Silk-Series 3 (2014)

This review is sponsored by

BUY IT

General		Extras
Category	Drama	Main Menu Audio & Animation
Rating
Year Of Production	2014
Running Time	354:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered Dual Disc Set	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Catherine Morshead Michael Offer Peter Hoar Alice Troughton
Studio Distributor	Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Maxine Peake Rupert Penry-Jones Neil Stuke Philip Davis
Case	Amaray-Transparent-Dual
RPI	$39.95	Music	Dru Masters

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 2.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     Not to be mistaken for the recent film of the same name, Silk is a BBC television drama series set in a barrister chambers in the English legal system. It is somewhat similar to both Rumpole of the Bailey and North Square. Probably more like the second than the first, especially considering that Rupert Penry-Jones played a leading character in both North Square and this series. This is the third and last series of the show which concluded in a storm of controversy from viewers in the UK. Was it a good idea or a really bad one, viewers are split on the topic. In my view, it doesn't completely make sense but is also a thought provoking and intriguing way to conclude.

     The lead character is this series is a female criminal law barrister, Martha Costello (Maxine Peake) who is one of the senior barristers in the chambers. She runs a line between acting like a barrister and caring more about her cases than her colleagues. Now at the beginning of series 3 she has been a QC or 'silk' for a while and her colleague/possibly lover Clive Reader (Penry-Jones) missed out. Their chief clerk who runs the office and ensures they are kept busy with legal work is Billy Lamb (Neil Stuke) who also does a fine line in manipulation of his barristers. Each episode generally includes one free standing legal case in which one or more of them represents a client or prosecutes. Some new characters are introduced in the series including a new office manager and the drama is driven by the individual cases but also plots which run across the six episodes such a fatal illness, romance, a new young barrister's sexual harassment claims and more. This season continues to be focused on the three leading characters, their relationships and challenges. The cases are gritty and interesting including an old friend of Martha accused of murder, a terrorism extradition case and the son of the head of chambers being accused of murdering a policeman.

     This is an entertaining legal drama with some interesting character interplay and intrigues to add to the mix. This third season is good quality drama and it is a shame that the show has now concluded.

     Recommended for fans of the legal drama genre.

Video

     The video quality is very good.

     The series is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio which is the original aspect ratio. It is 16x9 enhanced.

     The picture was quite clear and sharp throughout although was affected by some mild graininess. Shadow detail was quite good.

     The colour is very good with no obvious issues to report.

     Other than those mentioned above the only artefact was some minor aliasing which was more significant in the final episode.

     There are subtitles in English for the Hearing Impaired which were clear and easy to read.

    There is no obvious layer change during the episodes.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     The audio quality is good.

     These discs contain an English soundtrack in Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo. The sound is obviously quite front focused.

     Dialogue was generally easy to understand throughout although the subtitles were useful.

     The music sounds good and fits the show well.

     The surround speakers and subwoofer were not used.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Menu

    The menu featured music and motion.

    This show is available in the UK in the same format.

    The video quality is very good.

    The audio quality is good.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall