One of the problems with being a film buff is that TV drama is just so much less interesting nowadays - it has non of the gloss or realism a film has, nor the immersion you can get from it. Luckily those of us in this situation have the BBC to save us. Murphy's Law has from the start been gritty, gripping and engaging TV that rivals some of the best movies in it's genre.
For those who live under a stone the show follows Tom Murphy, an Irish undercover cop (in England) doing deep cover work in dangerous situations. In the latest series he is less of a field agent and more of a manager - at least he starts that way, things soon take a bad turn and he is back doing what he does best: kicking ass.
Of course the series is really made by James Nesbitt who is a fantastic actor. He brings realism to quite a hard role - he has to be hard, gritty AND show a soft side - all without it looking corny. And he pulls it off, just. It is wearing a bit thin by this series - they have been trying to build character depth since S2 but have done it in a very hazy and complicated way. In a way this enhances the mystery of Murphy but at the same time just confuses you. Many of the support characters and people in his life do not carry from series to series (and even episode to episode) and he seems to have so much 'history' he should be 400 years old.
Despite the shakiness Murphy's Law is still some of the best TV all year, we can forgive the mild plot holes and the occasional corny scene in light of the fact that it grips you from start to finish and leaves you wanting more. Thumbs up to the Beeb!
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