The actor Éanna Hardwicke and the real Ben Field (right).
Is it possible to "binge watch" a television drama that consists of just four episodes? I am not sure. Anyway if it is possible, I just binge-watched a gripping drama called "The Sixth Commandment" - courtesy of our wonderful BBC.
It was the dramatisation of a real life murder story. The victim was a retired English teacher called Peter Farquhar. He was murdered at his home in Buckinghamshire in 2015 by one of his students - Ben Field.
This wasn't a simple common or garden murder, it involved great cunning and planning and chilling psychological elements of control, exploitation and cruelty. It is also believed that Field murdered one of Peter Farquhar's neighbours - a retired primary school headteacher called Ann Moore-Martin. However, there was insufficient evidence of this to convince the trial jury in Oxford in 2019.
Of course I could easily rabbit on about the plot and bore you to tears but I would rather just say that "The Sixth Commandment" was probably the best show I have seen on television this year. Thoroughly entertaining and rather disturbing too.
It did not give in to sensationalism. The four episodes were subtly constructed and the characters were given depth. A real sense of place was developed. The police enquiry was not slated. It was shown to be thorough, sensitive and professional like the dedicated officers involved.
Dominating the drama is the charismatic figure of Ben Field played quite brilliantly by the Irish actor Éanna Hardwicke. I wouldn't wish to meet him down a dark alleyway - I can tell you. There were other outstanding performances by Timothy Spall as Peter Farquhar, Anne Reid as Ann Moore-Martin and Annabel Scholey as Anne-Marie - Miss Moore-Martin's beloved niece.
Directed by Saul Dibbs and based upon a book by Sarah Phelps, "The Sixth Commandment" shows what is possible in TV drama when talented teams of actors supported by dedicated film crews and support staff come together on suitably funded missions they believe in.
You will be pleased to know that Ben Field was sentenced to life imprisonment in October 2019 with a recommendation that he should serve at least thirty six years.
from Yorkshire Pudding https://ift.tt/jvQDbSJ
