Things to do this week

OK, I have a week off, and in normal fashion there is nothing on the box to watch. Just my luck!

Still no fear here as I have loads of stuff recorded, so here is my to do list for the week:

1. Build up the nerve to finally watch Defying Gravity.
2. Watch the last few episodes of Waking the Dead.
3. Find five hours to watch Criminal Justice.
4. Catch-up with Chuck and Coronation Street.
5. Some laundry and other boring stuff, then maybe watch a DVD, listen to some CDs and bore you all with blog entries of my exploits!

Criminal Justice – Episode Five

Last night saw the conclusion of Criminal Justice on BBC1and it is hard to discuss it without giving away the ending, something that I am not comfortable doing. I know how much I hate spoilers, and since the series is still playing on the BBC iPlayer, and is planned to be repeated next week on BBC HD, so I will just keep quiet until next weekend. I will say though, that this entire series is so far on of my television highlights of the year. It was full of twists and turns, and even though it brought us a distorted and “Hollywood-ised” vision of the criminal justice system, it was very entertaining. All I will say is that if you have not watched this series, spend a few hours viewing it on the iPlayer, or if you have the technology, check it out on BBC HD next week, I assure you it will be worth it!

Criminal Justice – Episode Four

Episode four of the wonderful BBC crime drama Criminal Justice aired last night, and us viewers continued our fantastic roller coaster ride through the British justice system;

• Ben’s trial shifted from disaster, into a case that looked as though the defense might just win, back to disaster, all in the span of one sixty minute episode.
• Ben’s feud with Milroy over the loss of the mobile phone seems to have come to an end… I hope.
• We learned who actually stole the mobile, and I was surprised… but I still don’t know the reason behind the theft, maybe I missed something.
• New suspects in the murder were introduced, and then eliminated from my suspicion at least… though for about ten minutes I thought that Melanie’s dad may have been the killer, I wasn’t the only one tricked by him, Ben’s lawyers agreed with my suspicion and put him on the stand.
• We learned that Ben is a liar… he has been telling porkies to his parents about attending university for the last SEVEN  MONTHS.
• We were wonderfully set up for the final episode tonight with a cliffhanger ending, Ben was just about to say whether he killed Melanie.

The final episode of Criminal Justice airs tonight 9pm BBC1

If you missed the series and you have BBC HD, the entire series will be repeated beginning some time next week.

Criminal Justice – Episode Three

Episode three of Criminal Justice  was an education in; “what not to do when you are on trial for murder.” And this is what we learned;

• If you are, or you believe you are innocent, don’t agree to make up a story of self-defence. It won’t work, and it will make you look even more guilty.
• Don’t keep changing lawyers. Ben has now had four different lawyers. Just keep the lawyer who you feel offers you the best chance of saving your freedom.
• Do get a clever young lawyer who is fresh and willing to put in the work to get you freed. Ben has now enlisted Frances Kapoor, who honestly believes if you tell the truth then justice will prevail… we will just have to wait and see if it works.

Episode three also taught us a few things to keep in mind if you are incarcerated;

• If you rent a mobile phone from a fellow inmate the going rate is 18 cigarettes.
• If you do rent a mobile phone remember, it is a valuable commodity, and since you are sharing a room with a bunch of criminals, don’t let it out of your sight, because some toerag will steal it!
• Never try to run for freedom inside a prison, the doors close very quickly and can easily break your nose.
• If you pledge your loyalty to a psycho, don’t go doing business with the enemy, they will come back and inject you with heroin, thus making you an addict and dependant on the psycho for your next fix.

To Learn what episode four has in store, watch BBC1 tonight 9pm

Criminal Justice – Episode Two

Criminal Justice continued to hold me in it’s grip last night…

Episode two began with Ben stepping off the bus and into the living nightmare of the prison system whilst on remand. Inside the prison we watched as this confused young man struggled to survive in a system where psychotic inmates run the show, and corrupt prison officials turn a blind eye to the animal like behavior of the prisoners. We met Ben’s cell mate Hooch, who is a “listener”, because he listens! We also met Freddie Graham, who runs the show inside the prison, and keeps veal in his foot-locker!

Viewers also learned that a mobile phone is an essential piece of kit inside a prison… and we discovered how to deliver drugs into a prison using dead pigeons. Mostly though this episode taught us that prison life is not very nice (but we knew that didn’t we?)

Episode two also showed us that perhaps Ben’s new high-priced solicitors are not the best people to be entrusting his future with. They just don’t seem that bothered about trying to help a boy that they have already determined as guilty.

Lucky for Ben though his original lawyer, the squeaky voiced Ralph Stone dropped by the courtroom to offer his support… and in doing so probably saved Ben’s parents a load of cash, and given Ben a fighting chance in court.

Episode three airs tonight at nine on BBC1.

EPISODE 1 RECAP

Criminal Justice – Episode One

The first episode of the new BBC crime-drama Criminal Justice aired last night and already my house is split on the guilt or innocence of our “victim” Ben. My missus thinks Ben is innocent, I think the twist in this tale will be that in un-television fashion we will discover he is guilty! No matter the outcome of the series though if it continues to be as entertaining as last nights episode the Beeb should be onto a real winner here. If you missed it, don’t fear, you can quickly catch up using the BBC iPlayer, or just check my handy guide to episode one:

 

Criminal Justice Episode One

-the crime

 

• Ben, the accused, steals his dad’s cab when his own car won’t start.
• He picks up a young woman, and they head off to the seaside. There they consume copious amounts of pills and vodka before heading back to her house for some more vodka and a bit of rumpy pumpy.
• Post-coital Ben goes back downstairs for another shot of vodka… he then passes out!
• When Ben awakes he finds his new friend dead, stabbed through the chest!
• Ben panics, grabs the knife, and races off in the cab, which he crashes. The police arrive and arrest Ben for driving under the influence. While charging him for that crime they find the knife in Ben’s pocket, and the wheels of justice begin turning!

-the evidence

• Ben had sex with the deceased so his DNA will be on and in the victim.
• He had the murder weapon on his person when arrested.
• His bloodied finger prints were left on the wall.
• A witness has already reported seeing his cab at the scene of the crime.
• Ben asked the police while in the car “is she dead?”
• A witness on a motorcycle, who has not yet come forward, saw Ben putting the knife in his pocket.

-the defence

• So far his lawyer has only instructed him “not to say anything.”

-other events from Episode one

• Ben’s original lawyer, a shabbily looking, raspy voiced guy named Ralph Stone has been replaced by nicely dressed well spoken, expensive lawyers.
• Ben was refused bail.
• Ben was given some cigarettes, to use as currency while in remand, but they were stolen while in holding.
• Ben reported to the guard on duty the theft of his ciggies… now he has been labelled “a grass.” Not a great start to prison life!

Criminal Justice and other highlights

Summer time television schedules normally make for pretty bleak reading for us telly addicts… after a quick glance over the schedule this week things are looking surprisingly bright, which is just bloody typical as I have returned to my day job after nearly a month off (hey what can I say I get lots of holiday!)

 

BBC1 is offering us what looks like the best of the viewing this week with their new drama Criminal Justice a new five-part drama showing Monday to Friday this week.

 

Not the most original idea for a television series I have ever heard of, the series is about a nice young man who has a wild night out and ends up in serious trouble. The producers then take us on a journey though the criminal justice system along side our 21 year old victim all the way to the verdict of his trial.

 

I just hope that the actual show lives up to the praise it has received, The Times has called it “the highlight of the week, if not the year”… which is some pretty high praise indeed!

 

Criminal Justice – Monday to Friday (June 30-July 4) 9pm BBC1

Elsewhere on the telly box we have a couple of highlights this week with the conclusion of series one of Chuck, the wonderful comedy/action/spy thriller, which has become a television staple in my house, as well as the end of series two of Heroes.

 

Chuck – Monday 9pm Virgin 1

Heroes – Thursday 9pm BBC2 and BBC HD