The people who do decide this stuff – screenwriter Tom Edge and director Sue Tully – did a good job condensing a long and complicated book plot into just four episodes. Admittedly, such a change to the format would have forced Strike to move to BBC Four before being immediately cancelled, so really, it’s for the best I’m not allowed to decide this stuff. Given my druthers, the finale would have lost Henry Drummond, Jimmy Knight, Tegan the horse lady, the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker, and in its place given us a silent 20-minute cut of the scene where a pissed Strike gazes across the desk at Robin like she’s water in the desert. The tangled case however, with its two horse paintings, Zimbabwean gallows, beastly aristos, inheritance scheming and narrowboat stand-off? Whatever. There was a question about the future and the promise of curry and beer.Īll of the above, thanks to the magnetic power of Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger, were a delight to watch. There was an arm around shoulders, a confession, a heart-felt compliment and a smile. There was Strike touching his mouth to catch the feel of Robin on his lips after that awkward hug-kiss.

There was the longing look Strike gave Robin as they sat drinking whisky in the office after hours.

There was the pained expression on Robin’s face as she watched Strike and Charlotte walk away while assuring her mum on the other end of the phone that yes, she’s left Matthew and that no, she’s not with anyone else. There were plenty of high points in the Lethal White finale. Until the Troubled Bloodadaptation arrives, that’s as good as we’re going to get.

Now put your other hand up if that’s basically fine because you couldn’t give a McVitie’s fig roll who murdered Jasper Chiswell, or why, or by what means.įinally, take both hands down, make loose fists and draw a scruffy Cornish beard on one and the face of an English rose on the other, then smoosh them together while making kissy noises. Put your hand up if the conclusion to Lethal White’s investigation left you nonplussed and the killer revelation felt by-the-by. This Strike: Lethal White review contains spoilers.

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