Criminal Record's Peter Capaldi Channels Political Demons in Gritty Return
The ghost of Malcolm Tucker, the notoriously foul-mouthed spin doctor from the political sitcom The Thick Of It, seemed to haunt Westminster this week. Dame Emily Thornberry's revelation that the Prime Minister's attack dog, Morgan McSweeney, ordered the chief civil servant at the Foreign Office to comply by snarling, 'Just f***ing approve it,' evoked the spittle-flecked intensity of Tucker in full action.
A Ghoulish Coincidence on Screen
In a ghoulish coincidence, Peter Capaldi—the cadaverous actor who originally portrayed Tucker—is back on our screens, looking more gaunt and demonic than ever as Criminal Record returns to Apple TV. In one striking scene, lit under a railway viaduct in a blood-red glow, he appears like Lucifer on day-release from Hell. Television dramatists, when they inevitably chronicle Keir Starmer's political downfall, could scarcely find a better candidate than Capaldi to play a figure like Peter Mandelson, given his commanding presence.
Moral Complexity and Menace
Capaldi relishes his role as DCI Daniel Hegarty, a character brimming with moral complexities and palpable menace. His unwilling partner remains the diligent yet naive DI June Lenker, a copper so kind-hearted she might burst into tears amidst a riot. Hegarty is corrupt, willing to bend any rule and betray any principle to secure a conviction. Whether the culprit is truly guilty matters little to him, as long as his own version of justice prevails.
After a long career of fitting up crooks, Hegarty now dedicates most of his time to covering his tracks and ensuring past misdeeds stay buried, a process he euphemistically terms working in 'Intelligence'. In every shot, he looks savage, akin to an executioner at a wedding, clad in a smart jacket and buttoned-up shirt. The final scene captures him crouched over a colleague's unconscious body, hissing at a terrified fugitive, 'Don't you ever say my name again!'—a pose so medieval it could be lifted from a woodcut of witches and devils, leaving viewers uncertain whether he aims to revive the man or consume him alive.
A Bewildering Plot in a Gritty London
For those who missed the previous series released in 2024, this instalment may prove confusing, and even watching the first season offers little clarity. The plot is bewildering: after Lenker spots a familiar face among rioters during clashes between Muslim extremists and neo-Nazi thugs, she is warned against pursuing the lead, despite the youth supposedly being imprisoned for murdering his girlfriend. Naturally, Lenker launches her own private investigation, inadvertently trampling on Hegarty's surveillance operation.
London is depicted in vivid colours and cinematic composition, transformed into a post-apocalyptic hellhole so gritty that, as noted in prior reviews, viewers might feel compelled to take a shower afterwards. To fully appreciate the visual impact, it is best watched on a widescreen television rather than a phone.
Contrast with Light Entertainment
In stark contrast, Interior Design Masters on BBC1 provided lighter fare, with Alan Carr risking a slipped disc as he learned the street dance style 'shway'. Tipped as the next Strictly Come Dancing host, his energetic performance sparked concerns he might do himself a mischief. This juxtaposition highlights the diverse landscape of contemporary television, from intense dramas to playful reality shows.
