Helen Mirren is back as Superintendent Jane Tennison, and she's back in London. We don't know how she transferred back, after her previous stint in Manchester, but seven years have gone by. Now, Tennison has reached the 30 year mark in her career and is facing retirement. Her superiors would like nothing better if she did and her subordinates are itching to move ahead. Some, like Chief Superintendent Larry Hall, last seen as DI Larry Hall in Prime Suspect 3, have passed her by. Tennison is feeling a bit insecure and takes over an investigation from a subordinate to prove to herself that she's still got the touch.
Spoilers: The case Tennison commandeers involves the brutal torture and murder of a young Bosnian immigrant. She narrows down the suspects to a Serbian security guard, thanks to input form the dead woman's sister. It seems they were witnesses to a massacre during the war, 10 years before, and this man let them escape alive. However, he has alibis that prove true.
Tennison begins looking elsewhere and discovers that the interpreter brought in to help the suspect and police seems to have a connection to the suspect, aside from their nationality. In the interim, the sister is executed by the recently released suspect. Thanks to a tip off, the police capture him alive. He admits to both murders, even though evidence proves he couldn't have murdered the first woman.
Tennison defies her superiors and travels to Bosnia to uncover the truth about the past massacre and the true identity of the interpreter. She returns to London, ready to arrest the man, when the government comes calling. It seems that this man is a mole, infiltrating the Serbian community to expose bigger war criminals. The government is aware of his past and is covering for him. Tennison is threatened with serious repercussions if she pursues the case, using the information the government reveals.
Tennison confides in her estranged father, who tells her that, although he hasn't seen eye-to-eye with her, he's always been proud that she has had convictions and knows she will do what is right. He proceeds to relate a tale to her, about his time as an ambulance driver in WWII and his introduction to Belsen Concentration Camp. Tennison resolves to bring this murderer to justice.
Risking all, Tennison brings down the interpreter, exposing his true nature to his wife, the government agent, and to himself. If she's going to end her career, Tennison is going out fighting for what she believes in.
Mirren is fantastic as ever. Tennison is filled with character flaws and Mirren seems to take pleasure in them. Tennison has championed women in the police force, but she shows resentment to a young officer who wants both a career and a family. Tennison had to scarifice family for the sake of her career. She is uncomfortable around her own father. She has to wear reading glasses, but doesn't want to update the prescription. She is still fighting the tobacco demon. Her relationships still end badly. However, her sense of justice is as strong as ever.
Frank Finlay has a small, but pivotal role as Tennison's father. He can see the discomfort in his daughter and still can't relate to her. However, he is able to inspire her with his tale of horror from his youth. After coming face-to-face with the Holocaust, he never wanted to be involved in anything big again. He hid in his small world of job and family. But, her recognizes his daughter is different; she has to confront the evils of society. She won't hide. It would have been nice to see more of Finlay, but he makes the most of his small moments.
All of the actor are first rate and the characters come alive. Even London is presented as a character in this piece. If there is a flaw, it's that little time is spent on Tennison's journey from the last series to this one. We never find out what happened after she uncovered her boss' complicity with the activities of "the Street." How did she get a posting back in London, after making enemies in very high places? It doesn't affect the story, but, for long-time viewers, it does hover in the back of your mind. Also, it seems a bit unlikely that Larry Hall would jump 3 grades in rank in 10 years. I'm no expert, but it would seem that there would be a minimum time in rank before an officer would be eligible for promotion. Hall could have had connections, but they weren't evident in the third series. Again, it is a minor point.
Catch this one; you'll be glad you did.
