MovieChat Forums > Prime Suspect: The Final Act (2006) Discussion > A Bittersweet Ending For Tennison

A Bittersweet Ending For Tennison

posted 16 years ago by Stanley-6
10 replies | jump to latest

I am probably not saying anything that hasn't already been said, but I just recently saw this last series. As always, it was well-written, well-filmed and beautifully-acted, especially by Mirren. I just felt sad that such a strong and no-nonsense character had degenerated into such a sad and pathetic drunk. Like any other persons real or fictional, Tennison was always flawed. She was abrasive, not politically-savvy and was not above making significant errors at times. However, her descent into full-blown alcoholism, realistic thought it may be, was just a sad direction to send this character. Looking back on the previous chapters, it really makes sense in many ways, but I cannot help but feel disappointed by it. Having said that, I must repeat that Mirren's performance was predictably excellent. It was fearless and decidedly unglamorous. Mirren has never shied away from looking like hell.

On a final note, I loved the brief return, and redemption, of Bill Otley. A very welcome surprise, and one that struck a realistic note. I just regret that this character met such an abrupt end. To re-introduce him, then conveniently eliminate him, in one episode was very disappointing.

[–] Doogiebee 15 years ago

You say "a bittersweet ending".

A dead old cop. A lonely alcoholic. And a beautiful young girl's (Penny) life absolutely destroyed.

There's no bittersweet about it. Only the bitter. Very sad.

[–] Stanley-6 15 years ago

I would agree that no happiness came from the ending, but it was "sweet" in the sense that Tennison solved the case. It would have been sad to see her not crack her final case, especially as we have seen how much she has deteriorated, with everyone around her understandably thinking that she is completely washed-up. She showed, one last time, that she could still break a case, even if she was a mere shadow of her former self. Despite all of the humiliation that we saw her subjected to (much of it self-inflicted) in this last installment, there was some redemption at the end.

[–] angelofvic 15 years ago

After watching it a second time, I didn't find it sad or bitter or bittersweet at all.

Jane is in AA and will heal her addiction, there's no question about that.

She also has her dignity, her intelligence, her creativity, and all of the qualities that made her special and incredible. Her not going to the ultra-silly and humiliating goodbye party w/stripper was her way of saying, I'm moving onto the next adventure in my life. This is not an ending, it's a beginning. Life has never gotten me down and it's not about to now.

She also successfully solved one of the most important and heartfelt cases of her life. Nearly singlehandedly, even while everyone was telling her to go away. Brilliant.

It was a victory, a tremendous and powerful victory.

. . . . . . . .

[–] mlaiuppa 8 years ago

Jane is in AA and will heal her addiction, there's no question about that.

When she put her mind to it, she quit smoking.

Now that she has decided to quit drinking, she'll kick that too.

Probably easier now that she is retired. The drinking was probably a result of the job, not her life. She didn't drink for boredom or social reasons. She drank to numb the pain and stress of her job. No job eliminates a trigger.

What bothers me is what will Jane do? Her life was her job. She has no hobbies or interests. So, what will she do with her time? Gardening? She's lived in apartments all her life. She doesn't appear to cook much so forget that. Knitting? Painting? Don't think so.

It's too bad this is the last one. Jane might become an amateur sleuth or be one of those internet detectives that closes cold cases or finds missing children.

I guess we'll never know.

[–] passinby 15 years ago

What a great cast and a what a terrible script for Tennison's finale. The first three "Prime Suspect" stories are still the very best. They should have brought Lynda La Plante back to write this script, she created the original and knows it so well. Helen Mirren owns the character of Jane Tennison and was outstanding, she deserved a better script. What a contrived jumble, I thought I was watching a soap opera.

As her Chief Super Mike Kernan said of Tennison in PS-1, "She's a damned good detective!"

[–] esculatorsarescary 11 years ago

Just watched this. Really enjoyed it. I think the ending suited Jane very much. She didnt need or want the big leaving party, a handshake from a family member she helped was all that was required. You can see her getting help at the AA meetings, she participated and admitted she is an alcoholic. She left with the respect of her colleagues who cared about her, and with solving her very last case. She even had made ammends with her former colleague and harshest critic, Bill Otley. I like to believe after saving her neice as well she can make some sort of relationship with her sister. Not disappointed at all with the ending.

[–] Noir-It-All 11 years ago

Call me romantic but I wish Bill Otley had lived and remained Jane Tennyson's friend.

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

[–] AzaleaRose 11 years ago

It would have been nice to see them be awkward pals into old age. Oh well, if you need to kill someone to drive up the stakes of the narrative, it might as well be someone the audience is already familiar with.

I really liked this ending, although I find myself emphasising the bitter more than the sweet. Sure, Jane's solved her last case and earned the gratitude of Sallie's parents, but she's lost everyone in the world who's ever cared about her. It wouldn't have surprised me if she'd had a relapse a few months down the line after the novelty of retirement wears off.

[–] easy_fritzy 8 years ago

To re-introduce him, then conveniently eliminate him, in one episode was very disappointing.

I don't think there was much time to develop the character.
Sadly, the actor who played Otley died 2 weeks before the series aired on TV.

[–] 8 years ago

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