What Remains (BBC, 2013)

Should I have taken note of the reviews that listed all the cliches this series had? A retiring detective. A now-dessicated corpse. Said retiring detective unwilling/unable to let go of said corpse's case.

Lead David Threlfall certainly held the attention - a great Brit TV face, a nice thoughtful stillness to him that communicates intelligence and steel. The supporting cast - a who's who of Brit TV including Russell Tovey, David Bamber, Indira Varma and Jessica Gunning - do a sterling job despite having roles that seemed to come straight out of Cluedo.

And the series in toto? Starts off as a kinda interesting spin on the reluctantly-retiring-detective trope that slides into two eps of He killed her - no, wait, she did it -, NO WAIT!, finished off by a a jaw-dropping final-quarter-hour climax that leaves you thinking, Where the fuck did that come from? (and not in a good way, either).

Fail.