Jonathan Creek: Series V (2014)

Jonathan Creek: Series V (2014)

3 episodes, approx 58 minutes each.

Note: the following review contains spoilers for the previous JC outing, The Clue of the Savant's Thumb (2013). If you're as sensitive to spoilers as I am and haven’t watched the Savant's Thumb episode, it would be advisable to not read beyond this sentence.

The fifth series of the show is unusual for a number of reasons. Firstly, while there are a significant number of minor mysteries in need of solving, there's no mysterious deaths in any of the episodes, in a locked room or otherwise. Speaking of episodes, there's only three of them, not the usual six. And finally, at no point does Jonathan wear his trademark duffel coat, which is like asking us to accept Columbo without his raincoat, or Sherlock without his pipe.

If all of that wasn't bad enough, he's married still to Polly (Sarah Alexander). Not only does Polly's pissy attitude stand in the way of his doing what he does best, but the duo have zero chemistry. One wonders why they're together at all. There's no feeling of love or even affection. It's like a marriage of convenience, most of which is hers. When the character interjects it's usually to belittle or dissuade Jonathan (Alan Davies) from getting involved. She deadens the narrative flat.

There's a moment in Ep 2 where we glimpse a slight vulnerability in Polly; it's the one time where I felt anything for her other than indifference or disdain, but sadly it's short-lived.

The trio of episodes were written by series creator David Renwick, but it's not obvious from just watching them. His usual quality and attention to detail in characterisation is lacking.

The first episode has JC looking awkward in his new role as businessman, and ill-fitting in his suit and tie. Polly's goal of making him more "real world" is her way of saying that she wants him to fit the mold she thinks he should be in, not the one he previously belonged in.

Sometimes a character just doesn't ring true when removed from his/her defined setting, and I feel that JC is one such character. There's no sexual tension, no duffel, no windmill, and no murders; all of which results in their being no spark, fewer quirks, and too much blandness. On the plus side, there's no Adam Klaus character shoe-horned in, so hooray for small mercies.

I noticed that JC drinks a lot more wine than he used to. It's probably not any kind of specific commentary on his lifestyle other than he's more financially well off now, but if I was in such a marriage I'd pack my bags instead of drinking; it'd be cheaper and kinder to the liver.