User reviews

There may be better and more consistent shows in the crime genre than 'Trial and Retribution', but despite its problems mostly in the later seasons at its best 'Trial and Retribution' was excellent.

It is agreed that 'Trial and Retribution' was better in its earlier seasons, particularly in the first six cases of the show with Pat North still in the show. By all means, the early episodes aren't flawless either, with "Trial and Retribution I" containing some loose ends that made the outcome of the court-case surprising and unsatisfying and a little too much time is spent on Mike and Pat's relationship, which was nicely fleshed out and played but sometimes like in "Trial and Retribution IV" it was almost like it was too much of the main focus.

However, a great job is done developing the police and law cases methodically and in great detail, and it really worked giving the episodes two hour length and taking time for the story to develop. The storytelling could easily have been thin in the show but on the most part they are incredibly absorbing with enough twists and turns to keep one on one's toes and to create genuine surprise. Some of them have a wonderfully unsettling atmosphere, particularly "Trial and Retribution II" (with the scene with Linda Henry being one of the show's greatest scenes) and "Trial and Retribution III" (with a disturbingly off-the-wall Richard E. Grant), and the court-cases avoid falling into hammy melodrama.

While the later seasons are certainly watchable, they aren't as good in my opinion. "Sins of the Father" is the only outstanding late episode, with such a complex and cleverly told story that actually took its time to develop (at a time when the show started feeling rushed). This said "The Lovers" (a very close second best later-season episode, with a very creepy Michael Feast and the investigation given top-priority, a real shame that the final courtroom scene felt too hasty and incomplete), "Rules of the Game" and "Tracks" are also very good and "Paradise Lost" provides parts that do resonate emotionally and a main suspect that in a rare case we feel sorry for. Plus Mike's family issues are written in a way that balances with the cases well and are easy to relate to. However, despite some interesting cases, good acting and well-fleshed out characters the later episodes suffer from being rushed as a result of telling a lot of story in too short a running time (which has been halved) which causes parts that don't feel explored enough and don't come over realistically, with too much emphasis on soap-opera-style relationships which cause the investigations to be rushed through and the courtroom scenes which are even shorter to feel even more so and not come over entirely plausibly. Some of the episodes are also either too thin ("Kill the King"), not explained enough ("Siren", had trouble following in the second half) or too obvious ("Mirror Image", which gives it away from as early on as the title!, "Closure" also with the killer being revealed too early). "Blue Eiderdown" is spoilt too by a ridiculous ending.

Another factor is that Pat North is a more interesting, engaging and likable character than Roisin Connor. Roisin has moments of charm and fire, particularly in the enjoyably combative tension between her and Mike, but is far too one-dimensional and is developed barely at all, very cardboard-like. Victoria Smurfit is also to me an inferior actress to Kate Buffery. Smurfit tries and has moments but her range is limited, making some of the more authoritative parts on the forced side, none of her acting comes close to the emotions of unspeakable terror and affecting poignancy that Buffery showed in a particularly tense moment in "Trial and Retribution III".

'Trial and Retribution' is an incredibly stylishly made show, the 3-split-screen camera work was not distracting to this reviewer and was used interestingly, while the gritty look the show has suits brilliantly. The show throughout is compellingly directed, sparingly but understatedly scored and very tightly and succinctly written with little being forced or gratuitous. Acting is good on the whole, much has been made already about Smurfit but there are also a couple of exceptions in supporting roles, notably the grotesque overplaying of Tim McInnerny, the damp squib underacting of John Lynch and (although it is a very short early role, in a career that has really grown) Rosamund Pike's relative inexperience shows that she comes over as annoying and robotic. David Hayman is a superbly commanding lead though, while Kate Buffery is similarly great and Dorian Clough brings some much needed humanity to the show. Simon Callow makes a few juicy appearances as a barrister but is underused.

Overall, 'Trial and Retribution' is problematic but it is very absorbing and at its best excellent. 7/10 Bethany Cox

I agree with pretty much everyone else that the later seasons aren't as good as the early ones and that the Roisin character is not an adequate replacement for North...not sure why they did that, I'm guessing the original actress wanted out for some reason? Otherwise it would have been madness to do this. But I want this to have a really good rating here on IMDb, because despite the flaws in the later seasons, it is still a million times better than anything American TV has to offer!! Gritty, realistic (for the most part), gripping and horrifying. Everything a good police drama should be, unlike it's US counterparts. So I'd highly recommend watching this!

I enjoy the show and despite some people saying the endings were not clear, I thought they were pretty good. Sometimes you were undecided whodunit. Or not to see it til the last minute. The thing I did not enjoy is the misogyny of the main character who shouted at people, especially the women and seemed to use women like servants, calling them names as he did so. The stories were good despite him. Would have been great without him.

I enjoyed the series but I started wanting Mike Walker and his cohorts to get punched in the face. Arrogant and overbearing is not something you want to put up with in the heroes.

I So love this show Trial and Retribution. I recently fount it on Acorn TV in Canada and have been binge watching like crazy. I am sad now that I am on the last one, number 22. 😢. I wish it was still going. Great acting, great story lines, great casting Fantastic series!

Mike, the chief detective, is a jerk and a workaholic. In the first few series, we see him trash his first marriage whilst dealing with puzzling cases. He is compelled to settle a large debt in order to end his first marriage. By extorting a perp on the run, he gets the cash needed but Roz, his tall drop-dead gorgeous assistant (played by the luscious Victoria Smurfit), figures it out. 'Prove it!' he snarls. Later, his ex-wife dates a guy who turns out to be a dangerous Looney. If you were Mike, how would you end this problem? Wait til the final frame.

Another 2-part episode stand out: THE LOVERS (S9) involves a nasty serial killer who preys on young couples using a method we saw in the French-Dutch film VANISHED. Mike makes the arrest, but the killer may never see prison. Gripping.

The conflict between Roz & Mike drives many episodes, but they usually get a 'result'. Characterization in the series is superb (script and portrayal). Truly, this lengthy mystery series is one of the top 5 Brit shows ever. Did I mention that Mike is an unlikable weasel?

Great choice of actors but...pathetic writing and directing. Got through seasons 1,2 and had to stop. The Police missed or buried leads and were quick to decide who was guilty, always missing the hidden crazy people and kids. They have yet to get the actual culprits and I am on the sixth case.

It's slso hard to care at all for any of the characters, though a few of thekids are sometimes tolerable. Just nasty vold uncaring people. Since a few are actors I know have talent, it must be the writers and Director.

I say give it a try, but I promise, you will not want to watch after a few 'seasons' (each season is ywo shows, the first outlines the crime and case while the second is preparation for court and the trial; also all the witnesses and real criminals are revealed).

Pity this wonderful website requires s ix hun dred characters per post or more people would write reviews (hint) and FYI guessing they won't publish this if they figure out it is critical of the change to longer re vi ews.

After 4 seasons we gave up on this because the character of David Hayman was just obnoxious, egotistical and abusive, especially to women.

This behaviour would not be allowed on any police force even in the late 90s. We just couldn't watch it anymore. It would bet an 8 from us with better character development or growth, maturity or decency.

Just really really addictive when youre hooked on crime series....

I started watching about a week ago (late to the party). Very exciting plots, until Pat North went. Unfortunately, the character who grates on my nerves, her love interest in the show (Mike?) stayed on. If only I had started watching earlier.

One of the most annoying, arrogant and hateful characters on TV. How this guy came to be a Superintendent beggars belief. Him aside, this is a great show, well worth bingeing. Unfortunately series five shares so many similarities with Prime Suspect 2 I wondered how it ever got made? In series 10 there is also a very similar plot to another Prime Suspect story.

This series ran over a number of years, and evolved in the process. It's an average series to watch but the constant and overuse of split screen frames, along with extreme closeups of eyes, ears, noses and mouths, all serve as distractions. It serves as a back up for when your streaming queues run dry and you need a quick 2 episode fix for something to watch. The acting overall is not bad although a bit "touch and go" with certain of the supporting actors.

The melodramatic writing is typical of Lynda LaPlante screenplays. The actors are frequently screaming and crying and acting hateful to one another. If you can get past those things the series is excellent! The plots are engaging, sometimes crimes against children, and the long double episode format gives detectives time to explore every facet of every crime. You'll keep wondering who committed these crimes until the last few minutes of each show.. Highly recommended for crime show buffs.

Love all the characters.... could use some developments for some. Smurfit should have stayed. Thankfully no self-destrcuctive storyline for the characters..

If you enjoyed Prime Suspect you'll love this. As you can tell from the other reviews here, Lynda La Plante isn't for everyone. Her storylines can be harrowing - brutal at times, but I loved it. David Hayman, as Mike, is an egotistical, old school misogynist, and you'll hate him at times. But that's what's so good about it IMO. Kate Buffery was amazing throughout. I'm personally annoyed with La Plante, because the story goes that she wanted the Kate Buffery to "glam-up" playing Pat North, but Buffery rightly refused and eventually left. Her character was brilliant, just as it was. So then we get Victoria Smurfit, who is ok but the show loses something from then on. Production-wise, I think it ages relatively well compared to other crime procedurals from the same era. In case it helps anyone reading with a view to watching, I'm a 50yo woman and my favourite detective/police dramas of all time are The Sweeney and Columbo. But I've also sat through the whole of Taggart with my husband (something of an endurance test at times... Now THAT was a hit & miss show!). I hope anyone watching Trial & Retribution (currently on ITV X - you can watch free with Ads) enjoys it.

If law and order in Britain were anything like this series, they'd get it wrong even when the evidence jumped into their arms and grabbed the ubiquitous scotches and cigs. Well-acted intriguing characters -- always LaPlante's forte -- are worth watching, even if rampant incompetence among police, lawyers, judges and juries seems to be what drives the stories rather than clever twists. Some of the gap between concept and execution should probably be overlooked because this is the first series, and extra points granted for roaming outside the well-defined lines of the genre. The irascible DCI Walker (Hayman) commands the screen and the squadron and the well-fleshed minor characters are hold it well when Walker's not around. Fans of LaPlante's style won't be disappointed, but casual viewers might want to tune in to later series.

Overall, I found this a very well written series with good legs. Simon Callow, Corin Redgrave, and. David Fleeshman were spectacular as the barristers of the day. Ms. La Plante is a delicious storyteller. Kudos!

I think that the plots are good and all the actors are really good. David Hayman is an outstanding actor - BUT not good enough to bridge this huge flaw that the writers carved into this series. He simply is not "lead man" material and the dynamics between him Pat North are incredulous. It's a poor match and on top of that, the writer(s) dwell way too much on this horrific flaw. I also find David Hayman's character, at times, annoying in that it verges on a caricature of a detective. In fact, the writer has managed to turn David Hayman's character into an incredibly dislike, unsympathetic protagonist. To say that he is obnoxious, at times, would be an understatement.

Despite some solid actors and guest performances, I agree with many others that the David Hayman character was just too dark, too 'in-your-face' and too misogynistic. This, coupled with his constant smoking and flare-ups make the rest of the detective squad look truly both competent yet lost in his orbit. Some of the crimes and scenarios are so graphic and needlessly violent that the characters and relationships fade in comparison, which is too bad. It feels like an endless struggle between the female leads and 'Mike Walker' and his need to dominate most scenes. Not many likeable characters and certainly enough unbelievable coincidences that a truck could drive through them. La Plante usually writes interesting strong female lead characters (Prime Suspect for instance), but here it's a bit less clear what the focus should be. I just found that each season be some less and less bearable and the constant darkness was just too much.

It's depressingly significant that Kate Buffery is not credited here as one of the "stars". I only started watching a vintage series which I assumed would be very dated, because of her presence.

I first came across her in the memorable drama series Wish Me Luck, and was bowled over by her - not just one of the most beautiful women the small screen has ever seen, but a superb actress who sadly seems never to have won the acclaim that was her due.

She's great in this - absolutely convincing. She carries the series which becomes much more ordinary after her departure - then increasingly strident and silly.

The leads in this series were pretty good. My wife and I gave up after Season 3 (6 episodes total): the crimes were too morbid. My wife said she felt dirty after watching some of them. BTW - we've probably watched 70 British and European detective series so we are used to some pretty extreme murder cases.