BRITISH TRUE CRIME: “Three Girls.” / “In Plain Sight.” / “Landscapers.”

“Three Girls” (Amazon Prime) British true crime drama. The series is a dramatized version of the events surrounding the Rochdale child sex abuse ring, and describes how the police and the local authorities failed to investigate allegations of child abuse and rape because the victims were perceived as unreliable witnesses and through fear of being accused of racism because of the ethnicity of the perpetrators.

      The Rochdale child sex abuse ring targeted underage teenage girls in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. Nine men were convicted of sex trafficking and other offences including rape, trafficking girls for sex and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child in May 2012. This resulted in Greater Manchester Police launching Operation Doublet and other operations to investigate further claims of abuse. As of January 2024 a total of 42 men had been convicted resulting in jail sentences totalling 432 years. (You may google more info.)

       Although director Philippa Lowthorpe and writer Nicole Taylor were just following the current real life “correctness,” I don't concur with the sweeping identification of the suspects or perpetrators as Asians, and not as British-Pakistanis. This collective branding makes all those from Asia, which is a very diverse continent, sort of feel guilty as well in the eyes of the world. Or such “profiling” via regional ID would coax the ignorant to think that all Asian men are no different from those convicted evil men in the Rochdale case.

       So there, I said it.

       Anyhow, the 3-part series as a series is well-made. Concise, piercing, and tightly edited. Acting is exemplary, especially Maxine Peake as health worker Sara Rowbotham and the three girls, Molly Windsor as Holly Winshaw and Ria Zmitrowicz and Liv Hill as the Bowen sisters Amber and Ruby. 

       If I may though, I wonder why the series didn't include the boys who were also victimized by the sex trafficking ring. 

       Overall, I prefer this “short-length” TV treatment of true crime than the usual elongated features that tend to over-dramatize the case. We get the message so deeply like an emotional dagger to the heart. Truly, a community reminder and family wake-up call. 🎥💻📽

“In Plain Sight” (Britbox) Scottish drama series covering the crimes committed by serial killer Peter Manuel in Lanarkshire, Scotland in the 1950s. The series centers on U.S.-born Mr Manuel a.k.a. “The Beast of Birkenshaw,” who killed at least eight people between 1956 and 1958, and the detective who pursued him to his conviction, William Muncie. Peter taunted his pursuer with messages and even sent him birthday and Christmas cards.

       The series shows us how Law and Justice should operate, carefully strategize, and eventually nail down a suspect despite the disturbing clues that point to Peter Manuel who was “in plain sight.” It would have been easy to arrest the killer but, as we know it, technical mess-ups by detectives and cops weaken or cause defeat tol prosecution. Mr Muncie followed rules and didn't stop until he got the bad dude. 

       Douglas Henshall is William Muncie. We know Mr Henshall as the cool and calculated DI Jimmy Perez in the first 7 seasons of the excellent “Shetland.” Martin Compston is Peter Manuel. Mr Compston is a familiar face in British cinema. He is more known as Steve Arnott in “Line of Duty,” definitely a top 3 best police dramas in my book. 

       With Douglas and Martin as leads, “In Plain Sight” thrills in a “quiet” and subtle way. 🎥💻📽

“Landscapers” (HBO) true crime black comedy drama miniseries, based on the true story of the 1998 murders of William and Patricia Wycherley and stars Olivia Colman and David Thewlis as Susan and Christopher Edwards, the couple behind the murders, as their decade-old crimes are uncovered in 2012.

       The series is clearly showtime royale courtesy of Ms Colman and Mr Thewlis as Susan and Christopher. Impressionist sequences often distract my viewing pleasure but Will Sharpe's deft handling of Ed Sinclair's adventurous script makes the abstract imagery in “Landscapers” a creative bonus.

       And additional kudos to Kate O'Flynn as DC Emma Lancing. Those huge wide-open eyes can do emotional magic. 🎥👍📽