Strictly Confidential – The Complete Series (Koch Vision DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C- Episodes: B-
For a
long time, U.K. and U.S. TV series have badly handled two things: sex and
mystery stories. The sex becomes a joke
like a bad Vegas act or Hip Hop video, while Mystery tales have become so
pretentiously procedural than the fun of figuring them out has been more like a
science lab than solving a murder the old fashioned way with some serious
challenge involved. Kay Mellor’s Strictly Confidential – The Complete Series
(2006) is a pleasant surprise from England in how it combines the two.
The first
episode begins with the sex life of those involved with it as a business, as
well as surrounding personal lives.
Somewhat groundbreaking (especially for TV on either side of the
Atlantic) material follows, it is surprisingly intelligent in its approach and
seems to have a story to tell. There is
the young lady who starts having trouble separating her work from her personal
needs and that epitomizes the thought that goes into this show.
Then, out
of nowhere, one of the “rent gals” turns up murdered and shock sets in all
around. I was impressed in how this was
paced and how this sets us up for the rest of the show. Angie (Eva Pope) needs the advice of an
ex-cop named Linda (Suzanne Jones) who has become a sex therapist when the
dead body turns up. Former lovers on
good terms, they start to look into what happened, then things get worse and
this series more intense. If you like
Mysteries and can handle a bold sexual edge, this series is for you and
recommended.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 is well shot throughout, though there is some
motion blur and some other limited I bet would disappear in an HD format. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is nicely
recorded, including good dialogue and interesting use of music. The sound has some character, which makes
this all the better. The only extra is a
behind the scenes featurette, but it is a long one and has some good
interviews.
- Nicholas Sheffo
