Inside Man - Season 1

Inside Man isn't the intelligent psychological thriller it tries to be. Fortunately, we can enjoy a good dose of tension and starring roles from David Tennant, Dolly Wells and Stanley Tucci.

What do a minister, math teacher and journalist from England have to do with an American prisoner? The BBC/Netflix series Inside Man addresses that question. The British reverend Harry Watling (David Tennant, Doctor Who) carries a dark secret, and maths teacher Janice Fife (Dolly Wells, The Outlaws) finds out. Harry tries at all costs to prevent Janice from going to the authorities with this secret. On the other side of the Atlantic, journalist Beth Davenport (Lydia West, It's a Sin) takes an interest in Jefferson Grieff (Stanley Tucci, Fortitude). Grieff was a widely respected criminologist until he murdered his own wife. He is now sentenced to death. Convicted and awaiting the moment that his sentence will be carried out. Somehow the lives of Harry and Jefferson are connected.

The storyline is unlikely, and sometimes a tad implausible

Inside Man is a series created by Steven Moffat, known as the showrunner for Sherlock and Doctor Who for several seasons. In these series, Moffat had a knack for writing scripts full of all kinds of clever tricks. Stories are connected at the most extraordinary moments, solutions come from unexpected corners and the most unlikely possibility happens. Inside Man is also full of tricks like this. An example is a way in which the storylines in England and America are brought together. In these kinds of stories, it is always important to balance exactly on that edge of credibility and implausibility. Unfortunately, things sometimes go the wrong way and the storyline sometimes goes off the rails. This is very clear, for example, in the storyline surrounding Harry's wife.

Although Inside Man sometimes lacks an intelligent and believable story, there is still plenty to enjoy. The series has a talented cast that pulls out all the stops. I certainly wouldn't call Tucci's character the new Hannibal Lecter, but he sure is charming and a joy to watch. His dry observations and interactions with fellow inmate Dillon (Atkins Estimond, Hightown) are fantastic every episode. The game between Tennant and Wells is also enjoyable. Both characters want to do what they think is right, but are forced to make questionable moral choices in the process. That transition from light to dark is subtle, but excellent.

David Tennant, Dolly Wells and Stanley Tucci are fantastic protagonists

The series sets a good atmosphere. The intro music that you hear at the beginning of each episode immediately puts you in the right mood. The song God's Gonna Cut You Down is a classic gospel song and became famous when Johnny Cash made a cover of it. A version of John Grant was used for the series and it works very well. The song fits perfectly with the themes that are incorporated into the series. Furthermore, the series has enough tension, and especially the last episode leaves you on the edge of your seat.

Although Steven Moffat has not quite succeeded in presenting an intelligent and believable storyline in my opinion, there is still more than enough to enjoy. David Tennant, Dolly Wells and Stanley Tucci play wonderful roles and the series is very exciting at times. Although the storyline is more or less completed, Moffat leaves room for a possible sequel. And I may be one of the people watching that follow-up if it were to be made.