Messiah was a one off drama, broadcast 10 years ago (well shown in two parts actually, but you know what I mean). Based on a terrific book but Boris Starling (I think) it featured Ken Stott as DCI Red Metcalf, investigating a string of murders. Mid-way through the drama, he realises the murderer is killing the 12 apostles from The Bible, the same way they die in the book.
It was fantastic viewing. A few slightly far-fetched plot lines, and a couple of cliches thrown in (why they felt the need to make his wife deaf I have no idea) but this was gripping TV from start to finish. A true 'whodunnit' too (although I did spot a clue about three-quarters of the way through to work out who the bad person was.)
Keep an eye out for a wonderful 'cameo' role for Edward Woodward playing a stuttering priest who helps the DCI with the info he needs from The Bible. Hey, look at that - Edward Woodward presented 'Whodunnit' (see first blog entry) and here he is appearing in one!
A definite thumbs up for a superb drama that can be re-watched over and over again without getting boring. Doesn't feel like it's over 3 hours long, it keeps you gripped from start to finish.
But it didn't end there. After the success of Messiah, several sequels were written. Here I can start to become more critical as there are several flaws in the follow-ups.
In Messiah II, all the main cast members return (which in one case is a bit strange as a certain member of staff was thrown off the team in part I). It's not a plot spoiler to say Red's brother is murdered in part II, but it acts as a VERY staged cliche throughout the episode, about police fabricating evidence to get a conviction. It isn't even subtle, you know exactly what they are saying, and it feels far too fake - however, I'm being over critical. Messiah II is a worthy sequel. This time a serial killer is targeting wrong convictions from the police force - killing the person who REALLY did the original crime, and then punishing the original arresting officer. A good surprise ending to this one, a whodunnit I didn't solve until the 'reveal'.
Trivia note, this drama had it's broadcast delayed twice due to the sad murders in Soham. Messiah II features a young Down Syndrome girl getting killed in a playground. The original date was when the Soham girls were still missing, and the second broadcast date was when Ian Huntley was going to trial. It was eventually broadcast in 2003.
Messiah III came along, and again, we had the original cast members. This time a prison riot leads to a string of murders which all seem to link back to DS Beauchamp, one of DCI Metcalf's officers. In some ways I prefer this to Messiah II. The story is less complicated, although the ending is a little weak. Liam Cunnigham (who pops up in a lot of British films these days) plays a pretty menacing prison inmate who leads the original riot.
Onto Messiah IV and we are starting to get into weak territory now. This one felt a little bit too desperate. Here we have a murderer following the deaths in Dante's Divine Comedy (where the 7 deadly sins come from) and by the time you get to the ending, it's lost the plot (excuse the pun). The fact someone is killing with the 7 deadly sins makes it sound like a rip-off of the Brad Pitt film 'Se7en' although it does differ enough to not look like a direct copy. Not the worst in the series (there is still part V to come yet) but certainly cannot be compared to it's predecessors. Not Ken Stott's finest hour, and Maxine Peake as his new assistant (usually quite a reliable actress) doesn't put in a great performance either. Should be watched if you've seen the previous 3, but not the one you should start with as it will put you off viewing any others.
Finally, Messiah V. Almost a completely different drama from the others as there are no returning cast members. Marc Warren plays the main detective (that blonde bloke in Hustle) and seems right out of place from the start. A flashback to his past keeps reoccurring, something they used in the original Messiah to better effect, and a plot that is neither complicated or gripping. You can also solve this 'whodunnit' by a process of elimination long before the drama actually finishes.
Honestly, if they had stopped after III this would have been one of the best TV drama trilogies ever. I know that sounds brash to say, but it would be true. IV and V sadly water-down the impact the Messiah films have now, but I have to give the whole series a big thumbs up. Watch them in order if you haven't seen them before.
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