Cracker as a television police based drama follows a format while not unique I haven't seen replicated elsewhere, of one hour episodes that are invariably not self contained but, rather form one half of a story which is frequently played out over two episodes.
When I first heard of this programme it was in relation to Robbie Coltrane who I had only ever known of in relation to comedy, so initially I assumed that it must surely be something of that nature. I was to say the least surprised when I learnt it was instead a rather gritty and dark drama, so I just had to check it out to see what kind of a fist he made of it. Because I had never seen him being remotely serious I wasn't really expecting much of him, but he was nothing short of a revelation as a proper bona fide actor.
Robbie Coltrane doesn't simply play his character of Dr Edward Fitzgerald instead he personifies him, to such an extent that he may even be acting out some of, his own neuroses through his characterisation.
Barbara Flynn really is Judith Fitzgerald the extremely long suffering spouse, put upon by both kids and her selfish lout of a husband, she is totally ignored and taken for granted by all concerned on a regular basis.
The central character Dr. Edward Fitzgerald's day job is as a psychologist which involves him having to impart his knowledge on college students, something for which he has neither the tact nor patience to even attempt properly. He is arrogant, pompous, thoroughly self-absorbed and opinionated, who considers it beneath himself to have to even, talk to students let alone teach them anything.
He is married to Judith and they have two young teenage children, daughter Kate, and son Mark, in an altogether haphazard and chaotic family atmosphere. This is perpetually exacerbated by his serious addictions, gambling leads him to attempt to beg, borrow, or steal, from whoever maybe be daft enough to trust him with money.
Other permanent addictions are alchahol and adulatory with any woman who takes his immediate fancy, including those who he associates with at work. In all these vices his sole and abiding consideration is only his own personal gratification, and to hell with the consequences to anyone at all.
Dr Fitzgerald finds himself involved with the old bill to help them out in their criminal investigations, not always as a direct request as invariably police forces prefer to rely on, what they consider to be more conventional methods of detection.
A different approach became considered by some police forces that of subject profiling, that involved supposedly creating a 'profile' of the perpetrator of a serious crime such as murder. Which looks at the 'motives' behind the actions of the criminal involved the reasons why they did it, I am not sure when it was brought in to use in Britain.
When I first heard of this programme it was in relation to Robbie Coltrane who I had only ever known of in relation to comedy, so initially I assumed that it must surely be something of that nature. I was to say the least surprised when I learnt it was instead a rather gritty and dark drama, so I just had to check it out to see what kind of a fist he made of it. Because I had never seen him being remotely serious I wasn't really expecting much of him, but he was nothing short of a revelation as a proper bona fide actor.
Robbie Coltrane doesn't simply play his character of Dr Edward Fitzgerald instead he personifies him, to such an extent that he may even be acting out some of, his own neuroses through his characterisation.
Barbara Flynn really is Judith Fitzgerald the extremely long suffering spouse, put upon by both kids and her selfish lout of a husband, she is totally ignored and taken for granted by all concerned on a regular basis.
The central character Dr. Edward Fitzgerald's day job is as a psychologist which involves him having to impart his knowledge on college students, something for which he has neither the tact nor patience to even attempt properly. He is arrogant, pompous, thoroughly self-absorbed and opinionated, who considers it beneath himself to have to even, talk to students let alone teach them anything.
He is married to Judith and they have two young teenage children, daughter Kate, and son Mark, in an altogether haphazard and chaotic family atmosphere. This is perpetually exacerbated by his serious addictions, gambling leads him to attempt to beg, borrow, or steal, from whoever maybe be daft enough to trust him with money.
Other permanent addictions are alchahol and adulatory with any woman who takes his immediate fancy, including those who he associates with at work. In all these vices his sole and abiding consideration is only his own personal gratification, and to hell with the consequences to anyone at all.
Dr Fitzgerald finds himself involved with the old bill to help them out in their criminal investigations, not always as a direct request as invariably police forces prefer to rely on, what they consider to be more conventional methods of detection.
A different approach became considered by some police forces that of subject profiling, that involved supposedly creating a 'profile' of the perpetrator of a serious crime such as murder. Which looks at the 'motives' behind the actions of the criminal involved the reasons why they did it, I am not sure when it was brought in to use in Britain.