Above Suspicion (TV Series) The Red Dahlia: Part 1 (2010) User Reviews

La Plante on the vine

[Lejink · 7/10 · 8 January 2010]

I've not always been a fan of Lynda La Plante's often clichéd TV murder mystery thrillers as they're usually more hackneyed than a black cab! Sure enough this most recent outing displays more of the same, but this time I was able to overlook a lot of them as surprisingly she pulled off a rattling good story to go along with it.

Latter day thrillers often need have to have some differentiating tag to draw in fresh interest to a sometimes jaded and overcrowded genre - think of the deadly sins of "Seven". Here La Plante takes the infamous old unsolved post-war Hollywood murder called "The Blue Dahlia" and runs with it, with a copycat murderer recreating the grisly murders and pretty much the whole surrounding M.O.

Okay, you want clichés, well, how about heroine Kelly Reilly letting herself get bedded by a romantic journalist, who naturally turns out to be a self-serving double-crosser, then improbably and almost immediately redeeming herself with her disenchanted team, by adroitly taking over a call from an edgy witness and encouraging her to spill the name of the prime suspect. And what was that kissing scene with her boss at the end all about? Said boss, Ciaran Hinds is still, of course, grounded firmly in the macho 70's barking orders like John Thaw in "The Sweeney" and more recently DCI Gene Hunt from "Life on Mars" and therefore still a complete anachronism, but I will concede he didn't bother me so much as the previous time I saw him in this part last year. Simon Williams gets a meaty part as the patriarchal psychopath and both girls playing the murder victims acquit themselves well.

For once there were no hackneyed split-screen scenes while the montage scene of the "Red Dahlia" girl's face morphing to her post-murder state was very effective and shocking.

Spread over three consecutive nights, this was worth the three hours of the time I gave it although still very much made for TV in conception and execution.

More professional then the debut story.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 22 March 2016]

I enjoyed the first 'Above Suspicion,' and in terms of acting, characters, production etc, this second instalment is a definite improvement, way more professional. My only gripe with this, is that the story itself has definitely been done, by Lynda La Plante herself, an episode of Trial and Retribution, and it's also very similar to the plot in one of Val McDermid's novels.

I did like the story, the concept of someone committing the same crimes as a historical serial killer that was never caught was clever. As I've mentioned already, there were definitely elements in this story that I've seen before.

Anna Travis's quirkiness was slightly toned down from the first story, it actually made her character more interesting. The dynamic between her character and Langton was a little unusual, the kiss seemed a bit strange.

As always, the guts and gore was a little too much, and some aspects of it were a little bit too much, did they need to be so graphic with some of the descriptions?

Very well acted, I thought Simon Williams, Holliday Grainger and the wonderful Sylvia Syms are all particularly good.

I've knocked it a fair bit, but overall I really enjoyed it.

8/10

Not as good as S1

[woodvillelite-1 · 6/10 · 27 August 2023]

I was surprised that all the reviews for all 3 episodes are here on Ep 1 so I also will do the same.

In S1 you or I was under the impression that Travis was new but not really green that she had some real training to get put in this specialized department but really not so. In this season we still have to walking in fields and muck and bodies in high heels and tight fitting clothes. When a newpaper reporter who has just scooped a lead that was not revealed by the police .... asks her out on a date .... she accepts and then accepts a second date and sleeps with him. While asleep he goes through the file she has in her handbag ..... WHY DID SHE HAVE IT IN HER HANDBAG? Either of those two things should have gotten her booted out .. no apolgy should be accepted just done and over.

Agree with other posters ....the one sister assaulting two officers and not being charged ????? An old house like that ... hidden rooms or passages .... of course.

The story line connecting LA's old Black Dahlia case was interesting but silly in todays day and time.

And the teaser we had at the end of S1 we have another one at end of S2. My question is ....... did her father know ...... about what ....you will have to see it to find out.

Decent murder mystery

[Tweekums · 7 January 2010]

This three part crime thriller from the pen of Linda la Plante suffered a bit from the fact that the film version of "The Black Dahlia" aired a few weeks earlier meaning that people who saw that were well ahead of the police when they find a body that has been mutilated in the same way as the earlier real life case that took place decades earlier thousands of miles away. Once the police have received a letter from the killer, via a journalist things get better. Once the police realise they are dealing with a copycat they realise they have a race against time before the killer will perform a second murder.

The first half of the series covers the investigation with the police interviewing the victim's friends and family and trying to make sense of the letters letters sent from the killer. During that time DC Travis gets a bit too close to the journalist and jeopardises both the case and her career. Luckily for her just as everything seems to be falling apart the police receive a phone call from a woman naming somebody she believes may be the killer. The suspect is a former army surgeon with friends in high places so the police must be careful how they deal with him.

While it wasn't the best of Linda La Plante's work it was still worth watching and Ciarán Hinds and Kelly Reilly were good in their roles as the two main police officers and Simon Williams was suitably creepy as the arrogant prime suspect.

Serious failings

[lavender-57161 · 6/10 · 8 February 2024]

A decent story, but let down by serious failings that reduce its 'star rating' considerably. It needs a complete suspension of the viewer's logic to imagine that the most inexperienced detective would instantly become the 'king-pin' among her more senior and worldly-wise colleagues. Far more likely that her presence and attitude would be greatly resented.

Some good acting, but with the notable exception of Cirain Hinds, who is over-acting to a ridiculous degree. His character is loud and unpleasant, and often perfectly ludicrous. And the suggestion that there would be a simmering of sexual attraction between the young DC and Hinds as the DCI is ridiculous.

Finally, a small but significant point. However tempting it is for lefty writers and producers to denigrate all things 'Tory', it is a mistake to involve a reporter from the 'Daily Telegraph'. Of all the newspapers least likely to ignore police advice on a 'news blackout' the 'Telegraph' would top the list; it is no tabloid and employs real professionals.

Mixed feelings

[TheLittleSongbird · 5/10 · 17 May 2016]

'Above Suspicion' has some good elements, but also a number of weak ones. It's not bad, but it's not completely gripping either. The first series is slightly better, due to Jason Durr and an interrogation scene that's the best of the entire series, but 'The Red Dahlia' doesn't improve on the first series' flaws and makes more on the way.

Kelly Reilly, despite being a beautiful woman (though maybe unrealistically so, and she's too young), continues to not do much for me, with flat line delivery, limited range and pallid presence. The relationship between her and Langton is still contrived, and again Langton is too much of a sleaze.

The characters are still cliché-ridden and are not particularly interesting, sound is sloppy and out of sync, and the shock value rather gratuitous. Also it is really hard to believe that nobody has knowledge of the Blue Dahlia, one of the most famous unsolved there is.

However, it is a good-looking series and never is over-drab or choppily edited. The story, despite the over-familiarity, didn't have me doing something else or looking at my watch, and there is some atmosphere. Interrogations are interesting and there are fewer clumsy scenes.

Acting is quite decent, Ciaran Hinds is commanding and doesn't phone in, and while no Jason Durr Simon Williams is suitably menacing.

Overall, 'The Red Dahlia' evoked mixed feelings. 5/10 Bethany Cox

Red Dahlia- Unimaginative drama by La Plante

[yarfur · 9 January 2010]

Once again Linda La Plante's production company has churned out another of her novels and turned it into an ITV Drama. As Murder Dramas go, it is watchable, but it also filled with clichés and errors. For example, when friends of the first victim all say that she had taken to wearing a red rose in her hair, and there is no mention of a red dahlia, why does the character of Travis say, 'that's not a Dahlia, it's a red rose' when reading an article about the first murder? And later when the journalist mentions The Black Dahlia case, Travis replies- 'The Black What?'

The acting of both leads is quite wooden, with Reilly fluttering her eyelids and somehow making the same stupid mistakes all over again. I guess really it is down to having a bad script and some terrible actors. Langton is gruff and sometimes fatherly, but always a stereotype somehow.

Anyone watching La Plante's dramas will notice that she has once again used an already used plot (this time a real life murder). She did the same with her Trial and Retribution: Romeo and Juliet, where she stole the entire plot from the film The Vanishing. Basically she needs to come up with a few new ideas.

Basically, I do not recommend this drama.

Ignorance of law and basic police procedures

[mkpow1 · 1/10 · 16 August 2014]

Two police officers assaulted by the same person and no charges brought? Ridiculously unbelievable. The show lost all credibility after that. I realize British police do not carry firearms, but as a former law enforcement officer in the USA, I suspect the British would be even more concerned about assault of their officers because of that fact. The show also demonstrates its ignorance through continually sending officer characters into the field alone without partners. These issues are so basic to law enforcement that it ruined the show for me. Which is unexpected due to the author's diligence concerning police procedures in her masterpiece Prime Suspect. Otherwise I think the actors are very good. The story lines are interesting too but get a little repetitive (secret rooms anyone?).

Not so much "Above Suspicion" as "Beneath Contempt"

[adrian.chell · 12 January 2010]

I gave it a chance, I really did, but La Plante's latest was as plodding as a flat-footed policeman.

This was a strictly by-the-numbers "thriller" that offered no thrills and little in the way of decent acting. Even the normally excellent Sylvia Syms was relegated to the role of a forelock-tugging housekeeper who may, or may not, have been involved in the case's frankly ludicrous conclusion.

As others have said, Ciarán Hinds was channeling the ghost of Jack Regan in his portrayal of the no-nonsense old-fashioned copper, even down to getting the women in the office to fetch his coffee and bacon sandwiches.

Female lead Kelly Reilly lacked the acting ability the role required, delivering her lines with all the passion of a sat nav while, as the prime suspect, Simon Williams wore out his dentures chewing the scenery.

Unfortunately, not even the excellent murder victim special effects could save the viewer from three turgid hours of this drivel. If anyone else had written this, it would never have been made, so I can only assume that La Plante used up one of her three lifelines to get this on prime time ITV.

A TV Version of a "Read" Must be A "Watch".

[deletewindowson · 1/10 · 2 March 2013]

Crime novels are not meant as great art. So, taking crime TV shows as great art is remarkably silly, isn't it. This is just a "watch", ie., comparable to the sort of novels you pick up in a batch at the second hand shop or buy at the airport on the way somewhere. Seems like a little gritty to begin with, ie., showing the poor girl's dead body and mutilated face--not the sort of thing you want to watch with your grandkids by any means (unless they're Death Metal rockers or maybe fans of Marilyn Manson.. and adult of course.) So, I see this as a distraction from the news (which is horrid, isn't it).. and a chance to see a very pretty woman (Kelly) and snoop around in some very posh English properties, the sort of places that very few of us would ever get to chance to wander around in. Well, and also the chance to enjoy a feeling of oh what scum the rich folks are! We always suspected as much, didn't we. Oh, what fiends! Not like us decent folks. So we can kick back in our shabby pads and enjoy a good sneer. A pleasant time waster.

A beautiful leading lady, but wooden acting

[debbiekirk24 · 9 January 2010]

I watched this short series because I noticed that Hildegarde Neil who played Roger Moore's wife in one of my favourite films 'The Man Who Haunted Himself' was appearing. Hildegarde did not disappoint as the first victim Louise's grandmother and I thought that the second victim Sharon and the smarmy journalist were both very good. However, Kelly Reilly as Anna Travis, the leading lady, left me cold. She was a stunningly beautiful girl with glorious red hair and a wonderful figure, but she said her lines with no feeling at all and there was such a lack of chemistry between her and her boss that when she kissed him at the end, for me it was the most shocking part of the whole series. Simon Williams reprised his 'Master James' role from 'Upstairs Downstairs' as the murderer (is he typecast as the upper class snob?)and the girl who played Emily his daughter needed more drama lessons. Sylvia Simms was great as the housekeeper but then I would have been shocked if she had delivered anything less than excellence.

All in all, the story was OK but back in the 70s the whole thing would have moved at break-neck speed and been over in an hour. This was slow. If the long time it took meant that we could have seen Anna becoming gradually more and more fascinated with her boss like Jane Eyre with Mr Rochester this would have been admirable, but frankly I don't think Miss Reilly was capable of pulling that off. I emphasise again that she was beautiful to watch on the screen but no great actress. With everyone going to college these days and most of them studying the performing arts, you'd think that the casting team could have found someone more appropriate for this role. The only other Lynda La Plant series I have ever seen was the first Prime Suspect with Dame Helen Mirren: I would not know where to start comparing the two so now seems like a good time to sign out.

standard TV police procedural

[SnoopyStyle · 24 August 2016]

A woman cut in half is found in a park. DC Anna Travis (Kelly Reilly) connects the case to the murder of Elizabeth Short in 1947 L.A. It was the infamous Black Dahlia case. The victim is Louise Pennel and her case is dubbed the Red Dahlia. Another victim is discovered. Anna sleeps with journalist Richard Reynolds who reports the details of the case. Her boss DCI James Langton (Ciarán Hinds) is angered by the leak.

It's the second series of the Lynda La Plante novels. Recycling the Black Dahlia case doesn't bode well for originality. There isn't anything new that countless TV police procedural haven't done. Anna is a sexual character and I have no problem with the show playing up that part. I still have problems with her flirting with Langton. However, the two leads are solid and makes this more than what it is.