Silent Witness viewers were left baffled by an internal monologue scene in Monday night's episode (March 2) of the BBC crime drama. The instalment, part one of the two-part series finale titled 'Shame', saw Dr Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox) and her team investigating the apparent suicide of a British-Chinese pro-democracy activist.
During a post-mortem examination, pathologist Harriet Maven (Maggie Steed) was heard reflecting: "Shame, a quality which alerts us of the gap between who we are today and the best version of ourselves. It's not a disparagement of the essence of our being, but a reminder of who we could be. Inspiring. Helping us to rise. Not driving us to despair." She added: "Shame is an overlooked quality in a society which rewards celebrity over accomplishments."
The sequence prompted a flurry of reactions on X (formerly Twitter). One viewer commented: "I have never heard such droning piffle as Harriet's 'Shame' soliloquy." Another simply questioned: "Harriet???" A third remarked: "What's with the internal monologue, a meditation on shame in Silent Witness? Just give us the crime story."
Some viewers criticised the technique as "cheesy" and questioned whether new writers were responsible. However, others appreciated the approach, with one fan posting: "Oh I like the way they're doing this one. Inside everyone's heads."
The second part of the story, concluding season 29, is scheduled to air on Tuesday March 3.
