Fri 27 Mar 2020
A TV Episode Review: WIR£D “The Beginning” (2008).
Posted by Steve under Reviews , TV Drama[4] Comments
WIR£D “The Beginning.” ITV, UK, 13 October 2008. 60m. Part one of a three-part mini-series. Jodie Whittaker, Laurence Fox, Toby Stephens. Screenplay: Kate Brooke. Director: Kenny Gleenan.
A single mother (Louise Evans, played to perfection by Jodie Whittaker) who has just been promoted at the bank where she works is surprised to learn that her new position was not earned on her own resume and what’s worse, it comes with some very nasty strings attached. It seems that she has a back story involving criminal activity she doesn’t want known now, but it engenders a little blackmail and a threat to her young girl, either of which on their own are enough incentive for her to comply when she’s asked to do a “favor” to he crummy boy friend (Laurence Fox) of a lady “friend” she has at work.
The favor seems minor, but what do I know about banking? Enough to know that she’s up to her ears in deep stuff. There is already an undercover police officer (Toby Stephens) snooping around, threatening audits. Episode one is just the set up. Yet to come are two more episodes: “The Middle” and “The End.”
As is often the case these days, it is the heroine of the tale that receives the most attention, but Jody Whitaker, the future Doctor Who, is more than up to the task. Which is not to suggest that the rest of the cast, most of whom I’ve left uncredited above, is not doing their job too. Somehow the British seem to do short series such as this a quantum level higher than most of those in the US. This is one series I know I’ll finish.
March 28th, 2020 at 7:01 pm
Whittaker and Toby Stephens (the BBC’s James Bond among other things) is enough for me.
March 28th, 2020 at 7:09 pm
I believe you mean BBC radio, am I right?, but he was also a villain in one of the Bond movies. He’s had quite a career. More recently he was John Robinson is the Netfliz LOST IN SPACE TV series.
March 29th, 2020 at 6:56 pm
Yes, he’s Bond in all but one of the BBC radio dramatizations of the Bond books (Michael Jayston did YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE). He was the villain in DIE ANOTHER DAY.
March 31st, 2020 at 11:12 pm
I’ve now watched all three, and believe me, it’s good to have a series that not only has a beginning, but a middle and an end, and in only three installments.
As I suspected, the financial stuff, all computer-based, passwords, phony accounts and all, went right over me head. It was still manageable, though, and it watching the players go through their paces with skill and finesse was an enjoyable experience.
All in all, a finely tuned production.