LETHAL WHITE/CB STRIKE: LETHAL WHITE

UK, 2020, 4X 60 minutes, Colour.

Tom Burke, Holliday Grainger, Robert Glenister, Robert Pugh, Kerr Logan, Joseph Quinn, Danny Ashok, Christina Cole, Adam Long.

Directed by Sue Tully.

The third in a series of television versions of the novels by Robert Galbraith, aka J.K. Rowling, quite a series of crime and investigations.

The film is very well-written, incorporating the key elements of the novels into a four hour running time. The central character, Cormoran Strike, alienated son of a famous pop star, his mother having committed suicide, his being in the military, wounded in Afghanistan and losing a leg, failing in relationship with Charlotte his fiancee, setting up as a private eye in central London. He works with Robin, who answers an advertisement and becomes his assistant especially in her engagement to Matthew who does not approve of Strike and Robin working for him.

Tom Burke looks the part of Strike and communicates his eccentric character, his drive, his drinking, his sometimes slovenly living, but his ability to follow clues, interrogate people, draw conclusions. Holliday Grainger also fits the part of Robin particularly well, their making an odd investigative couple.

There is a strong cast in the supporting roles, a lot of interrogations, moving around London.

And quite a complex plot involving a politician, a blackmailer and murder.

1. The popularity of the novels by Robert K. Galbraith? The work of JK Rowland? Adaptation of the novels for television? Series?
2. The central character of Cormoran Strike, his background, family, relationship with Charlotte and the break, Afghanistan, losing his leg, his return, private investigator? His skills, the previous stories? Age, living in his office, relationship with Lorelei, his inconsistency, using her, her break with him? His dependence on Robin, the years of work with her?
3. Robin, the background, University, with Matthew, the relationship, his family, her family, on and off, the rape and its effect on her, the decision to marry Matthew, the film opening with the wedding sequence, her hesitations, Strike’s presence, their talking together? The honeymoon, the ups and downs? Matthew and his disapproval of her work? His behaviour, relationships, with Sarah, Robin finding the hearing? The weekend away? Robin packing, Matthew wanting reconciliation? Her feeling liberated (and the comment to the taxi driver walking away from two marriages)? The visiting the therapist, a panic attack, especially with the closeness of Winn?
4. Strike, his methods, following through, on site, interviews, the limitations of his leg and limps? Relying on Robin, in the office, her investigations, going undercover at Parliament, pretending to work as the shop assistant? Their bonding together?
5. Billy, his coming to Strike, his mental condition, his story, the drawing of the chalk horse and its repetition, his story about the murder on the eye? His running away, Strike going to find him, on the street, being with his brother, in hospital?
6. Jasper Chiswell, minister, arrogant, summoning Strike, the lunch, the discussions, the blackmail, accusing Winn, accusing Jimmy Knight? The tense relationship with his wife? Financial issues? Idolising his dead son (and Strike knowing him, knowing him a bully, generally disliked, his death)? His daughters working for him? His condemnation of Raff? Demanding explanations? The various meetings? Summoning Strike to his house? Found dead?
7. Robin going to the internship, the friendship with Izzy, encountering Winn, bugging his office, the discussions? Meeting Raff and the attraction? The encounters with Aamir, in the office, her looking at his phone, the later interrogations, his involvement, protected by Winn, when and his blind wife, the charities, the revelation of win and his fraud, the wife divorcing her husband, protecting Aamir?
8. Jimmy Knight, the social group, the meeting at the pub, his speech? Flick as his girlfriend? Tough stances? Jimmy and his hold over Billy? The link with Chiswell, in the past, the dead girl? Strike and Robin following through, the visit to the site, the finding of the bones, the police, the cover up, alleged course plans? Jimmy and the confrontations with Strike? The violence? Jimmy and Flick, the encounter with Robin undercover, the invitation to the party, Robyn searching the room, finding the note? Jimmy discovering the truth, the pursuit?
9. The friendship with the detective, giving her information, her giving the details about the case?