Cormoran Strike (Tom Burke) may seem like a different and new kind of detective/PI but under the surface and visibly too it's nothing that we haven't seen before. Modern day 'Sherlock' too! Now I know I tweeted that as well but it sooo was!! There were many scenes/locations, sets, which were too similar to say it wasn't just a coincidence, even the end music was almost similar sounding too.
We've got a regular cafe where he hangs out: aka Speedy's. Then there was that restaurant too, especially similar to the one where Sherl and Watson first went to when they were chasing the taxi in the Pilot A Study in Pink. Then there was the coat, yes no detec is complete without obligatory overcoat, do they still call them overcoats. Even his office screamed Sherlock and he even sleeps on the couch there too, which is actually meant to be a camper bed as his sister referred to it. Still there was a couch involved.
Then we frequented Belgravia/Westmister where we chanced upon Irene Adler's house, or close enough to be the same from the outside. As well as Lula's apartment which was akin to the one in The Blind Banker when the man supposedly was meant to have committed suicide too. Of course Lula didn't kill herself, why would she, she had so much going. Not to mention meeting Tony (Martin Shaw) in a restaurant, Sherlock as waiter with 'tache sprang to mind. Then the CCTV footage when Corm when to the apartments again, that was definitely Sherlock many times over. And let's not forget the swimming pool and his first encounter with Moriarty! Do I call this a Cormoran v Sherlock review or something? Ha.
It has its quirky moments and the number of times he removes his prosthetic leg and how it pains him still, so it doesn't come in handy for chasing people, re Rochelle. Well he shouldn't have shouted to her when he found her. If she was hiding, why make a phonecall and speak that loudly anyway!! As well as requiring several meals a day. He eats, whereas Sherlock didn't, not in the early days at least and yes I was going to call Robin (Holliday Grainger) a "Mrs Hudson" cos in many ways, she is (and she pouts plenty). Especially when she made the coffee and cleaned up the place. She is a PA after all and not a fellow detective (yet). Just to make it topical, Corm is the son of a rock star and his mother committed suicide. Thou it's not spelled out straightaway. Not even when Uncle Tony remarks about it, trying to threaten him to get off the case. Mentioning his lack of funds, his leg and his mother too. he's not too bothered about derogatory remarks made towards him, but no one says anything bad about his mother.
Also he has an ex-fiance, Charlotte, who keeps calling him. That introductory scene with Robin when he nearly dropped her down the stairs, was going to say she was standing too close to them from the outset! Huh, predictability! Corm is hired by John (Leo Bill) brother of an old friend of his (small world) to tie up loose ends and ensure it was suicide, but obviously it won't be. Robin is a uni drop-out, as is he and she searches Corm on the Net for his background. Turns out he was in the Royal Military Police.
Lula (Elarica Johnson)was a model, had everything going for her and everyone knew her. Leaving Corm with plenty of suspects, of course there is one that stands out and many of us have seen this but a lot haven't. So I'll leave my theories and deductions to the third ep, but pretty sure who it is now. JK Rowling as Richard Galbraith really needs to come up with something that hasn't been done before. Doubt many would've watched this if it hadn't been for Tom Burke (Athos from The Musketeers) playing the title role!)
Episode 1.2
This episode also included the introduction of Corm's half sister who wanted to take him home with her and well, 'mother' him in many ways, as if he can't cope with the real world, it's not exactly like he's got some from of disorder. Aside from his debt and the pain, he was managing quite well. Also bringing up the subject of their mother and how it perhaps wasn't suicide. But she does get to give him a lift, as he questions the people who worked with Lula, including fellow model and friend, Ciara (Amber Anderson). Whom he then had a one night stand with, whilst finding out the Guy Some bags also contained hidden pockets beneath the lining, thus giving ample opportunity to hide anything really. Giving him the idea of the will in the next episode. Of course the leather gloves were another clue and Evan (Bronson Webb) just happened to have some, before he found out Corm was accusing him and lost it.
Of course at this point, Corm still suspected Tony as the killer, as he took photos of him with Tansy (Tara Fitzgerald) who's unhappy in her marriage to a movie producer. Yes the suspect list was plenty in this, but the killer would be much more closer to home. And how they kept returning to the vacant apartment and the flowers, in the police photos but then went missing from her place.
Robin heads to the dress shop Lula frequented with her friend Rochelle (Tezlym Senior-Sakutu) and Robin managed to try on a bright green dress when Corm happened to turn up! He later buys it for her as bonus when he gets into the money. Robin acting like a model too in that mirror. Finding out that one of the shop girls taped their conversation until Lula found out. Also how Rochelle knew what was going on and was actually blackmailing the killer who killed her too. Corm being too late to save her and scolding his hands in the boiling water in the bath tub to boot.
As for the part with the CCTV footage, strange the killer didn't know it was there, well obviously he did cos he wore the hoodie, but still didn't manage to disguise his posture and of course the shoes. Yes you fool, your lanky body and your shoes gave you away! There another suspect caught before the end of the show by yours truly. But why did Corm imply he knew who it was, when clearly he didn't until the last episode, unless he was cunningly keeping it under his coat until he got evidence and found the will.. It was John after all, her adoptive brother. Obviously he had no brains, why bring Corm in to investigate when the police had already ruled Lula's death a suicide. He wanted the will no doubt, cos he didn't want her share left to her real brother. Again about money. Especially since Lady Bristow (Sian Phillips) was about to cark it. Reminiscing about the movies and her love for Lula and her other son.
Episode 1.3
Not only was the motive money but turns out John wasn't loved by his mother, not as much as his brother was, in terms of being the favourite and continually berated for his looks etc. Thus leading him to also kill his brother and keeping the bell from the bicycle. Corm gently telling him that leather is porous and forensics will make light work of it. Before John starts a fight with the bottle he bought for him. Knew Robin would return anyway. See in series 2, she again comes to his rescue of sorts, as she nabs the culprit in that too.
As Corm's search leads him back to Guy (Kadiff Kirwin) the fashion designer, as he recognizes his hoodie and gloves which haven't been released yet, but Lula had them. Apparently Tony always suspected something wasn't quite right with John, but he didn't want to hurt his sister, not in her condition.
We also got some insight to how Corm lost his leg in Afghanistan after being ambushed. Which seemed quite preventable, how were they duped by that broken down truck. Showing also how he was going to be shot by the boy with the gun, who hears the helicopter, winks at him and runs. Corm was former military police so his background would've kept him in good stead as a PI, not much else he could do. Particularly with his famous father and his mother being a model too. Having his own personality, especially the hangovers, which were frequent, and his love for food, we saw him eat quite a bit. Tom Burke really got into this character and brought him to life like an impressionist painting, keeping you guessing and working out what he's really like; lots of layers, secrets and personal traits we have yet to learn about him.
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