Blood Strangers

Drama that seemingly having everything going for it, ie, a strong story, a good cast, interesting locations and adequate direction, falls into that "so what" territory.

The relationship between the mother and the liaison copper sent to help her is the guts of the story but this is where it seems to lose impetus. Although nearly losing his job and his family over the emotional tsunami caused by Caroline Quentin the Liaison Officer stays calm and reasonable throughout where one is longing for him to give her a knuckle sandwich or at least a very strong sedative.

Maybe McGann was tired or maybe it's the way it was written but he plays just a shade too detachedn my opinion. Whatever, the clash between her tsunami and his immovable object doesn't make for rivetting television. And the big revelation at the end (who killed the daughter) seems strangely muffled and very rushed in the context of the entire plot.

I kept wishing Caroline Quentin's part was being played by Julie Walters; then you'd have had sparks flying.