Silent Witness (TV Series) History - Part Four (2022) User Reviews

Hoping for something better

[retina_scan · 7/10 · 3 June 2022]

Having binge-watched Silent Witness a couple of months ago, I found the strongest part of the show are the individual, corpse-of-the-week, stories. SW was always weak in long-term backstories. So I was quite intrigued when I found out this season would one story running across six episodes.

It's unfortunate to see I was not proven wrong. The season started really well, but already by episode 3, they start introducing other subplots (as that week's main plot) and the main storyline is moved to the background. So, when you had two episodes for the main story in previous seasons, the last two episodes you have only one episode, plus the main storyline progresses slower than usual.

Amanda Burton was amazing the first episode or two but by now she's been moved back to the background, with only a couple of scenes per episode. I would have liked to have seen more of the Nikki/Sam dynamic introduced in episode 1, but so far this has not materialised enough.

The Nikki/Jack story is cringeworthy, they couldn't have come up with a more predictable, generic plot there, even if it's not clear why they've been so hesitant taking this forward, seeing as they're not early teenagers (whatever happened to Nikki's American boyfriend? He somehow disappeared just like that - what I mean re the weak backstories in SW).

I'll keep watching and hope it takes off in the last two episodes. Make the most of Amanda Burton please!

Buried, but not dead

[bosporan · 7/10 · 1 June 2022]

The introduction of good actors makes a massive difference, especially the cop on the case. Jemma Redgrave is a class act and quite a few of the other guest parts are strong as well.

A pedestrian, though satisfactory case of the day, but the Sam Ryan plot is comprised of random, opaque snippets and has lost the intriguing momentum generated in the opening two episodes. The writing is struggling with balance between the two.

Genesis Lynea seems to suffer a calibration problem. Last time Simone was a broody, angry teenager, whereas in this episode she is an annoyingly positive, Butlin's redcoat.

Soap Opera??

[mollymeguk · 6/10 · 13 June 2022]

Far too much going on here not helped by a growing sense that this fantastic series is being slowly guided into the boring sea of soap opera. Crimes featured hardly seem worth bothering with they're so easy to solve and then a pretty boring back story just made up to bring back a familiar face. Very disappointing and hardly worth watching. Where's the tension gone and what's with all the silly secrets.

Carry on Glamping.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 31 May 2022]

Jack has to head home to a family issue back home, leaving Nikki and Simone investigating the discovery of a body.

It was an improvement over last night's below par episode, but once again, it wasn't in the same league as the first two episodes. Some bits of this were really good, mainly those involving Jack, and his strong storyline, but some of it somehow didn't seem to gel together, maybe felt a little bit rushed.

The ending was the highlight, great scenes, and a few seeds of doubt about Sam.

I'm trying hard to believe six impossible things before breakfast, but Nikki's shock revelation and Simone's traumatic revelation are of course followed by trauma for Jack, and whilst this was the most believable story, the least contrived, they've tried to cram way too much into a shorter series.

Having impressed a few years ago in episode, Hope, Jemme Redgrave makes a welcome return. She was really good once again.

I hope next week sees this series sign off with a bang, 7/10.

Making Two Episodes into Six

[alangthompson · 4/10 · 5 June 2022]

Preferred the 2 episode format. Gave up... maybe forever!

OK, after the first each single episode may have stood alone if they'd left out the 2 minutes of the underlying forgettable plot but the "old" format was spot on. 98% of an episode is not enough to develop a good plot.

Rubbish

[gward-43234 · 2/10 · 10 June 2022]

Rubbish. This supposedly amazing series concerning pathologists who spend most of their time doing police work but Also highlighting how stupid the police are and how amazing they are. Everywhere they go they find shoes with soil in the soles leading them to obscure farms. It's just bloody ridiculous. Each and everyone of them has these messed up family relationships. Jack Heads back to Northern Ireland having spent most of his life in England but yet has this amazingly strong Northern Ireland accent to find that his mum was a Tout In the 90s assuming he is now supposedly 30/32.

I have lived in Northern Ireland all my life I am 63 years of age lived in the worst areas of Belfast throughout the late 70s and 80s. 99% of us lived a totally normal life but they have to focus on another screwed up bloody family.

But a good storyline for the show paints Another picture of Northern Ireland being a screwed up society because of religion.

I finish by saying 99% of Northern Ireland people are the most amazing in the world but yet the stupid program focuses on one percent of People who wanted to destroy the lives of the other 99%

Sorry heartfelt truth.