Ruth Rendell Mysteries – Simisola/Road Rage
Picture: C
Sound: C+ Extras: C- Episodes: C+
Another detective series throws its hat into the ring of
mystery TV shows and this time; it is Chief Inspector Wexford (George Baker) in
The Ruth Rendell Mysteries. Two
telefilms are included in this first set on 2 DVDs. Simisola is about a murder that seems to be racially
motivated, but something more seems to be at hand, while Road Rage is
actually about murder as contractors and environmentalists battle over the
woods. In both cases, the mysteries are
not that great and the attempt to interject politics and social issues is very
awkward.
Made in 1996 and 1997 respectively, the shows are just not
that god at a time when the genre on TV was being overdone and usually in
haphazard ways like this. In this case,
it is much more melodrama and police procedural than detective mystery and the
teleplays are almost condescending in their approach, if unintended. Add the soft and color poor 1.33 X 1 image
with the fair Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo with no surrounds and few toss-away text
extras and you can just skip this set.
- Nicholas Sheffo
