The first story beyond the originally commissioned two-parter, Apparitions' opts to continue the storyline of homeless Michael (Rick Warden) after his recent possession, in a main subplot. But, more pressing events have the attention of exorcist Father Jacob (Martin Shaw), as he investigates an imprisoned rapist at the behest of Governor Lassiter (Neil Pearson)...Serial rapist Cory Wardell (Stephen Wight) is the afflicted man, prone to sweating blood and talking with in a little girl's voice. Interestingly, he also performs a miracle by healing a throat wound he inflicts on a fellow con who later tries to rape him, prompting Jacob to consider a very unusual possibility: is Wardell possessed by Maria Goretti, the patron saint of rape victims?
It's an intriguing twist on our standard view of possession, once again well-researched by writer Joe Ahearne -- even if the premise and plot developments tend to always take their cue from Biblical stories and real-life historical precedents. That gives everything a kind of patchwork feel at times, as Ahearne's research guides the story and its developments too strongly at times.
After a compelling start, episode 3 starts to lose its thread, too. The mystery over who, or what, is possessing Wardell seems promising, but begins to drag and quickly becomes convoluted. The revelations and developments become difficult to keep track of, or care about. A case of too much plot crammed into the hour, not helped by the decision to donate a lot of time to Michael -- who is now suffering from amnesia and trying to make sense of his life...
This carryover from the previous two episodes was easier to follow than episode 3's plot, and it was interesting to see the after-effects of demonic possession on a victim. Michael clearly retains a strange connection to the supernatural, and the demons don't seem to be finished with him just yet. Still, the time taken up might have been better spent giving the Wardell situation room to breathe.
H.M.P Sandfield's chaplain, Father Daniel (David Gyasi), was a bland partner for Jacob throughout; but he had an interesting moment in Wardell's prison cell, where he spends the night with Jacob, trying to make contact with the entity targeting the rapist. Retiring to his bottom bunk, celibate Daniel showed his anxiety over the presence of magazine cut-outs of naked woman, finally experiencing a vision of a "succubus" straddling him.
Indeed, Apparitions' jolts of horror and gore are particularly unnerving: Wardell's forehead sweating blood, a particularly nasty throat slash in the climactic scenes, etc. Martin Shaw is also very good, but it's a performance that could become stuck in a groove if he's not careful. Sister Ruth (Siobhan Finneran) has a interesting role as Jacob's secretary with a nice line in caustic remarks. An employee of the sceptical Cardinal Bukovak (John Shrapnel), she's only really there to keep tabs on Jacob and compile evidence for his excommunication. The fact Jacob realizes she's a cynic working against him should provide a lot of drama. How long before she becomes a believer and sides with Jacob over the Cardinal?
Overall, while the story came together well, there was a troubling tendency to overload the audience with information and the developments didn't progress very smoothly. The po-faced seriousness and oppressive atmosphere might also become a drag. I don't expect a light and breezy viewing experience with an exorcist-themed drama, but I think Apparitions needs to balance light with dark a bit more.
It's relentless cold, clinical, vicious and rather depressing. That style suits its intended two-episode gut-punch, but now that Apparitions is a fully-fledged series, it's asking quite a lot for the audience to embrace that every week. It might help if there was a cathartic feeling of Good triumphing over Evil every week -- but instead, I just feel that Satan's minions have the initiative here. Even when they're "defeated", it's only the battle that's been won, not the war.
27 November 2008
BBC1, 9pm
Writer: Joe Ahearne
Director: John Strickland
Cast: Martin Shaw (Father Jacob), John Shrapnel (Cardinal Bukovak), Siobhan Finneran (Sister Ruth), Rick Warden (Michael), David Gyasi (Father Daniel), Stephen Wight (Cory Wardell), Elizabeth Berrington (Kim Portman), Neil Pearson (Governor Lassiter), Jane Holmes (Mrs Wardell Linda), Mia Fernandez (Fiona), Conrad Nelson (Inmate), Michelle Bonnard (Sandra Tellor), Jenna Southworth (Mary Portman) & Federico Natoli (Alessandro Serenelli)
