TV Review: Dirk Gently Series 1.2

By Chris Suffield / March 14, 2012

rating: 5

It€™s a sad thing when the second episode of a good series is also the second to last one. So it€™s a compliment to Dirk Gently that I€™m already going to miss it after next week€™s finale. This second installments case is more straightforward than last weeks opener, well actually, its quite complicated and involves humanoid robots, a comatose daughter, murder and a super computer becoming actual intelligence. When an old school teacher of Dirk€™s calls on the duo for help, Dirk and MacDuff are swiftly on hand to assist. The teacher in question is Professor Jericho (Bill Paterson) and he requires security for his latest robot creation, but Dirk quickly becomes preoccupied with learning the truth behind his untimely expulsion from the school. Helen Baxendale returns as MacDuff's long-suffering girlfriend Susan, sadly there€™s little cause for her reappearance other than to pester MacDuff about moving across the country if she gets her new job. This did however allow for his true feelings towards Dirk to become clear, faced with leaving the agency MacDuff admits he genuinely likes Dirk and that he could actually be brilliant. The scene is vital to their friendship and shows how Dirk and MacDuff sort of need each other. Such heavy drama is only grazed upon as the tone is always kept light. Stephen Mangan is always watchable, but it's somewhat frustrating that he is rarely given a chance to showcase his dramatic side. There were a number of scenes where Mangan teased at a serious performance, but we are always waiting for the punch-line even when his voice is cracked and filled with sadness. It was a nice touch having Bill Paterson play Doctor Jericho, having previously played a robotic professor in Doctor Who's The Victory of the Daleks and he was perfectly cast once again. The ending might have asked a little too much from the audience, but this is science fiction and it€™s all made with such winning gusto you are more than happy to go along for the ride. Dirk Gently deserves a longer second series and the cherry on the cake should be a move to BBC Two. That said I think a big part of it€™s success is in the endearing shoe string budget charm, and a bigger budget might spoil it somewhat. Whatever the future may hold for this series, I just hope we get to see more of it. This was a very confident episode that found the right footing within the first few moments and just went with it. The world needs Dirk Gently. Dirk Gently concludes Monday at 9pm on BBC Four.