DVD
Murder Investigation Team
The Complete Series One

Starring: Samantha Spiro and Lindsey Coulson
Eureka Video
RRP: £19.99
EKA50019
Certificate: 15
Available 11 July 2005


Detective Inspector Vivien Friend and Detective Constable Rosie McManus head up the Murder Investigation Team. Each episode begins with the discovery of a body and follows the investigation as it unfolds, with every shred of evidence explored and no stone left unturned as the team put murder under the microscope...

Murder Investigation Team follows the UK's case cracking Metropolitan Police - Elite Special Crimes Unit. I was a little surprised when this review copy landed on my desk with a press release informing me that it was due to be released on 11 July 2005. This is the exact same box set that I originally reviewed back in October of 2004, but was delayed to coincide with the TV broadcasts of the show's second series.

The series, which is a spin-off from The Bill, gets off to an impressive start and this three disc DVD collection contains all seven episodes from the shows first series.

Moving Targets sees sergeant Matt Boyden (who The Bill fans will instantly recognise) and another man both murdered in a drive-by shooting. The police are try to piece together who was the intended target, and who was killed because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The second episode, Daddy's Little Girl, sees the team investigating the murder of a woman whose remains have been found on a building site. There are two clues to her possible identity - a mark on her hand and an operation scar.

For the first few investigations I wasn't overly impressed with Samantha Spiro's acting ability. She seemed very false and I wasn't totally convinced that she had what it took to head up a team as important as this. Thankfully, this is something that gets better as the episodes progress. Also, as we get to learn more about DI Friend's personal background, it becomes apparent why the character is so arrogant. Lindsay Coulson's acting, as DC Rosie McManus, is consistently good throughout the series.

The third episode, Rubbish, is ironically a little weaker than the first two stories. This deals with an emotional subject - the murder of a small child. A painstaking search reveals that the heart has been removed from the boy's body - leading the team to believe that this may be an African ritualistic killing. Partly based on a real event, this story is a little slow and drawn out.

Similarly the fourth episode, Reading, Writing, and Gangbanging, is not as strong as the first two episodes. This sees the Murder Investigation Team called out to a bizarre double murder on a council housing estate. The first is a middle-aged teacher who has fallen from a third floor window, and the second is that of an old homeless man who is found drowned. The two crimes appear unrelated, but on closer inspection they have a common thread.

The fifth episode, Red Heads, opens with the discovery of a body of red-haired housewife. Why has the body been cleaned, inside and out, with bleach? This episode uses some solid forensics and the explanation to tests is extremely thorough.

Lambs to the Slaughter starts with the murder of a pedophile. It looks like the work of vigilantes, until they track down an associate of the dead man. On further investigation the team discover pictures of this associates wife with the pedophile. This is a passable episode, but a little dull in comparison to other episodes here.

Models and Millionaires sees the murder of a model who is married to a rich property developer - when her mutilated body is washed ashore it becomes obvious that her life is far from the idilic image that one would have thought. This is an interesting episode which keeps the viewer guessing until the final moments. Gary Kemp makes an appearance in this episode - and is convincing in his role.

The Bigger the Lie opens when the body of a journalist is found dead in the Bangladeshi Community. This is an excellent episode with which to close the first series.

Extras on this collection are very limited, with just an audio commentary and an interview with Michael McKell.

All in all the first series is extremely enjoyable. Anyone who enjoys crime investigation and police series' should pick this up.

Heather Simpson

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£14.99 (Amazon.co.uk)
   
£14.99 (Blahdvd.com)
   
£14.99 (Moviemail-online.co.uk)

All prices correct at time of going to press.