REVIEW: Innocent, Series 1 Episode One

 REVIEW: Innocent, Series 1 Episode One

One of the unique aspects of ITV's anthology series Innocent is that it starts in an unusual place in the story. Normally you would see the investigation which leads to the person being arrested. Here, however, we start from the person who was found guilty being released on a technicality. This is something that adds a unique flavour to the series, and sets it apart from the other mystery dramas on the television.

The first series revolves around a guy called David Collins (Lee Ingleby), who was arrested and served seven years in prison for the murder of his wife. I knew from The A Word that Lee Ingleby is a brilliant actor, but here he really does excel in the role.  Lee Ingleby brings so much passion and command to his speech as he faces the press upon being acquitted, declaring the initial verdict to have been a mistake, and vowing to bring the people to justice who lied and set him up during his initial arrest. 

David goes to live with his brother Phil (Daniel Ryan), and I really like their dynamic. They're brothers who clearly have a very strong connection, and you can sense how much Phil cares about David. He's David's one and only ally in a world where his friends and family have mostly turned against him, and the one person he can turn to whilst his world is turned upside down. This is an important character to have in a screenplay like this, because it gives someone for our lead to talk to, and tell us his thoughts about the recent events in his life.

David certainly doesn't do himself any favours though. It fast becomes evident that he has this violent streak, as he punches his daughter-in-law's godfather Tim (Matthew Flynn) in the face and pins him in the corner for not believing in his innocence. It's a scene that reveals a lot about his character's current mental state, how much it is stressing the guy out and bringing him to breaking point, and it really does sell the years of hell this man has been placed in. He's got all this anger built up from his time inside, and it has clearly played havoc with his mind.

The sister of David's wife, Alice Moffatt (Hermione Norris), seems unusually certain on the idea that David did kill Tara. Alice and her husband Rob (Adrian Rawlins) appear quite suspicious characters, as their situation is oddly convenient. They're unable to conceive, but Tara's murder along with David's wrongful arrest meant they were able to get the kids always wanted out of default, rather than having to go through the process of adoption. The screenplay does a really good job at making you question their motives, and whether they had anything to do with Tara's murder. They seem like prime suspects, although a part of me wonders if it's too obvious for them to have any sort of involvement. 

We also get a really strong idea of how much it's affecting the kids, Rosie (Eloise Webb) and Jack (Fionn O'Shea). Poor Rosie seems utterly terrified that her mother's killer is still out there, and Jack is totally distraught by his Dad's letter from prison protesting his innocence. It's a good reminder that a situation like this would affect the kids more than anyone else, as they're the ones who are being left without a parental figure. Alice may have lost a sister, but Rosie and Jack have left their Mum, and are also much younger than Alice, so it's harder for them to cope on an emotional level. 

If anyone's going to find out the truth, it seems like it might just be DI Cathy Hudson (Angel Coulby). She seems determined to discover what really happened, as she meets with David and asks him to think over what happened that night which could clear his name. Cathy's a really likeable presence, as she seems genuine in her desire to want to help David despite believing he is the one responsible for Tara's death. She's honest and upfront with him, but she's also dedicated to her job and the investigation.

The episode ends with David revealing to his former best friend Tom (Elliot Cowan) that he knows how he had an affair with his wife, and wondering if he could have been the one to kill Tara. It's quite a bombshell reveal as it gives a potential motive for Tom to be the killer, whilst also not totally removing the possibility that David could actually still be the killer all along. Both men would have had motives to do the dirty work, even if David may be convinced that he is innocent of performing the act of murder. Then again, it could be that neither are the killers. There's plenty of directions this early into the series that the show could take.

Overall, Innocent's first episode is an excellent opener to the series. It establishes the premise well, and lays the groundwork for the episodes to follow. Lee Ingleby is a strong casting choice, and gives a great delivery as David Collins. It will be interesting for sure to find out who Tara's killer actually is, as there's plenty of suspects already for who the murderer could be.

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What are your thoughts on Innocent's first episode? Let me know in the comments section.