I was extremely eager to watch this as I have been a huge Jonathan Creek fan for the longest time. The first couple of seasons were brilliant in creating and solidifying the character that is Jonathan Creek. They served to tell a tale thoughtfully, intricately and in a way that left you eager to tune in next week for more.
Sadly, this is nothing like the previous episodes. It isn't even a shade. Whereas in every Jonathan Creek episode to date, the resolve has been at the end of the episode, the murderer and crime is given away within the first twenty minutes here. I sat there wondering what arcing storyline would emerge that would lead to the 'real mystery' but there wasn't one. There was no tension. There was no mystery. What the hell is this - Columbo?
This whole episode is one big mess of poorly written, badly cobbled together mini- plots which come together in the worst manner imaginable. There is next to no character development throughout which makes the final few scenes almost painfully hard to watch as we have to emotional attachment to the people who are being described.
The chemistry between Davies and Quentin (or later Sawalha and Smith) is non existent. I understand that Jonathan has grown older and matured and his life is supposed to reflect these changes but Jonathan's wife is a bland, boring character who brings nothing to the plate and pretty much just serves to pad the script to the 60 minute mark.
It's just sad that this series has been brought back to such poor standards. Jonathan Creek was expertly written and put together for the most part, this is the work of a group of people who either have never watched the series or people who are simply writing to a contractual obligation i.e. WATER IT DOWN.
And that's what this is in a nutshell. A watered down, easily digestible version of the real thing. Extremely disappointed.