Kavanagh Q.C. - True Commitment/A Sense of Loss
Picture:
C Sound: B- Extras: C Episodes: C
Here we take
a look at two more interesting but dry DVD sets of the Kavanagh Q.C. television series.
John Thaw reprises his role as a top member of the Queen’s Counsel,
barrister James Kavanagh. The show for
lack of better words is very “British.”
The shows are very compelling and hold an audiences interest for only so
long. John Thaw is a classic and
seemingly well versed actor, or least if not he portrays one very well on
television. Quite a few of these
Kavanagh Sets exist and are fairly popular.
The
interesting part of the show above all else is that the characters are well
developed and balanced among the courtliness of the show. Kavanagh is portrayed as seemingly having
deep emotion, personal troubles, and loves while maintaining a very
professional demeanor. The problem this reviewer has with this particular
series is the follow through of the episodes.
The episodes always start strong and John Thaw’s character (which he has
personally developed and perfected) is compelling, but by the end of the
episode the strong nature that each episode has begun with diminishes.
Skilled
writing does exist in the series, which was impressive. The dialogue is quite flowing and well
placed. In the end, the full scale of the episodes failed to hold this
reviewers overall interest. Each set
consists of three episodes:
Set 1:
-
A Sense of Loss - (title set)
“Kavanagh struggles to defend a troubled youth who refuses
to co-operate on his own behalf after he is accused of killing a policewoman.
-
A
Stranger in the Family
“In tackling a work related personal injury case, Kavanagh
uncovers a web of lies, deceit and blackmail concocted to avoid the truth
becoming known.”
-
Job
Satisfaction
Tragedy, harassment and grief hound Kavanagh as he defends
a young woman, who along with her brother, is accused of murdering their father
and stepmother.”
Set 2:
-
True Commitment -
“Kavanagh is frustrated with the case of a young man who
changes his story when he is charged with the stabbing death of a Patriotic
Front protester.”
-
Men
of Substance-
“Forced to replace an ailing prosecutor, Kavanagh finds
more than meets the eye in an international drug smuggling case.”
-
The
Burning Deck
“Kavanagh is up against his friend and sometime adversary
Eleanor Harker, each defending clients on an arson charge in a naval court
martial.”
Where
this reviewer loves John Thaw’s acting in this show, the picture and sound
could be greatly improved. Often times
this the 1.33 X 1 full frame picture is cloudy and quite light looking. The sound is presented in an unimpressive
Dolby Digital stereo and leaves much to be desired, though it seems to hold
enough of what the show needs. Extras
are also boring featuring such specials as:
- Cast profiles
- Kavanagh Q.C.: The Birth of a Series
- John Thaw: A Tribute
- Quotations on Law and Justice
As much
as I like John Thaw as an actor I did not find the tribute too exhilarating. Overall, Kavanagh Q.C. shows great heart in a
plethora of complex storylines. In the
end, however, it has failed to capture this reviewer’s interest and though
there is great writing other crime shows are much more interesting.
- Michael P. Dougherty II
