elements. Riotously funny, sarcastic, ironic and uniquely entertaining – never grim. Each episode focuses on a new murder and I will share that the perp is always a creative choice. Its fun listening to the Welsh accent and language and learning they are a different breed from the English. May 29.
BritBox nails it again with another terrific crime series. Want to feel better about your family? I present you with I, Jack Wright. Wright (Trevor Eve), a wealthy businessman has a large family and it’s safe to say its waiting for his demise and his fortune. Well, he was “demised” one night when a gunshot rang out but was it suicide or murder? Turns out he changed his will two weeks prior. The original gave fair financial access to all but the new one leaves out just about everyone except for his beloved granddaughter. First wife (Gemma Jones) and third wife (Nikki Amuka-Bird) get zero, his son the same and no CEO title. Sal, Jack’s third wife, narrates the tale from prison, guiding us through the extraordinary tsunami the changed will caused and introduces us to the Wright’s cunning in-laws, his sons from the first marriage and his granddaughter, who now has 50M pounds. The original heirs suddenly turn all Macbeth. A superior murder mystery comedy, yet another binge. I got you!
Due to the completion of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Final in Game 5 with no Game 7 required, THE 2025 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS will now broadcast Sunday, June 1 at 8 p.m. (9 AT, 9:30 NT) on both CBC and CBC Gem. The ceremony will air live in its entirety for two hours from the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto. CanadianScreenAwards.ca.
