For entry number XV in this much-acclaimed series, the episodes are trimmed down somewhat and squeezed into the more common 90-minute format. Unfortunately, this newer lightweight 'Trial & Retribution' is exactly that - lightweight and suffers greatly for the change when compared to the previous fourteen stories.
It all feels much more like an outing of 'Midsomer Murders' or 'A Touch of Frost'; there is simply no time to develop anything meaningful and much of the wonderful character depth of Mike and Roisin that we have gotten used to over the years, is lost.
Subsequent outings also follow this new format and, to my mind at least, the producers of this show made a huge mistake in choosing to do so. The longer 140 minute style is what made 'Trial & Retribution' special, different from most of the other crime series out there; epic and enthralling. From XV onwards everything feels formulaic, rushed and a poor comparison to its former days of glory.
It all feels much more like an outing of 'Midsomer Murders' or 'A Touch of Frost'; there is simply no time to develop anything meaningful and much of the wonderful character depth of Mike and Roisin that we have gotten used to over the years, is lost.
Subsequent outings also follow this new format and, to my mind at least, the producers of this show made a huge mistake in choosing to do so. The longer 140 minute style is what made 'Trial & Retribution' special, different from most of the other crime series out there; epic and enthralling. From XV onwards everything feels formulaic, rushed and a poor comparison to its former days of glory.
