The fourth wall breaking won’t be the factor however Nicola Walker continues to be Nicola Walker, as I get spherical to her latest detective present Annika
“I think death by harpoon suggests someone who’s trying to get a point across”
Based on Nick Walker’s BBC Radio 4 drama Annika Stranded, Annika premiered on cable crime channel Alibi in the summertime of 2021 however acquired horrible phrase of mouth, from my circle no less than, which meant that regardless that it starred the wonderful Nicola Walker, I resisted the temptation. Over Christmas although and with the lure of my dad and mom’ Sky subscription, I took the plunge into the icy Scottish waters by which it’s set and…it turned out to not be fairly that unhealthy.
A big a part of it’s all the way down to Nicola Walker doing what Nicola Walker does greatest, ie being Nicola Walker. Her wry Norwegian-born Detective Inspector Annika Strandhed is newly answerable for the Glasgow Marine Homicide Unit and in order that finally ends up being the present’s USP, they go to enticing Scottish areas on a speedboat and discover crime scenes. And as private life problems with some type are de rigueur, she has a stroppy teenage daughter in tow.
So reality be informed, it isn’t essentially essentially the most ground-breaking detective present. Shetland has higher surroundings, Unforgotten had higher character depth and Annika has an annoying behavior of breaking the fourth wall, which Walker sells completely effectively, however it’s perilously near being too arch. There’s far more mileage in her interactions with a brand new group together with blokes with a previous together with her, the tribulations of her daughter performing out, and flirting shamelessly with the therapist she packs her off to.
Does Annika make its case in an especially crowded crime market? Probably not tbh, although it’s eminently watchable. Jamie Sives, Katie Leung and Ukweli Roach are good enjoyable because the group across the innate appeal of Walker (the actor), Kate Dickie must be given extra to do as their boss. The plotting by Walker (the author) may afford to push more durable although or do one thing just a little extra adventurous to face out dramatically.