(no subject)
Jan. 12th, 2007 10:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
llywelaPredictable in many ways, yet also managing to be very tense and exciting – that pretty much sums up part two of this story.
Predictable? Well, yes – it was predictable that John would end up arguing with his fellow judges (and just about everyone else) about holding the moral and legal line with regard to the case rather than allowing the larger political angle to cloud his judgement. It was predictable that John and Jo would continue to bicker about the many issues between them, but also be unable to break free of one another, since the bond between them is too old and strong for that. It was predictable that John's involvement with any woman other than Jo would result in him getting his fingers burnt.
All those things happened, right on cue. It's Judge John Deed – we know how it's going to play out. But the predictability somehow never matters. The events play out in engaging and appropriately intense and complex fashion, and despite being reasonably sure it will all work out okay in the end – because it always does – I was genuinely afraid for several people on numerous occasions.
All those bombs and guns! It felt scarily plausible, as well, given the environment we live in these days. Intrigue and paranoia have always been rampant in this show, but a storyline like this ramps that up a few degrees by bringing it right into line with current news headlines. Disturbing, no?
I'm not sure how believable it would be that the Islamic sleeper agent assigned to get close to John and then assassinate him would be so taken by his charms and honesty that she'd think better of it, attempt to disarm the chocolate box bomb and end up blowing herself up by accident. It made for an entertaining, if alarming, storyline, though, with so many twists and turns along the way.
I liked John's new WPC bodyguard. But I also liked that his old officer was assigned to old Joe, and still doing his job excellently.
Rather convenient for the outcome of the trial that the General happened to be in court when the defence was falling apart in despair, that he happened to be called to testify in the absence of anyone more senior, and that he happened to have enough of a conscience to disobey orders and tell the truth, thus getting the scapegoat squaddie off. Rather convenient, also, that John's fellow judges rolled over and agreed with him so easily in the end, after holding such strongly opposing views all the way through. But a conclusion was needed to the story, and this allowed it to be neat.
Overall, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I also found that I liked having the story in two instalments, allowing me to catch breath and gather my thoughts in between, rather than one, long, intense two-hour sitting.
Roll on next week.
Predictable? Well, yes – it was predictable that John would end up arguing with his fellow judges (and just about everyone else) about holding the moral and legal line with regard to the case rather than allowing the larger political angle to cloud his judgement. It was predictable that John and Jo would continue to bicker about the many issues between them, but also be unable to break free of one another, since the bond between them is too old and strong for that. It was predictable that John's involvement with any woman other than Jo would result in him getting his fingers burnt.
All those things happened, right on cue. It's Judge John Deed – we know how it's going to play out. But the predictability somehow never matters. The events play out in engaging and appropriately intense and complex fashion, and despite being reasonably sure it will all work out okay in the end – because it always does – I was genuinely afraid for several people on numerous occasions.
All those bombs and guns! It felt scarily plausible, as well, given the environment we live in these days. Intrigue and paranoia have always been rampant in this show, but a storyline like this ramps that up a few degrees by bringing it right into line with current news headlines. Disturbing, no?
I'm not sure how believable it would be that the Islamic sleeper agent assigned to get close to John and then assassinate him would be so taken by his charms and honesty that she'd think better of it, attempt to disarm the chocolate box bomb and end up blowing herself up by accident. It made for an entertaining, if alarming, storyline, though, with so many twists and turns along the way.
I liked John's new WPC bodyguard. But I also liked that his old officer was assigned to old Joe, and still doing his job excellently.
Rather convenient for the outcome of the trial that the General happened to be in court when the defence was falling apart in despair, that he happened to be called to testify in the absence of anyone more senior, and that he happened to have enough of a conscience to disobey orders and tell the truth, thus getting the scapegoat squaddie off. Rather convenient, also, that John's fellow judges rolled over and agreed with him so easily in the end, after holding such strongly opposing views all the way through. But a conclusion was needed to the story, and this allowed it to be neat.
Overall, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I also found that I liked having the story in two instalments, allowing me to catch breath and gather my thoughts in between, rather than one, long, intense two-hour sitting.
Roll on next week.
