TV Review: DIRK GENTLY
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Rounding out the triptych is Helen Baxendale (Cold Feet, Friends) as Susan, McDuff's plain-speaking girlfriend and another of Dirk's erstwhile university pals. But unlike her boyfriend, Susan's more suspicious of Dirk's unconventional investigative methods -- believing he's just conning the feeble-minded out of their money, by bamboozling them with pseudo-science and tall stories. My biggest concern was actually Howard Overman's writing, as he may be the brains behind one of the best TV shows around (superhero drama Misfits), but he also created one of the worst (cop comedy-drama Vexed). Fortunately, it seems that Overman brought his A game to Dirk Gently; so perhaps the woeful Vexed was a victim of his grueling work schedule this year, or Overman simply works best when he has a guiding light (comic-book traditions to subvert, or another writer's ideas to filter.) Whatever the reason, it was a relief to feel quality buzzing from the writing. The plot was light-footed and deceptively knotty, with plenty of funny and clever moments -- such as Dirk's fake suicide gambit, by having McDuff pose as his twisted body on the grass, below a high window Dirk later pretends to jump out of, all to get someone out of an office to investigate. Overall, your reaction to Dirk Gently will largely depend on if you've read the source material. If you have, you'll perhaps be disappointed Overman's adaptation has gutted Adams's surrealism and rampant oddness. An Overman-style BBC4 adaptation of The Hitch-Hikers Guide To The Galaxy would probably remain earthbound, with Arthur Dent thumbing lifts up the M6, where he'd meet various oddball drivers. But if you haven't read Douglas Adams's books, you'll probably be more accepting of another TV detective series with sharp writing, quick pace, imagination, fun performances, and a unique gimmick at its heart. At any rate, fingers crossed for a full series, so Dirk Gently gets the chance to evolve and improve, perhaps by adding in more of the book's wackier flavours. But even as it stands, this was a decent and enjoyable start. Aside How's this for interconnectedness: Howard Overman writes episode for the BBC's Merlin, which stars Richard Wilson, star of '90s sitcom One Foot In The Grave. Dirk Gently guest-starred Doreen Mantle, who played Mrs Warboys in that SAME comedy. Coincidence? Tell that to Dirk! Incidentally, One Foot In The Grave was highly-regarded for its intricate, connected storytelling. Sound familiar? Oh, and there's a special BBC2 documentary on Richard Wilson's career this Sunday at 9pm. Okay, I'm freaking myself out now... maybe there really is something to this "interconnectedness"... WRITER: Howard Overman (based on "Dirky Gently's Holistic Detective Agency", by Douglas Adams) DIRECTOR: Damon Thomas CAST: Stephen Mangan, Darren Boyd, Helen Baxendale, Jason Watkins, Anthony Howell & Doreen Mantle TRANSMISSION: 16 December 2010, BBC4/HD, 9PM