Il'accuse* no comments

The Accused is proving to be an interesting journey, whether I decide I like it or not. Last weeks opener started rather slowly, but I swallowed my doubts and persevered - and was glad I did.

Christopher Eccleston starred as Billy (not to be confused with Roger Pack-Lloyd in Survivors): a man who, with the best of intentions, committed himself to spending a lot of money, only to have the rug pulled out from under him. Circumstances offered him a way out, with luck seemimgly on his side and so, understandably, he went for it. Then it all went pear-shaped, and he ended up in court with no support.

In a sense he was only guilty of human weakness in an awkward situation, but Eccleston played the character so deftly that I found that I didn't like him and couldn't sympathise. Fine impartial juror I'd be! (To be fair to the judicial system, the jurors don't get to know the defendant - probably just as well.)

This week's was trumpeted as starring Mackenzie Crook, so I was a bit surprised when the story centered around a pair of raw-recruit friends instead. The stories don't reveal what the accused is accused of, (which gave a surprise ending to last week) but it was increasingly obvious what the crime would be, but with a nice twist anyway.

McGovern (who previously worked with Eccleston on Cracker) has himself been accused of "selling out the British Army" with this story. I'm not convinced - the ideas that soldiers have a terrible job and people who kill for a living aren't always nice will only be a surprise to the totally näive.

And McKenzie Crook's seasoned soldier character, a pragmatist par excellence, whilst being more wholly horrible than Eccleston's, I find myself liking. Don't call me as a character witness, either . . .


* or whatever "J'accuse" is when someone else does it. Pardon my French.