"Well, when is the right time? Look, I am the only officer of my rank who is continually overstepped, sidestepped, or whatever." - Helen Mirren as Jane Tennison
Prime Suspect: The Complete First Season DVD Review
By Jonathan Boudreaux
The British series Prime Suspect first appeared on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre in 1991. When the lead investigator in the murder of a prostitute unexpectedly dies of a heart attack, Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren) asks to take his place. Since transferring in from the sex crimes bureau eighteen months earlier, Tennison has been relegated to dealing with paperwork while her male counterparts are put in charge of investigations. It seems that her promotion to DCI was in name only - both the public and Tennison's colleagues are leery of having a woman lead a murder investigation. When the head office decides that it's time to let her sink or swim, Tennison's boss reluctantly gives her the assignment.
Being in charge is easier said than done, however. Upon taking command of the male-dominated Incident Room, Tennison is met with great resistance, in the form of indifference, hostility, and even sabotage. Leading the charge to oust Tennison is Detective Sergeant Bill Otley (Tom Bell), partner of the deceased. He views Tennison's every move as an affront to his friend's memory, especially when she discovers several glaring investigative errors and a possible cover-up.
Tennison further alienates her subordinates when she allows the prime suspect, George Marlow (John Bowe), to be released. She does not feel that their evidence is strong enough to get a conviction. She arranges round-the-clock surveillance for Marlow and his common-law wife, Moyra Henson (Zoe Wanamaker), as the investigators realize that they may actually be dealing with a serial killer.
While Tennison works hard to win the respect of her team, her home life suffers. Her live-in boyfriend Peter (The Full Monty's Tom Wilkinson) resents all of the time she spends at the station, and bemoans the fact that when she finally does come home, she is tired and cranky. Peter takes pride in her achievements, but is unable to accept the fact that her job has suddenly become more important to her than their life together.
Prime Suspect is a riveting blend of police procedural and social commentary. The investigation is engaging, as is Tennison's difficult navigation of her new job responsibilities and her personal life. Mirren is simultaneously grave and vivacious. Her Tennison maintains a stone face in public but often delights in her new situation when no one else is around. With her short, sporty blonde hair, steel blue eyes, and her severe yet smiling demeanor, she is like the Martha Stewart of crime fighters. And that's a good thing. Mirren is one of England's greatest actors, and she is a joy to watch. She gives an already fully-written character even more depth.
The series also takes great pains not to present its story in black and white terms. While we can sympathize with Tennison's predicament and her ill treatment by male co-workers, she is not simply a martyr. Instead, writer Lynda LaPlante takes the character in a more complex direction. Tennison can be stubborn and bull-headed, often hurting her own cause. This is especially true when she doggedly pursues the possibility that her predecessor was involved in the murders, even when it is apparent to the other investigators - and increasingly to us - that this is probably a false lead. In trying to prove herself, she makes matters worse. The script does not pass judgment on those who oppose Tennison because she is a woman. Their cares and concerns are understandable, if not agreeable.
The supporting cast is also fine. As Otley, Tom Bell comes across as an English Jack Palance - all oily grins that barely cover up suppressed anger and violence. As Tennison slowly begins to win over junior investigators like Burkin (Craig Fairbrass) and Jones (Ian Fitzgibbon), the actors expertly play a mix of dislike and grudging respect. Look quickly for a brief appearance by Ralph Fiennes as the boyfriend of one of the victims.
The series' one flaw is perhaps an unfair one to even point out. As the series comes to an end, Tennison and her crew solve the case to their satisfaction, but the final episode concludes with an out of nowhere cliffhanger. The ending feels like a gimmick, especially since Prime Suspect's second season does not appear to continue the storyline.
The four episodes that make up the first season are divided onto two discs. The discs include a "Play All" feature, or the episodes can be chosen individually. Each episode is divided into six chapters. The chapters are accessible via the menus, but the chapter names and their accompanying pictures sometimes serve as spoilers, so first time viewers might want to avoid looking at them.
