“The Great Train Robbery.” / “The Pembrokeshire Murders.”

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“The Great Train Robbery” (Britbox) British historical true crime series. It tells the story of the Great Train Robbery on 8 August 1963, first from the perspective of the robbers, and then from the perspective of the police. 



       The heist (during and after) had the trappings of a full movie feature, with its nervous excitement and cocky grit. Yet this is only a 2-part series. Episode one, “A Robber's Tale, details the organization of and successful completion of the robbery. Episode two, “A Copper's Tale,” follows the police investigation into the crime and subsequent arrest of many of the perpetrators.

       So if you prefer a weekend respite that isn't so mentally taxing as an 8-episode series with overstretched meanderings and soap-operatic backstories, this short fare is your bag. 

       By the way, I dig the music direction by Paul Englishby and Glenn Gregory. Hip and groovy that melded pretty cool with the 60s-styled treatment of the entire series. And it feels refreshing to watch a true crime feature where no one was killed in the commitment of the robbery, except with the injury to the train driver. These criminals didn't kill anyone. 🎥👍📽


“The Pembrokeshire Murders” (Britbox) British true crime drama based on the Pembrokeshire murders by Welsh serial killer John Cooper.



       Plot: In 2006, newly promoted Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins decided to reopen two unsolved 1980s murder cases linked with a string of burglaries. New advances in technology for forensic DNA analysis, witness reports and artists impressions of the suspect led to Dyfed-Powys Police reviewing a 1989 episode of Bullseye, which led to the serial killer (Mr Cooper) finally being caught.

       This 3-part series focused on DS Wilkins’ (re)investigation of the killer while he is in jail (and released, then arrested again) or John's connection with another crime/s. As Mr Wilkins, Luke Evans is a bit dry, lifeless and so unexciting. Sure, the role calls for an ice-cold cop, glued to this job, but still, for the purpose of cinematic reading, Luke is uninteresting.

       The more compelling performance is delivered by Keith Allen as John Cooper, solid and consistent but largely calculated, firm, and non-hysterical. Plus Caroline Berry as Pat Cooper (John’s self-sacrificing wife) and Oliver Ryan, the mentally-tortured son Andrew. Both channeled agony within without overplaying their emotion. 🎥💻📽


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