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On Television |
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Isn't Catching |
 Robson Green of 'Trust' |
Nobody to like in 'Trust,'
the new British law series
By DONNA J. PLESH
of TheColumnists.com
Ambition. A good thing in and of itself, but it can
be blinding to all else.
A prime example of blind ambition is the character of Steven
Bradley in BBC-America's new drama series "Trust."
Bradley (played by Brit TV star Robson Green) is a partner
in a high-powered London law firm. When we first meet him, he's
just spent 72 hours on the job--give or take an hour for
a catnap. His loyalty to his legal career and his legal team
is unquestioned. His loyalty and devotion to his wife and two
young sons is questionable.
Bradley's "Trust" team includes Annie (Sarah Parish),
a working mother having problems juggling her legal career and
home life; Martin (Neil Stuke), an easy-going openly gay associate;
Ashley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) a bright associate with a promising
career and an eye for the ladies; and Maria (Eva Birthistle),
Bradley's trainee assistant.
Keeping a lordly eye over the activities is the firm's owner,
Alan Cooper-Fozard (Ian McShane), known as the PG (The Power
and the Glory) to the associates.
"Trust" can be compared, in some ways, to "L.A.
Law," which set the gold standard for modern TV legal dramas.
But "Trust" is much flashier looking and fast-paced,
and the characters are not all that likeable. Whereas on
"L.A. Law," aside from the sleazy, skirt-chasing
Arnie Becker, most of the characters were likeable.
For a show to hold my interest for any period of time, it has
to have at least one character I like. And the problem I have
with "Trust" is that I don't like any of the characters.
I'm giving this show a miss.
SOME
GOOD AND BAD NEWS
First the Bad News. Last fall ABC pulled "Karen Sisco"
(hands down the best new drama of the fall TV season) off the
schedule and promised it would return in the spring. As late
as mid-January, ABC executives told critics at the winter Television
Critics Association press tour in Los Angeles that the show would
be back. As they say, talk is cheap. "Sisco" has been
canceled and it's unlikely any of the remaining three unaired
episodes will ever air. Too bad. Quality is apparently not Job
One at ABC when it comes to drama, since at this writing the
network still has the dreadful "10-8" and "Threat
Matrix" on the schedule. Go figure.
Now for the Good News. BBC-America's fine military cop drama
"Red Cap" is back with new episodes. If you haven't
seen the show yet, give it a watch. It airs Monday nights and
stars Tamzin Outhwaite as maverick military investigator Sgt.
Jo
McDonagh. Outhwaite, probably best known to viewers as
Mel on the Brit soap "EastEnders," is terrific in the
lead role. Check it out.
Still more Good News! Season five of "The Sopranos"
kicks off March 7 on HBO. And, according to series creator David
Chase, there will be a sixth--and final--season.
©2004 by Donna J. Plesh. The photo of Robson Green is courtesy
BBC America.
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