Damien Molony's Jim Bergerac is first introduced in a room that's drenched in sepia tone. He is delivering a monologue at an AA meeting, a relic brought forward from the original '80s version in which the central character also struggled with alcoholism.
His raw reveal to a room full of strangers is interspersed with scenes of murder; a murder that will become his first case upon returning to work where – after a spell of absence – he will resume the role of Detective Sergeant.
While there are familiar threads that pay homage to the classic show, hitting that nostalgia spot for fans, there is one simple tweak to the way in which the case goes on to unfold that makes an impactful difference to this new iteration of the Bergerac series.
Related: Why Death in Paradise's most underused character needs their own storyline
This new outing takes a different approach to its predecessor by bucking the case-of-the-week formula – moving away from formats still loved by other crime classics like Death in Paradise – and instead follows this same murder over the course of the season.
What viewers get in return is a slower, more intimate, reveal of not just the case but who Bergerac is and how his mind works.
What to Read Next
By deciding not to redirecting the focus every episode, the show never lets up. And for our protagonist, the pressure doesn't ever dissipate either. Instead it sits with him, like a weight, almost mirroring the oppressiveness of his trauma. All in all, it creates a much more intimate viewing experience.
Related: BBC confirms release date for highly-anticipated new Agatha Christie drama
Let's also not forget that a lot of the fun of these types of shows is playing arm chair detective alongside our fictional friends on the beat. In this way, extending the story also extends the guessing game. There's a playfulness in thinking you have it all worked out, only for the story to nose dive down a different and unexpected path.
When it comes to our titular character, Damien Molony carries the show well as the broken Jim Bergerac. He is wounded and bristly, but also vulnerable when the story calls for it.
Original Bergerac star John Nettles was right when he dubbed The Split star's depiction of the detective as "a much darker and a far more complicated character" than the version that he played.
"It's far more nuanced," Nettles stated, and as a viewer you do get the sense of that pretty quickly.
His moments of softness and quiet desperation to be free of the pain that haunts him peek through most clearly when opposite his daughter Kim. Away from her, he is a roiling concoction of anger and pain just threatening to spill at any point. And Molony is strong in his deliverance.
But he is still that familiar character that previous fans originally fell in love with. As Nettles said, he is "still recognisably Bergerac."
The dynamic between him and Zoë Wanamaker's Charlie is also intriguing. There is a kinship between the pair, yet still undercurrents of disappointment and frustration. However despite their sometimes combative interactions, there is never a sense of dislike.
Chloé Sweetlove's Kim is the glue that binds them, and it's interesting to see how each of them processes their same trauma in different ways.
Robert Gilbert also brings dimension to the piece as officer Barney Crozier, who well and truly feels a shift upon Bergerac's return to work. How his own insecurities manifest serve to pad out the narrative, bringing with it more mystery and intrigue.
It is within these pockets of stories, parallel to the wider narrative, and how it all ties together that really kick the reboot off to a successful start.
Bergerac is available to stream for free on U, and airs Thursdays at 9pm on U&DRAMA.
TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
