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[llywela]

Predictable 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.

Comments

[rosie55.livejournal.com]

As you say, very intense even though predictable to some extent. Now if this had been next week's episodes I might just have wondered whether JJD might have ended up assassinated because that really would have been the end. But since we knew there was another two-parter in the (digital) can, it was pretty obvious he wasn't going to get more than singed around the edges at worst this week.
When I first re-watched the Pros eps, after a twenty-odd year gap, I was struck by how topical some of the terrorism based plots were, after a long period when this had not been much in our awareness, So, as you say, this was scarily topical. I commented to my OH at the end that I couldn't imagine his minders letting him and Jo wander off unescorted and on foot for a coffee just because one terrorist had taken herself out of the scene. Terrorists bent on assassination tend to be a bit more determined and better organised than to allow one loss to put them off!
I think the major flaw for me was that a committedly Islamic woman would get involved with a relative stranger to the extent of going to bed with him on a first date. Maybe I'm wrong but it seems to me that that is just the sort of behaviour most true Muslims would find immoral and the very sort of decadence they find most reprehensible in Western Society. I just couldn't get my mind past that, even though it was pretty central to the plot. Perhaps I am just naive!
Yes, the presence of the Major-General in court was very convenient - maybe his conscience was pricking him, he never gave the impression of being exactly comfortable with the Governmental shenanigans, did he? Perhaps he was actually willing to be called because that was the only way he would ever be allowed to express that opinion in public and justify it to his lords and masters. Though you did have the feeling he might have just kissed goodbye to his chances of further promotion or a knighthood!
I couldn't quite work out why the Presiding Judge could appear to dismiss Jo as leading Counsel half way through this episode and she then went on appearing. Or why John and Jo's (one time) relationship seemed to be a matter for disapproval while the prosecutor and the presiding judge were merrily having it away with no so much as an eyebrow raised. Maybe it was because it did appear that she would have slept with almost anyone involved if it furthered her ends. Not that JJD is much better!
A lovely visual episode though, The Hague looked very pretty and the Judge was beautifully hunky and barely clad for some of the action shots! Should keep the wallpaper and icon makers happy for a while!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Ooh. You've picked up on all the other issues that bugged me last night but didn't manage to comment on due to lack-of-brain issues. *G*

Yeah - the Islamic terrorist woman (whose name I never managed to get a grip on) did seem to be going to lengths I couldn't picture any Muslim being willing to go to. I mean, there are other ways to assassinate even someone as well protected as John was meant to be...

I think John was meant to have talked the Presiding Judge around about Jo, but it was all implied rather than actually stated out loud. A bit more explanation did seem called for, but maybe they were running short of time or something.

Old Joe was the one I did get genuinely afraid for at one point in this episode, more than anyone else.

'Twas an excellent episode, though, plot bugs notwithstanding :)

[rosie55.livejournal.com]

Definitely an excellent ep. Will bear considerable re-watching, I suspect.
Next week's eps to look forward to now!
And then, George Gently, though somehow, one can't imagine someone called George Gently will have nearly so many seduction scenes as JJD!

[shaw012145.livejournal.com]

Thanks Agent 1.3 for your Report. It is now safely preserved with Part 1.

I think these extremists would do anything in the name of their cause (sleeping with the Judge, in this instance) with the knowledge of being rewarded after death, however, this time the outcome was not as her 'adviser' planned.