Firstly, my usual precursor when covering any adapted material. My previews will also not be revealing any big spoilers outside of the preview material already available, but as ever with adaptations please do take care when reading any comments below as some may be talked about. I will also ask that people use the spoiler tags when talking about future things in the books please, so others are able to decide if they want to read the spoilers or not. Thanks!
Last week’s opening episodes covered the beginnings of In the Woods, the first novel in the Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French, while introducing a few hints of what’s to come in the second, The Likeness. One of the main themes which I am sure became quickly apparent is that of dual identity, not only in the most obvious way with our main leads Rob/Adam and Cassie/Lexie, but also in how some of the supporting cast are portrayed too. Due to the mysterious nature of past events in Knocknaree woods driving the narrative of the plot forward we have two actors playing the same role in different timelines, yet the secrets these characters are holding onto seems to have had such a significant effect on them. So much so that their teenage personality and appearance are hardly recognisable in their 2006 adult portrayal in some cases.
What on earth happened to make Cathal threaten to kneecap Shane? Just who is it that Shane thinks will rise? Why did Jonathan leave Sandra for Margaret? And, why did Sandra say she doesn’t know the others? So many questions and more about this group of teenagers who Adam and his missing friends, Peter and Jamie, knew back in 1985 that are up in the air after the first episodes last week. Some of them will start to make a bit more sense over these next two episodes, though don’t expect the answers to come together too quickly as we dive even further into Rob’s past to try and solve the murder of Katy Devlin as this is a slow burn towards the end of the series.
We will also get more of The Likeness’ plot starting the creep in over this week’s episodes, though it doesn’t really get going until the cliffhanger of the third episode when the main murder for that case is revealed. Getting to witness some of Cassie’s past is something which I think the show has been missing so far; we have an understanding that the relationship with Rob works because they share a “we survived something we shouldn’t have” moment, but not knowing her actual story has made it a tad difficult at times to get some of her darker humour and brusqueness in certain situations.
The relationship with her old boss, the elusive Frank (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor), is obviously a part of this side of the tale too and although I mentioned last week that Conleth Hill’s O’Kelly is one of my favourite characters, Frank is up there too albeit for completely diverse reasons. He’s a fascinating man; cold and seemingly immoral, with his eye completely and utterly on the goal without much care of who or what stands in his way in order to get there. Yet he does care, in his own way, and he always does the groundwork before getting anyone else involved. He also doesn’t push anyone beyond what they are capable of, nor would he ever put anyone in a position he wouldn’t be prepared to do himself. It’s just that you wouldn’t see that side of him unless he let you get to know him, and he doesn’t want people like O’Kelly getting to know him, which, as you can imagine, causes sparks to fly.
Two characters we will see more of this week are Detectives Sam O'Neill (Moe Dunford) and Quigley (Eugene O'Hare). If you are a fan of the books, you already know that O’Neill has a slightly different introduction here than he does in print, where his father is an influential figure and his appointment to the Murder Squad has already been secured before the Knocknaree case starts. I like how he is working for his own career path instead here though, and Moe brings an extremely lovable side to an already endearing character, though you cannot help wondering how this will be tested considering some of the hints we have seen of Cassie already. O’Hare brings the right amount of wacky to Quigley as to not make him a caricature; I can see how there’s a great detective under the banter and quips he uses almost as a shell of protectiveness against something we’re unfortunately not going to have chance to chip away at during these episodes. I hope that one of the other books in the series is from his point of view as I do want to know his story though.
Episodes 3 and 4 are on BBC One on Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd October at 9pm. Below are some dialogue teasers to see you through until then, if you want to have a go at guessing who said what to whom, I will fill in any correct answers before TX. Also, keep an eye out for Cécile's reviews on the site, we'd love to hear what you think of the show too.
“I want to work Murder. I do for you, you do for me. If I get the job right”
“Sandra Sculley is on her way home. We need to pay her a visit”
“Because they were teenagers. You were Jamie’s best friend. And women…mothers…look at children’s faces differently”
“Try and be a bit discreet, Lexie”
“I’m working a murder case Frank. Katy Devlin, remember?”
“She thinks I’m a bad liar. [they laugh] The state of us. The only ones to get out alive, and try to work out why”
“There is no Lexie. There is just you. There is just you!”
“It’s you isn’t it? Always you. You stole my daughter. You were stealing her to go away. And now you’re stealing her again”
“Are you sure she’s dead. I mean, perhaps there’s the faintest pulse, that anyone else but you would miss. I mean you, a professional, you wouldn’t miss that?”
“This is good, I like this. The way I have to keep turning my head to talk to yous both. Oh, I’m dizzy. I can’t concentrate. My poor neck”
“Yeah fine, I’m exploiting his man crush. So what?”
“Get up, get dressed. There’s a car outside. Get in it, wear something that’ll cover your head. Do it now”
Trailer Teasers
“Maddox, you just say the word and I’ll get you out”
“I’m going to get the truth Margaret. I’m going to get it all”
