As I mentioned earlier, the series is based on the Cormoran Strike books by Rowling. As at late last year, there have been seven novels already published from the planned ten books in the series and BBC has aired five series so far based on the first five titles, The Cuckoo's Calling (2013), The Silkworm (2014), Career of Evil (2015), Lethal White (2018) & Troubled Blood (2020) while the sixth series based on The Ink Black Heart (2022) began filming in February 2024. Each series contains 2 to 4 episodes that are around one hour long with each series focusing on a different crime case. According to fans of the books, the series (which is adapted by Ben Richards and Tom Edge) is quite faithful to the novels which is understandably so since J. K. Rowling also serves as one of the executive producers for the show. But what makes this crime drama so arresting for me are not only the varied and complex cases being investigated but the characters themselves and their relationships which are often flawed, broken and complicated. The series also harkens back to the days of 'old school' detectives who don't usually own high end offices, flashy cars or extended wardrobes but instead focuses on the gritty and realistic day to day workings of a small detective agency which happens to deal with some strangely high profile cases.
In the first episode of The Cuckoo's Calling, we are introduced to Strike, a war veteran turned private investigator and an anti-hero with a heart of gold. At this time, he is at the lowest point in his life. Operating from a small rundown office, broke and having just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and fiancée, he is truly at rock bottom. His situation is made worse by the fact that he lost the lower part of his right leg in Afghanistan and now wears a prosthetic and that he is also the illegitimate son of a famous rock star and a groupie. Unwanted by his father and having lost his mother to a supposed drug overdose at the age of 20, he then lived with his half sister in his uncle and aunty's loving and stable home in Cornwall. The only saving grace in his life besides Robin Ellacott. In the opening scene, we see Robin going to Strike's office to work as a temp however there is a violent fight between Strike and his fiancee, Charlotte, in his office. In the ensuing commotion, Robin nearly gets knocked down the stairs but she is saved by Strike's quick reaction. From this point, they both eventually form a close bond and friendship that leads to a business partnership which is largely attributed to Robin's natural aptitude for detective work. Although there is romantic chemistry between both the leads, often it is only hinted at and left unexplored and does not seem like any forced romantic entanglements found in some other series. I also liked how Rowling had portrayed them as the unlikeliest of pairs which lends more credibility to their relationship.
Over the years, we have all fallen for the characters created by Rowling. Some might say she has a knack for creating unique and interesting ones but how does she actually fare as a writer for detective novels seeing that the Cormoran Strike book series is her first albeit ambitious attempt (there are ten books planned in the whole series after all) in this genre? Usually in detective novels, the cases being investigated takes center stage and are essential in gauging how good the stories are. Honestly, I have never read the books but in the series the varied cases being investigated by the agency does not take a back seat to the characters but are central to the stories themselves. From a 40 year old cold case involving the death of a female doctor, the apparent suicide of a supermodel, a missing literary rebel to a government minister being blackmailed, the cases appear simple at first but are later revealed to be actually complex with many unexpected twists and turns that impresses even the most jaded armchair detective. This itself is an attestment to Rowling's prowess as a writer despite the book series being her first attempt at the detective genre. Besides the excellent writing, the series is also perfectly cast with Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger in the lead roles. Finding the correct actor especially for the role of Strike must have been a monumental task but Burke manages to embody the role so perfectly and seamlessly. According to readers of the novels, Tom Burke is a good match with the character's physical description in the books although he reportedly had to put on weight for the role. The actor also had to learn how to walk from actual amputees and as a theatrical actor, he manages to to bring forth the subtle nuances of the character to the small screen with ease. As a result of the many tragedies in his life, Strike is understandably a sad and reticent figure. But despite the hardships, he still remains kind and emphatic towards others while hiding a fierce intelligence under his unassuming appearance and demeanor. However, his life takes a drastic turn upon the arrival of Robin Ellacott. Grainger's Ellacott is the perfect foil to Burke's Strike. Young, beautiful, intelligent and headstrong with a bright future ahead, she seems an unlikely friend for him or eventual business partner in the agency. But she does share his aptitude for detective work. Personally, I feel that she is able to form a close relationship with Strike because she admires and respects not only his work but his quiet strength in the face of life's adversities. In fact it is later revealed in one of the later series that she herself had suffered from a traumatic event hidden in her past. As the series progresses, her character experiences a lot of transformations and growth but it is the steadfast Strike that remains her constant anchor in life. Besides the characters and cases, the dynamics of their relationship also plays a crucial part in the stories with each season starting at a new chapter in their relationship. The importance of their relationship in the series is made even more evident by the show's opening song "I Walk Beside You" by Beth Rowley. So due emphasis should be given to the story of their relationship when discussing the series as a whole. Besides, I feel that this a smart move on Rowling's part to incorporate in the stories the intricate details of the lead characters' relationship with one another and their connections with the other characters from the books as this will help break the monotony associated with many detective stories than can be too focused on only the mundane details of the investigations. After all, the show is not peppered with any elaborate car chases, explosions or raunchy scenes but it still needs to be entertaining enough.
Last thoughts, this series is actually a throwback to old detective shows and films but with an updated story telling style that is more palatable for modern audiences. For me personally, the series is more than a detective drama because it is also a study of the human condition that teaches us the resilience of the human spirit. With the seventh book in the series already published and the BBC already filming the sixth series, I hope to see all ten books adapted to the small screen. Although the books and the series cannot be compared to the hugely successful Harry Potter franchise, the long term commitment shown by Rowling and the BBC for Strike assures us that this is a quality series that is not to be missed.
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