Following the appalling 'Outcasts', now consigned to a late-night Sunday slot, the BBC seems to have partially redeemed its reputation with 2 solid new dramas.
'South Riding' is a depression-era saga of a small Yorkshire town and the doings of a few of its residents. In particular, we see the new school headmistress, Miss Burton, striving to bring the best out of her charges, the local 'Squire' who is down on his fortunes, but falling for the school ma'am, and the local council and parish board, a bunch of rather smug characters with, it seems, a few issues of their own. The storylines are a bit over-complicated and the action a little jerky, but the performances keep the interest and no doubt the various strands will be drawn together in due course. Will the Squire and Miss Burton actually find romance ? What will become of the egregious Huggins ? Will young Lydia be able to resume her studies ? This is decent fare without being incredibly exciting, but is an enormous improvement on some recent efforts.
The other new screening is 'Silk', a tale of the nefarious goings-on in a barristers' chambers in London. Rupert Penry-Jones and Maxine Peake are apparently competing to gain the elusive 'Silk' and there's intrigue afoot behind the scenes with some of the barristers unhappy with the Chamber's manager, played by Neil Stuke. Courtroom dramas usually make for good television, and this is no exception, although I've yet to decide whether this is 'good' or 'very good' stuff. There is a danger that the storyline may wander away from the law towards more 'soapy' themes; barrister Clive Reader, played by Penry-Jones' has already bedded his new pupil and Martha Costello (Peake) is thinking of having her previously unmentioned pregnancy terminated. As long as they keep the personal lives secondary to the main issues, this could develop into a fine series, but otherwise ............................. .
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