This article was originally published in The Courier on 31st August 2019.
NEXT WEEK’S TV
A CONFESSION
Monday,
STV, 9pm
Tim
from The Office – aka the actor
Martin Freeman – stars in this gritty shaky-cam factual drama from genre
maestro Jeff Pope (if you’ve ever enjoyed a superior true-crime ITV drama
produced within the last 20 years, Pope was almost certainly the man behind
it). It recounts the unusual story of a senior police officer who, in 2011,
breached protocol to catch the person responsible for abducting and killing a
young woman. Meanwhile, a woman who lost her own daughter under similar
circumstances begins to fear that the cases are linked. Jeff Pope probably has
the words ‘truth is stranger than fiction’ on a framed macramé print above his
desk, it’s a maxim upon which his impressive career is predicated.
RISE OF THE NAZIS
Monday,
BBC Two, 9pm
In
1930, Germany was a liberal democracy. Four years later it was governed by a
totalitarian regime of murderous criminals. “This,” intones the narrator of
this grimly compelling new series, “is the story of how democracy died.” It is,
like Laurence Rees’ classic series, a warning from history. Told via dramatic
reconstructions and talking head contributions from expert historians, Rise of the Nazis examines the events of
those four fateful years in forensic, granular detail. It’s a frightening
illustration of how fascism can take hold of a nation. The far-right are still a highly visible threat in Europe and America. They’re still using
the same techniques to stir up dissent, to mislead, divide and conquer. Be afraid.
UNTOUCHABLE: THE RISE
AND FALL OF HARVEY WEINSTEIN
Monday,
BBC Two, 11:15pm
How
did the pathological sexual predator Harvey Weinstein get away with his crimes
for so long? This thorough 90-minute documentary damningly exposes a culture
that enabled the behaviour of this monstrous Hollywood mogul and others like
him. Taking centre stage are devastating testimonies from some of his
traumatised victims. Their evidence repeats the same pattern: they felt
trapped, manipulated and intimidated by Weinstein’s heinous abuse of power. He
faced numerous accusations of sexual misconduct throughout his reign, but
always managed to suppress them. The film features contributions from
guilt-ridden former colleagues who were aware of his reputation and those who
tried in vain to expose him. The king has been dethroned, but the #MeToo fight
continues.
THE CAPTURE
Tuesday,
BBC Two, 9pm
The
current glut of nervy TV thrillers hasn’t emerged by mere coincidence.
Television, as always, reflects our fearful preoccupations. The zeitgeist, if
you will. This new Line of Duty-esque
drama follows a British soldier accused of needlessly murdering a member of the
Taliban in cold blood. After he’s acquitted, he’s then accused of assaulting
and kidnapping his barrister on the streets of London. Actual fake news? A
violent incident apparently captured via CCTV triggers a dark, stark,
uncomfortable piece – anyone who’s been foolish enough to follow my scribblings
over the last 20 years will know that I’m a fan of dark, stark, uncomfortable
pieces. It also boasts a tremendous cameo from that great, indispensable
character actor, Paul Ritter. Recommended.
LAST WEEK’S TV
PEAKY BLINDERS
Sunday 25th August and Monday 26th August, BBC One
This
sooty hokum has earned its promotion from BBC Two to BBC One. Its cult has
grown to such an extent that it no longer belongs on its original home. People
who criticise this gangster saga, this wild tumult of melodramatic pulp
fiction, for being all style over substance are missing the point. It’s at ease
with what it is. That’s why it works. Peaky
Blinders is shamelessly entertaining, it juggles flash irony and solemn sincerity
in roughly equal measure. Series 5 began with yet another controlled explosion
of violent, quasi-poetic chutzpah. A classic? No. But it’s undeniably great.
A BLACK AND WHITE
KILLING: THE CASE THAT SHOOK AMERICA
Sunday 25th August and Monday 26th August, BBC Two
Three
years ago, in Portland, Oregon, a white supremacist gang-member got behind the
wheel of his jeep and killed a black man. The killer insists that his crime,
which was captured on CCTV, wasn’t racially motivated. In this depressing
two-part documentary, Asian British journalist Mobeen Azhar travelled deep into
the scrofulous heart of American far-right politics. Portland is renowned as
one of the most liberal cities in America. It’s also home to at least 21 white
supremacy groups. Trump is their hero. These people are monumentally stupid,
sad and hateful. But hey! Things will get better soon, right?
