THE SUSPECT

UK, 2022, 5 X 48 minutes, Colour.

Aidan Turner, Shaun Parkes, Camilla Beeput, Anjli Indra, Adam James, Uma Warner, Bobby Schofield, Tara Lee, Sian Clifford.

Directed by James Strong, Camilla Strom Henriksen.

The Suspect is an adaptation of the first crime novel by Australian award-winning author, Michael Robotham. It is a television series in five parts.

Central character, eventually the suspect, is a psychologist, Joe O’Loughlin (who will appear and other Robotham novels), played by Aidan Turner (older). When a woman’s body is found, he is called in by the police to give advice. He is also helped by a fellow professional, a long-time friend.

As expected with a murder mystery and a police investigation, there are quite some complications, going back into Joe O’Loughlin’s past former client, her obsession with him, quite complex unravelling of her links with various people in his life. And, there is a complication with a young man, vagrant, unreliable, coming to Joe for therapy, but also then a suspect.

The film shows the conscientious investigation by the police, Joe’s support from his wife, the evidence emerging from the past about the murdered woman and her relationship with Joe, his investigating the background of the young man, his being in danger – and final twist as regards who is guilty and what happened.

Quite exciting and interesting in the investigations and the solution.

1. The title? Joe O’Loughlin? Bobby Morgan? Range of murders? Suspects? Plot twists?
2. Television series, the five episodes, time to develop the plot, develop the characters?
3. The London settings, the Westminster Hospital, interiors, police precincts, homes, psychology practice, offices? The British countryside, homes in the country? The Liverpool settings, the vistas of the city, offices? The musical score?
4. Joe O’Loughlin, the background of Michael Rowbotham novels, the first? Is background, relationship with his father, the death of his mother, blame, is work as a psychologist, reputation, friendship with Jack, the marriage to Julianne, their daughter? His home life? The diagnosis of Parkinson’s and the effect on him throughout the series, handshaking, dropping things, falling?
5. Bobby, impressions, during the sessions, his manner, 21 of the page, talk about his mother, but for his father, Joe and his working with him, eliciting responses? The development of Bobby’s character, is attacking the woman at the taxi stand, his defence of himself, later with the lawyer, going to court, getting preparation? When Joe in an emergency? Is living quarters, sharing? His learning Spanish? Joe and the investigation background, going to Liverpool, the stories of his father, accusations of abuse, the mother and her malevolence, exposing her children to sexual violence, the suicide of her husband? The disappearance of the older boy? The repercussions for Bobby?
6. The development of Joe’s story, the effect of the Parkinson’s diagnosis, his friendship with Jack and visiting him? Issue of Catherine McCain, the discovery of her body, the mystery? The visit to the cemetery, his holding the shovel, the later fingerprints when discovered? The past relationship, her accusations, his defence? The mystery of her application for secretarial work? The visits to London? Time of her death, a laborious? Joe in the diagnosis, drinking, wandering, going to the prostitute friend, the repercussions for his wife, his alibi, the death of the prostitute and his escaping with her car?
7. The police, the personalities of the two detectives, the discussions about their work, discussions of evidence, interviews with Joe, with Jack, with Joe’s wife? The formulation of theories, the evidence against Joe, surveillance of him, meetings with Bobby and his plausible explanations? The grim determination that Joe was guilty? Going to Liverpool, circumstantial evidence, the deaths? Joe and his urging the detective to come to the roof, the evidence folder?
8. Joe, the audience following him, suspicious of him or not? Search for evidence, suspicions of Bobby, the 21 cuts on the body? Is going to Liverpool, the past contacts, persuading them to show him documentation, the video of the interview? His return to Liverpool, the meeting with Bobby’s mother and her antagonism? The police suspicion of his assault on her? Wanting to warn the past collaborator, not answering the phone, the police discovering his murder?
9. The personal story, Joanna’s relationship with his wife, love for his daughter? His arrest, the daughter at school, her phone call to him? Check, the past with Julianne, is continually going to the house, Joe suspicions, issue of the boiler, the plumber, warning off Jack?
10. The buildup to the climax, the timing, the evidence against Joe? Bobby, the Spanish class, getting the lift from Julianne, insinuating himself into the house, tying up Julianne and the daughter, Joe’s arrival?
11. The revelation of the plumber, the older brother, his committing the murders while Bobby had the by? The police arriving, Joe indicating criticise the plumber’s truck? The siege, the threats?
12. Joe, persuading the older brother to talk, the stories of the past, their mother, her exploiting them, the flashbacks, the brother doing the murders, the range of those who signed the document about their father, the planned revenge, making each of them suffer, the loss of a loved one? The brother with his change of heart, reading Julianne and the daughter, allowing Joe out, keeping his brother in? His going to the boiler and the house exploding?
13. Joe vindication, the future with his wife, pregnant? The work of the police, needing more apology!