Jack Taylor: The Guards

Thu Feb 21, 9-10.45pm, C5

By David Jenkins Thu Feb 14 2013

Time Out Ratings

Episode one
A regulation policier supercharged with noir-tinged dialogue, some extremely classy performances and an amazing, eccentric sidekick in the form of Ralph Brown’s Sutton, a man who executes his manhunting travails with oddly sadistic glee. Iain Glen, a safe pair of dramatic hands if ever there was one, stars as the ex Garda-turned-weekend gumshoe Jack Taylor, grizzled, charismatic, donkey-jacketed and with something of a penchant for hair-trigger violence.

With a charming brashness that leads him to wander through any open door where he smells trouble, he swiftly finds himself on the trail of a serial killer who’s offing young girls down by the docks. It’s all very clichéd, from the wiseacre patter to the generic chase scene through a strangely empty warehouse. But who’s complaining when the clichés are thrown together with this much tenderness and panache?

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Comments & ratings

(1 rating)

I sometimes wonder if critics have seen the same production as i did. In Jack Taylor episode 1 for example the critic wrote that the central character was " donkey jacketed " In fact throughout the piece much was made of the fact that he was wearing "an all weather Garda coat". As for the rest of the production it WAS cliched and does not really stand up well against several recent ITV productions.

peter herbert Sat Feb 23
Rated as: 3/5
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