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Virdee… DCI Virdee.
The opener begins with our hero cop, Harry (Staz Nair – Rebel Moon), chasing after a baddie, Mirror’s Edge-style, even going into a train tunnel, although it does get a bit sensationalist when said nefarious type, Novak Rexa (Lewis Goody) – who sounds like he should be a Bond villain – gets his foot stuck in the train track, just as the 8.15 from Manchester is on the way.
Whether or not he makes it, you’ll have to find out for yourself.
Ever TV cop has a hard luck story, and for this one, the billing states he was disowned by his family over a controversial marriage, because he’s a Sikh man who married a Muslim woman. Well, families can behave like complete families at the best of times, and that will never change. Plus, he’s a big boy, they’re both happy, and in 2025, they can do what they like! If the parents don’t approve, stuff ’em! Religion is a load of made-up nonsense! Let’s move on.
Mixed in with Novak’s case is a missing teenager. Who knows what and when? Well, the opening is achingly slow. Plus, it doesn’t really matter what his background is, since at some point, he’ll be breaking protocol of calling for backup by wandering into a lockup on his own, and going toe-to-toe with Meatheads ‘R’ Us.
Add in a number of clichés from any number of dramas you’ve seen in your life previously, and while the premise tells us that our lead is “obsessed by the search for a missing teenager”, I’m completely the opposite about watching a second episode.
As for some accurate thoughts on the night when the episode was broadcast…
All episodes are now on the BBC iPlayer.
Virdee begins tonight on BBC1 at 9pm, but isn’t yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD. However, once announced, it will appear on the New DVD Blu-ray 3D and 4K releases UK list.
However, you can buy the novels.
Series Directors: Mark Tonderai, Milad Alami, Mo Ali
Producers: Stella Nwimo, Himesh Kar
Novel/Writer: Amit Dhand
Music: James Everingham, Hans Zimmer
Cast:
Harry Virdee: Staz Nair
DS Clare Conway: Elizabeth Berrington
Enzo Tobin: Tomi May
Saima Virdee: Aysha Kala
Ranjit Virdee: Kulvinder Ghir
DC Kalil Amin: Danyal Ismail
Riaz Hyatt: Vikash Bhai
Tara Virdee: Nina Singh
Nadia Ansari: Hussina Raja
Vasil Shala: Andi Jashy
Jyoti Virdee: Sudha Bhuchar
Rebecca Armitage: Elaine Tan
Viktor: Connor Horrigan
Young Harry Virdee: Tobias Jowett
Alastair Boardman: Jack Archer
Novak Rexa: Lewis Goody
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.