paudie Prime Suspect 4 was a bit of a mixed bag so it is great to report that PS5 is of a very high standard.Having blotted her copybook with the top brass in the Metropolitan Police force DCI Tennison finds herself in Manchester and before long is trying to solve a gangland murder in a flat complex. Suspects are hard to come by but she is convinced a local drug baron is involved somehow.I prefer the longer format as it allows some lengthy scenes where Tennison and her team of detectives try to get information from a suspect or a witness. Tennison is well able to play good cop and bad cop, sometimes in the same interview! She is also not afraid to show her sympathy for innocent victims and their families and her contempt for the criminal and the corrupt. She also has to deal with the varied personalities of her new team of detectives.Top quality criminal drama yet again from the Prime Suspect series.

Wirefan122 Did all the reviewers watch this movie? Normally this series is exceptional. The acting is first rate and is here also.Jane Tennison is demoted and goes to a district away from London and encounters a murder almost immediately. She is put in charge and meets the usual standoffish bunch of detectives who don't like outsiders and apparently have heard of her reputation of not sitting still (very sexist). She doesn't care and charges into the investigation.The plot involves a drug kingpin who also murders whoever stands in his way. A thoroughly despicable character who toys with the police and is always one step ahead of them. This plot is quite well done until the last 30 minutes or so. Talk about frustrating! Tennison knows there is a mole in the department and when she finds out who it is she sets up an interview with a witness knowing full well that the police department leak will give the info to The Street (the villain), who will of course then go after the witness's girlfriend.It's frustrating to watch as you realize that no police were posted to the girlfriend's house to watch her. So the villain goes and gets her and terrorizes her and is eventually saved. How hard would it have been to post a unmarked car or something like that? Sorry but the previous 4 installments were topnotch and this one was too until the wheels fell off.

grendelkhan Spoilers:At the end of Prime Suspect 4, Jane Tennison was subjected to disciplinary action for disobeying orders, despite her actions resulting in the safe rescue of an abducted woman and the capture of a serial killer. Her enemies used these events to destroy her career in the Metropolitan Police. However, she seemed to develop a personal relationship that could withstand her inner demons.As this series unfolds, Tennison is starting a new job, in exile, in Manchester. No mention is made of her previous relationship. What she finds is a depressed city riddled with crime, in the form of a young ganglord, "the Street". The Street seems untouchable, but Tennison vows to bring him down. She also encounters a young boy, Cameron, who wants law and order. Meanwhile, Tennison's new boss seems to appreciate her skills, as well as her body. Tennison enters into an affair, despite their professional relationship and the fact that he is married.Tennison uncovers a world of street violence, where drugs are mixed in private homes and criminals are cheered by the downtrodden. Her police team seems ineffective, and possibly corrupt. One of them is a promising detective, who is much like Tennison. She immediately finds herself at odds with Tennison, who she respects, but can't understand.Ultimately, this series comes across more like an old gangster movie than the police drama we've come to expect. The Street seems too invincible, for someone operating independently. Added to this is the intriguing, but implausible idea that the Chief Superintendent is in league with the criminal. Also, the affair with Tennison seems out of character for her. Although Tennison has been involved with police officers before, it seems that she would be unlikely to further jeopardize her career by sleeping with her boss. Maybe, at this point, she feels she has nothing to lose, but I don't think so. Again, I think this series has suffered from the absence of Lynda La Plante. The story is still engaging and the performances are good, but the result is less satisfying. Still, this series, even when stumbling, is at a far higher plane than its contemporaries.

i_eat_coathangers Prime Suspect 5 is as close as I have seen to outshining the original (though truth be known I have not see 2 or 3). The first thing we notice about PS5 is that Jane Tennison has a new hairdo, and has been moved to a different area (she's there to terrorise those men at Manchester now), and there is a line in the beginning of the film that captures the mood of the station perfectly:"That bloody Jane Tennison, she'll be storming into your nic, the balls of your best officers trailing from her jaws, spraying people with claret, calling people masons, threatening resignation. Well I just wanted to let you know I'm not a complete maniac." And this line is said by Tennison herself!!!Jane Tennison's investigations lead her this time into the world of organised crime and drugs, when she goes after a man known as "the street". What makes this miniseries so interesting is that it keeps you gripped until the very last frame, especially when you find out the person who is leaking information to the bad guys is ****************** (thought I was going to tell you didn't you?)Twists and turns in the plot, an excellent storyline and excellent performances on every part (though Mirren seems to make them all fade into the background with her superior acting ability - I'm a biased member of the HMAS, and I'm the biggest fan of Helen Mirren to ever be, especially because I'm 15!!).Thankyou, Helen, Thankyou, Lynda LaPlante, and thankyou, channel seven (for actually showing the series - prime suspect is scarcely available on video to buy or hire over here in Oz) - but I'm still waiting for 2 & 3!!!! .....you fink whateva you want babyluv, whateva tickle ya fancey, whateva lift ya dress......9 out of 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!