Garrow's Law: Series 3

BBC says no more Garrow's Law, which is inexplicable!
"Garrow's Law" is so interesting. It boggles the mind when you watch the cases (especially in the first series) and think, wait a minute, they can't do that! - when, of course, they can, because there was no adversarial judicial system as we are used to. And because being part of the nobility, even a small part, used to make you immune. Each episode stars a new case, and all of them are based on real cases tried in England during the time period.

The characters are great, and knowing it's based on real-life makes it even better. But it is the scripts and cases that keep me coming back for more.

The reasons given for axing "Garrow's Law" don't seem adequate to a fan. See the RadioTimes on-line article I copied at the end of this review. But, alas, Series 3 is the last we'll see of William Garrow, played with stubborn high-mindedness by Andrew Buchan. Garrow (the real Garrow) was called to the Bar in 1783, and made his name as counsel for the defence (Brit for...

UK historical courtroom drama
Based on reality. Historically keen. One plot connects 4 episodes. Each episode also has a challenging court/social issue of the period. Andrew Buchan (Return to Cranford) is a convincing Garrow (1760-1840). Southouse (Alun Armstrong -New Tricks, Little Dorrit) is back as law mentor. Rupert Graves (Forsyte Saga) continues as Sir Arthur. Returned are Lyndsey Marshal, Aidan McArdle, and Michael Culkin, all having been in every previous Garrow's Law episode.

SUBTITLES for each episode as well as the behind the scenes bonus, filmed in the Scottish location studio. It's a brilliant third series, in my opinion, and my wife's, but then we fell in love with the first episode. All 3 series are recommended BBC viewing. Costumes/sets and atmosphere are believable. Even some of the dialogue was taken from court records, I heard on the bonus.

1 "Insanity Plea" Mad or murderer? Garrow tries to prove the failed suicidal assassin a lunatic but that even riles King Go. III, not...

Garrow's Law
Recently the first series of "Garrow's Law" (set in the 1780s at London's Old Bailey) was shown on commercial television in Australia without any mention of the later series, so I bought all three from Amazon. It turns out to be one of the best costume dramas to come out of the UK in years. All the court cases are horribly true. For those of us lucky enough to live under a legal system derived from England can see that some things have improved in 200 years. This is not a documentary of course, but a cracking drama lead by Andrew Buchan and Alun Armstrong. Watching Mr Buchan weep for a little boy his character has failed to save from the gallows is something never to forget.
The series is also remarkably funny with Alun Armstrong getting the best lines: " Well, you have made an enemy of the Attorney General, so there is some progress". Don't miss this.

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