Writer: Ben Richards
Director: Hettie Macdonald
Cast: Andrew Buchan (John Mercer), Jody Latham (Calum McKenzie), Tamzin Outhwaite (Rose Chamberlain), Peter Mullan (Lenny Douglas), Liz White (Jess), Paterson Joseph (Patrick Finch), Oliver Bower (Robert), Tyler Anthony (Abigail), Jack Shepherd (Hugh Berry), Adam Parkinson (Owen Berry), Poppy Miller (Caitlin Berry), Elisa Terren (Manuela) & Martin Brody (Trevor Bowyer)
Lenny tasks Mercer with eliminating his own predecessor, who has gone rogue...
Is it really the penultimate episode? Already? Oh well, at least short runs guarantee quality, but episode 5 is definitely the weakest instalment so far, despite being paradoxically blessed with the juiciest premise! The main storyline flails erratically, but there are a few interesting developments in the subplots – just not enough to rescue everything from mediocrity...
Like I said, the premise is exciting; as Lenny (Peter Mullan) comes to suspect that Patrick Finch (Paterson Joseph), a hitman who was "Mercer's prototype", has become a dangerous vigilante. Having allowed him to live after he messed-up an operation in Liverpool (where he killed innocent people), Finch has become an unhinged, oddball loner. So it's up to Mercer (Andrew Buchan) to eliminate his predecessor before he goes completely off the rails...
Adding to the story is Lenny's contact Hugh Berry (Jack Shepherd), a high-ranking court official who helps with the legal ramifications of Lenny's operation. His grandson Owen (Adam Parkinson) was left disabled after a sickening attack on his daughter Caitlin (Poppy Miller), and Berry's relationship with his family has disintegrated ever since. The only way he can envisage getting back to normal is by punishing the man responsible – and for that, he needs Lenny's help. But, as Lenny won't give it to him, Berry is forced to track down old-hand Finch...
Away from the Finch situation, Mercer's once-abused sister Jess (Liz White) is battling depression, meaning Mercer and Calum (Jody Latham) have to collect her kids from school. It was a bit strange to see chirpy Jess suddenly bed-ridden, as her character hasn't been written with much clarity regarding her mental state. I'm still not sure if the abuse she suffered was physical or sexual, and White's performance isn't very compelling. She can look innocent, endearing, or glum, but I don't buy her as a victim of family abuse.
Still, it was interesting to see Mercer hanging around with Calum more, and allowing the tearaway to accompany him in family matters. I like how they've grown closer throughout the series, but a later scene – with Calum's Brazilian girlfriend Manuela (Elisa Terren) baby-sitting Jess' kids – didn't strike me as credible. Mercer has been careful to keep his work and family life separate, so seeing characters from both "worlds" crossover now struck me as odd.
I can understand Mercer beginning to trust and like Calum, but he hardly knows Manuela! This episode was determined to progress things (no matter how forced it came across), so Mercer and Manuela also find themselves in a clinch back at the flat. Mercer decides not to sleep with her, feeling guilty about stealing Calum's girlfriend, but there's clearly chemistry between them.
It's the little moments in episode 5 that stick out, as the bulk of the story didn't grab me. Patterson Joseph is a strong comic actor (see Peep Show), but he often descends into silliness in straight roles (see Jekyll). As Finch, Joseph's patented bug-eyed stares and creepy grins work well to portray a crazed killer, but it's still a "gritty pantomime" performance. He's fun to watch, but the idea of someone like Finch (The Monster to Lenny's Frankenstein) isn't done justice here – although it was nice to see Mercer's relative naivety exposed by Finch's years of experience.
The associated plot with Berry was also bland, despite a good performance from Jack Shepherd. A scene between Berry and his disabled grandson (who he's abandoned in pursuit of bloody revenge) was effective, despite being mechanically done. Rose (Tamzin Outhwaite) continues to be the "feminine side" of Lenny in many ways, popping up to help push people down the right path. Her role on the show remains listless, but The Fixer is still finding its feet...
Overall, episode 5 was undemanding and passed the hour, but it didn't capitalize on its exciting idea. The direction from Hettie MacDonald (who helmed Doctor Who's excellent Blink) wasn't up to snuff (action sequences were particularly poor), and it all came across as filler. If it wasn't for the stimulating idea of a Manuela/Mercer/Calum love-triangle, and the sight of Lenny playing Wii Boxing(!), this would have been a total washout.
7 April 2008
ITV1, 9.00 pm
Director: Hettie Macdonald
Cast: Andrew Buchan (John Mercer), Jody Latham (Calum McKenzie), Tamzin Outhwaite (Rose Chamberlain), Peter Mullan (Lenny Douglas), Liz White (Jess), Paterson Joseph (Patrick Finch), Oliver Bower (Robert), Tyler Anthony (Abigail), Jack Shepherd (Hugh Berry), Adam Parkinson (Owen Berry), Poppy Miller (Caitlin Berry), Elisa Terren (Manuela) & Martin Brody (Trevor Bowyer)
Lenny tasks Mercer with eliminating his own predecessor, who has gone rogue...Is it really the penultimate episode? Already? Oh well, at least short runs guarantee quality, but episode 5 is definitely the weakest instalment so far, despite being paradoxically blessed with the juiciest premise! The main storyline flails erratically, but there are a few interesting developments in the subplots – just not enough to rescue everything from mediocrity...
Like I said, the premise is exciting; as Lenny (Peter Mullan) comes to suspect that Patrick Finch (Paterson Joseph), a hitman who was "Mercer's prototype", has become a dangerous vigilante. Having allowed him to live after he messed-up an operation in Liverpool (where he killed innocent people), Finch has become an unhinged, oddball loner. So it's up to Mercer (Andrew Buchan) to eliminate his predecessor before he goes completely off the rails...
Adding to the story is Lenny's contact Hugh Berry (Jack Shepherd), a high-ranking court official who helps with the legal ramifications of Lenny's operation. His grandson Owen (Adam Parkinson) was left disabled after a sickening attack on his daughter Caitlin (Poppy Miller), and Berry's relationship with his family has disintegrated ever since. The only way he can envisage getting back to normal is by punishing the man responsible – and for that, he needs Lenny's help. But, as Lenny won't give it to him, Berry is forced to track down old-hand Finch...
Away from the Finch situation, Mercer's once-abused sister Jess (Liz White) is battling depression, meaning Mercer and Calum (Jody Latham) have to collect her kids from school. It was a bit strange to see chirpy Jess suddenly bed-ridden, as her character hasn't been written with much clarity regarding her mental state. I'm still not sure if the abuse she suffered was physical or sexual, and White's performance isn't very compelling. She can look innocent, endearing, or glum, but I don't buy her as a victim of family abuse.
Still, it was interesting to see Mercer hanging around with Calum more, and allowing the tearaway to accompany him in family matters. I like how they've grown closer throughout the series, but a later scene – with Calum's Brazilian girlfriend Manuela (Elisa Terren) baby-sitting Jess' kids – didn't strike me as credible. Mercer has been careful to keep his work and family life separate, so seeing characters from both "worlds" crossover now struck me as odd.
I can understand Mercer beginning to trust and like Calum, but he hardly knows Manuela! This episode was determined to progress things (no matter how forced it came across), so Mercer and Manuela also find themselves in a clinch back at the flat. Mercer decides not to sleep with her, feeling guilty about stealing Calum's girlfriend, but there's clearly chemistry between them.
It's the little moments in episode 5 that stick out, as the bulk of the story didn't grab me. Patterson Joseph is a strong comic actor (see Peep Show), but he often descends into silliness in straight roles (see Jekyll). As Finch, Joseph's patented bug-eyed stares and creepy grins work well to portray a crazed killer, but it's still a "gritty pantomime" performance. He's fun to watch, but the idea of someone like Finch (The Monster to Lenny's Frankenstein) isn't done justice here – although it was nice to see Mercer's relative naivety exposed by Finch's years of experience.
The associated plot with Berry was also bland, despite a good performance from Jack Shepherd. A scene between Berry and his disabled grandson (who he's abandoned in pursuit of bloody revenge) was effective, despite being mechanically done. Rose (Tamzin Outhwaite) continues to be the "feminine side" of Lenny in many ways, popping up to help push people down the right path. Her role on the show remains listless, but The Fixer is still finding its feet...
Overall, episode 5 was undemanding and passed the hour, but it didn't capitalize on its exciting idea. The direction from Hettie MacDonald (who helmed Doctor Who's excellent Blink) wasn't up to snuff (action sequences were particularly poor), and it all came across as filler. If it wasn't for the stimulating idea of a Manuela/Mercer/Calum love-triangle, and the sight of Lenny playing Wii Boxing(!), this would have been a total washout.
7 April 2008
ITV1, 9.00 pm
