It may be a bit clichéd - fiery, idealistic defence lawyer up against cynical, world-weary prosecutor - but I enjoyed it very much. I've always had a soft spot for courtroom dramas, and this is a new twist on the genre.
Andrew Buchan and Alun Armstrong were top notch.
"She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me"
started quite slow, but picked up at end.was an extra on it and seein it on telly is a surreal experience, as i remember most of the scenes word for word. the wee girl who had the dead baby was a great actress on set, very emotional in her delivery.
cant wait to see it next week again, buchan and armstrong are a good laugh in reality as well, working with them was class.
"These big vagina ladies are getting away with murder."
I hope we get this in the US.
shareInteresting to see a court drama set in the 18th century and I didn't realise it was based on a true story.
However it followed the courtroom drama conventions a bit much for my liking ie
- young barrister fighting against the system
- he won his second case
- judge is determined to give him a hard time
Also there were way too many longing looks from the female lead. OK, we get it, she fancies him!
However it did give a good idea of how unjust the justice system was at that time.
I will try to watch the next episode to see if it improves.
You're an errand boy, sent by grocery clerks, to collect a bill
[deleted]
It was 18th century, rather than 19th century. He was obviously an amazing person, but I had never heard of him, having looked him up there is a biography, which I will get. I want to know more about him now
The Radio Times has an article on William Garrow. What a man!
It says that he devised the (at the time) revolutionary idea of allowing defendants to be represented in court.
Until then, prosecution evidence was often supplied by men who had been bribed. And capital punishment was the standard penalty for 400 to 500 crimes.
Any opposition to the Crown's case was seen as a form of treason. So when the upstart Garrow began to question the truthfulness of prosecution witnesses, he was venturing into dangerous territory.
The article concludes by saying:
"As a direct result of Garrow's work, the English criminal system was adapted to accomodate the adversarial process, whereby both sides are allowed to cross-examine witnesses. Everything about the way in which evidence is given in court today is traceable back to one man, and that's Garrow."
I'm looking forward to seeing how this develops.
"She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me"
Hi Supergran. We definitely have similar tastes. I really enjoyed this too. Really interesting to see something set in the 18th Century law courts, fascinating.
Cats rule, dogs drool!
Mornin' Laura. Fancy seeing you here!
We definitely have similar tastes.
Haven't seen second episode yet but you are right Alun Armstrong is fantastic in everything!
Cats rule, dogs drool!
I confess this programme has grown on me. Andrew Buchan is perfit for the part as well as Alum Armstrong. I am hoping they make more of these as I do like good quality programmes and not the crap the BBC produces such as "X factor!".
The best films are made in an intelligent format.
I have to agree with you on Andrew Buchan's performance - he made an otherwise cliched plot watchable and, at times, even engaging. I admit that I might be a bit jaded when it comes to courtroom dramas but it does seem to me that the dialogue was a bit - clunky, if that makes any sense. There was no sense of pace and I couldn't help cringing whenever a new cliche came up. Please tell me someone else felt this way!
However, the costumes and sets were brilliant and it's definately heaps better than all the reality tv rubbish we're forced to watch nowadays.
~I used to be schizophrenic, but we're OK now~
So far, I'm quite pleased with the show. The courtroom scenes are a lot of fun and Buchan makes Garrow interesting and likable, a brilliant feat considering how tired we all are of the "noble defense lawyer" character. I have to agree that the dialogue (might have just been the 18th-centuryishness of it, though) and pacing felt rather awkward -- but, still, all that was tolerable. My only real qualm with the series is the insipid romance between Lady Sarah and Garrow; the saucy smiles and longing looks (particularly on her side) are just excruciating.
"I sentence you to sudden, instant, and even immediate death!"
Just finished watching episode 3. Brilliant programme!
shareThe story line, script, acting, actors and actresses, sets, costumes, cinematography, mood,
All Awesome!
it's a 10 in my book.
I LOVE this show! Pity there's only four episodes. :-/
***!!!SPOILERS BELOW!!!***
Did Forrester die in the stocks last night? I'm guessing the rock that was chucked at him, hit him in the head and killed him? Must've been a heavy rock!
I was wondering that too Graham. Did he die or are we to see some more of him???
The actor who played Forrester (Steven Waddington) has been in many productions and in nearly all he dies. Cast your mind back to Last of the Mohicans he was the one who dies on the fire at the end being shot by Daniel Day Lewis.
He must be very good at portraying a dying man.LOL
Yeah I noticed that too! He also died in The Tudors, but he deserved it!
I suppose he also deserved it in Garrow's Law, given what he did to that poor young boy. :-(
Then again, he might not be dead at all. He might just have a *very* severe head wound. There was lots of blood wasn't there? And he wasn't moving afterwards. Add to that, the old woman paid that other guy to chuck the rock anyway. I think he's probably dead! The guy that chucked the rock will have wanted Forrester dead surely? Otherwise, once released, Forrester would have made sure he was 'taken care of.' The woman wanted him hanged, so I guess a blow to the head was the next best thing?! :-/
Interesting, very interesting. But I do think we are supposed to think he's dead, otherwise we'd have actually seen the rock hit him?
But he was so heroic as Ivanhoe! (And he didn't die!)
sharesteve waddington(forrester) he didnt die in the parole officer (your halfway up a mountain) but he played a good job as a fish monger!
shareHi everyone,
My name is Mark Pallis and I was Historical and Legal consultant on Garrow's Law. If you're interested, I wrote a blog with extra historical bits and pieces about the show. it's online at www.garrowslaw.wordpress.com
I'm so pleased you enjoyed it!
with best wishes
Mark
Mark's blog is still going for Series Two. Thankyou Mark.
www.garrowslaw.wordpress.com
If you can't be a good example -- then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.
.....and Series Three! Keep it coming Mark, and thankyou.
www.garrowslaw.wordpress.com
Lawrence, we're going to need considerably bigger buns!
Hi supergran! I saw this advertised last night on TV. I'm so glad the BBC haven't axed it like they have so many other things this year.
Dogs have owners, Cats have staff!
It's well good. I was upset when Southouse died and I hope this show gets parodied on Horrible Histories
I love Philip Winchester and Scott Tracy like hell
I miss Mr Southouse already , it won't be the same without him.
'Gaol fever' was a real risk, it seems much of the prison population died of typhus around that time.
Me too, but George is doing well. Of course he can't replace Alun Armstrong, but he is doing well.
shareI absolutely loved this series. It was very moving and I became attached to the characters especially Sarah, Garrow, and Southouse. The finale was superb and I am going to really miss it now that there doesn't seem to be a series 4 in the future.
share