Cracker: Best Boys [DVD]

A (very) young John Simm, who went on to become the main character in the BBC series "Life On Mars", plays very convincingly a young man who's between a children's home and the community by staying in a halfway house.

Through his new job at a factory, Bill (Simm) gets to know and then stays with his foreman, Stuart Grady (Liam Cunningham), at his rented digs. When the snooping landlady asks for rent and sees the set-up of the two, she wants them out. Bill argues, she slaps him and is accidentally injured. To stop her phoning the police, Grady finishes her off.

The woman's husband is the prime suspect but that soon moves on to a man and woman, by Fitz's (Robbie Coltrane) deduction. What follows is a dangerous spree of violence by the two men and Fitz and his various, rather out-of-sorts colleagues, one of which is the very recognisable Ricky Tomlinson.

Fitz, as usual, puts his big psychological size tens into it at home as his wife tries to bring up their new baby. Fitz is as helpful, both practically and supportively as a chocolate teapot, with holes in it.

As ever, Paul Abbott's script is efficient, hard hitting and essential viewing.

This is perhaps one of the most moving and saddening, yet disturbing 'Cracker' episodes. It follows the rage-fuelled lives of a young man, Bill Nash and his older boss, Stuart Grady, who embark on a semi-crime spree. The relationship between the two men is never fully revealed, but the viewer is left believing that it is a homosexual one. Both of these actors are convincing, their performances affecting.

McGovern takes his usual insightful look at ordinary people and the human condition, sensitively showing the viewer the phenomenon known as 'Folieadeux', which is the meeting of two individuals who, when in a relationship, can often resort to acts of intense violence or crime. This begins with the murdering of the older of the two's landlord, when she calls them a variety of offensive names.

The two then embark on a getaway, Bonnie and Clyde style, which involves a couple of other murders, including the rather brutal murder of a social worker, played by Paul Barber (Denzil from Only Fools And Horses). This murder scene is undoubtedly the most disturbing scene, depicting the intense and scary combination of both men's rage. Be warned, this scene is frightening and unnerving, but also very, very convincing.

As usual, Robbie Coltrane is nothing short of captivating, stealing every scene he is in with his charisma, whilst the sub-plot describes the depression of Fitz' wife Judith, in the wake of her giving birth to their child.

McGovern's script is nothing short of gripping, and always realistic. It also frequently sad and sensitive. The childhood events of Bill Nash are slowly revealed in all their tragedy, offering some explanation for why he turned out the way he did. As always, McGovern ties his usual blend of social commentary and provoking thought, leaving the viewer mulling the plot over in their head, even after the programme is finished. McGovern's script also examines homosexuality and society's attitudes towards it. Fitz' insight's into the human psyche help the aspect of the plot along superbly, giving the viewer greater understanding of the programme's central characters.

That McGovern can provoke thought in his viewers to such an extent proves he is one of the most gifted British scriptwriters in a long, long time.

This episode centres around a homosexual (or at least homoerotic) relationship between a troubled young man called Bill and a factory supervisor called Grady. After an initial attraction they become mutually dependent.

Grady's landlady is the first person they murder, then they convince themselves that they have to murder again in order to stay together.

This is also the episode that includes Jimmy Beck's funeral. (Good riddance to bad rubbish!!!) Boo Hiss.

As you would expect from a Cracker episode, the acting and writing is of a high standard. However, this wasn't one of the episodes that I enjoyed the most and I found the relationship between the two men to be not quite believable.

Still worth a watch.