Chain: Episode 1 – “Lennox” (1990)

 

I haven’t yet made up my mind about this old BBC miniseries.  In terms of writing, it reminds me a lot of early Law and Order episodes.  Actually, to be more precise, it reminds me a little of Community’s Law and Order homage, in that the Law and Order-ness of it all gets a bit ridiculous. 

 

Chain follows the story of well-to-do crown prosecutor Michael Cassidy, an assiduous worker and devoted family man.  When he’s approached to prosecute a company embroiled in a labor dispute, he gently turns it down.  Unfortunately for him, he’s in high enough demand that he can’t get out of it.  As he begrudgingly sets about his duty, he realizes that the case is far bigger than he knew.  I assume the associated intrigue, conspiracy, and dirty laundry will last the whole four-part miniseries.

 

PC plays Robert McRae, the man so eager to have Cassidy on his team.  I’m not entirely sure if McRae is a detective or some sort of special agent – I know he deals in fraud cases, and I know he likes to play the enigmatic card at every chance he gets.  Not one for protocol, he doesn’t seem to have a problem with bending the law in pursuit of the greater good.

 

Let me tell you, McRae is the Community-does-Law-and-Order-est of them all.  He’s both a dogged investigator and a somewhat infuriatingly-smooth operator.  He has a penchant for answering questions with knowing rhetoricals, he’s fond of nonchalant quips, and he bizarrely insists on calling Cassidy “Batman.”  I get the type they’re going for, but they may have gone a bit too far.  There is an amusing interrogation scene in which he variously plays good cop, bad cop, and mysterious figure who isn’t officially with the police and thus isn’t bound by their rules.

 

Eagle-eyed Whovians may recognize Cassidy; Robert Pugh is actually a two-time Whoniverse alum.  He first appeared in series 2 of Torchwood (absolutely heartbreaking in “Adrift”) and was later featured on Who itself in the Silurian two-parter from series 5.

 

Opening remarks for Chain:

 

Accent Watch

 

Very, very Scottish.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – Too early to say, but it’s not really standing out so far.

 

PC-wise – So far, not necessarily.  It’s more than a little cheesy.  To be fair, though, pretty entertaining.

 

Warnings

 

Some profanity, and a couple scenes of violence.