This is the show I was talking about, you know, the one from the BBC, on Amazon Prime.
My number one criterion for a streaming series is that it holds my attention, that my mind doesn't wander, that I'm immersed in it. And "Silk" delivered on this premise. And I heartily recommend it.
Once again, "Silk" is a legal drama. And that is a time-worn paradigm, something you're familiar with. But unlike American legal dramas "Silk" is focused primarily on the law, what happens in the office and in the courtroom, as opposed to the penumbra, i.e. the sex lives of the characters. The characters in "Silk" are three-dimensional as a result of what they say, that's what sharp writing delivers. As for exactly who they are outside of the office, there's an air of mystery. We know very little about Billy Lamb, the Shoe Lane clerk.
You might know Neil Stuke, who plays Billy Lamb, from "Hijack," the Apple series headlined by Idris Elba. I recommend "Hijack," primarily because Elba is so damn good. I usually roll my eyes when I see a plane in jeopardy film, but this is different. Elba emanates strength, and a degree of omniscience, yet he is not infallible. "Hijack" is not laden with meaning, but it's a good ride, not only a roller coaster, there's an intellectual component. I waited for all the episodes of "Hijack" to be aired before I partook. You want to stay in the mood. A cliffhanger that makes you wait interminably...that's "Dallas," the seventies, and we now live in the third decade of the twenty first century.
Now while I've got you can I crap all over the other Apple series everybody's talking about, "Drops of God"? Phenomenal production values, but the story is shallow. I'm looking for something deeper. I don't want entertainment, something I can instantly forget, but something that sticks with me.
So you probably won't know the lead in "Silk," Maxine Peake, who plays Martha Costello. She was in the U.K. version of "Shameless," and she was actually in an episode of "Black Mirror," which I did not see, but she is not like David Tennant and so many of the English actors that seem to pop up regularly in English series. As a matter of fact, Peake has spent a lot of time on the stage, which translates across the pond to the hoi polloi almost not at all.
Yes, Costello is steely. But she is not one-dimensional, she has a sex life. But she's dedicated to her job. Costello rings true, as opposed to the female lawyers in most American series. You've got to be dedicated to your job to make Silk.
Yes, "Silk." It's the highest rank of English barrister.
You do know that barristers go to court, whereas solicitors do not. However I hear that is changing, that some solicitors can now go to court. But Shoe Lane is just solicitors, and Billy, the clerk, who wheels and deals for cases, sees the firm as representing defendants, as opposed to one that prosecutes. This ultimately becomes a plot point.
Be sure to watch "Silk" with subtitles on. Because you'll get confused. Not only by the language, but by the unfamiliar British legal system.
And there are plot twists, that's the nature of shows like this, but you don't wince when the screw turns.
As far as the other cast members... Rupert Penry-Jones plays Martha's suitemate, Clive Reader. Reader is akin to Bill Clinton, a brilliant lawyer who too often is ruled by the little head and makes bad judgments. He's not constantly crossing the line ethically, but he does stuff we know better not to.
And then there's the younger generation, the pupils. You've seen Tom Hughes in "Victoria." Natalie Dormer was in "Game of Thrones. You might recognize Shaun Evans, I did.
And then there are the other clerks. And ultimately Miranda Raison, who you will recognize from "Match Point," if nothing else, but she does not appear until season three.
Yes, there are three seasons, comprised of six episodes each, all an hour. It's not a huge commitment, then again when it's over you'll be disappointed, you'll hunger for more.
The barristers of Shoe Lane are overworked, and not always prepared. They might have to go to court on a case they've just gotten that morning. But this is the way it is. If you want a better defense, you've got to be able to afford it. Then again, oftentimes the game is more important than the facts. The details might ultimately be irrelevant, it's about telling a story to the jury so you'll win.
"Silk" is not the best TV series I've viewed. Far from it. But it's definitely in that upper echelon of shows worth watching, when it's over you won't feel like you wasted your time.
"Silk" comes with Amazon Prime, so you don't need to subscribe to another streaming service to watch it. And if you don't have Amazon Prime...then you're probably not watching much streaming television to begin with.
We're watching this new Polish series now, which doesn't even have a rating on RottenTomatoes yet. And I don't want to give you any more, because it won't be that hard to guess, and we're only two episodes in, out of eight. I really wanted to write about it last night, because of its visceral quality, but once again, I know in their enthusiasm people would tell me the ending, and I don't want that.
As for RottenTomatoes, there's a great exposé in "New York" magazine's "Vulture":
tinyurl.com/y667ka3v
It's a game, and it can be manipulated. However, I'm less worried about shows that reach my personal threshold of 80% than those that do not. In other words, I'd rather risk a show with a rating higher than 80% to be lousy than one with a lesser percentage being great. And the more reviews there are, the more accurate the number. Yet with many foreign shows, there is no rating at all. But if you've heard about them to begin with, that means someone is championing them. Also, you can always do further research, I do.
So watch "Silk," you'll like it.
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