Prime Suspect: The Final Act (2006)

This classic, groundbreaking and exciting series started in 1991. Periodically, new episodes appeared, always exciting with good crime stories. In the center, the ongoing, insisting and tough female investigator, Jane Tennison. Excellent played by Helen Mirren. The series really made Helen Mirren's talent clear to a whole world. In this final series, we get as always a very moving story, exciting and nervous. But to an even greater degree than before, we also see the personal challenges of the main role holder. She has a difficult life. But, in essence, it appears the price one has to pay to sacrifice for a tough and long career. Jane Tennison is a person who has lived her life through the job, and managed to get a career as a woman in a male-dominated profession. The resistance has been well documented, we have seen in many previous episodes. Here in the end, maybe we get what her the price she had paid by personal stresses. This makes this series so much more than pure crime. It is also an in-depth drama, with so many layers. This is a must-see for anyone who likes crime and outstanding role performance.

Jane Tennison is imperfect. She fits none of the moral imperatives that many of our media heroes seem to possess. What she does have is doggedness and skill at her craft. This is an incredible finale. One the eve of her retirement (she has no idea what to do next) she begins to drink heavily. She is also overwhelmed by the impending demise of her father, whom she idolizes. She starts work on her last case. A fourteen year old girl has disappeared. Soon it is realized that Sallie has more of a dark life than her parents imagined. She has started hooking up with some pretty serious characters at school. Her friend from across the street, a very pretty young girl, isn't totally truthful and Jane can't get a handle. Meanwhile, the drinking becomes over the top. She is having blackouts. She isn't remembering messages. She is also getting incredibly hostile and embittered. She and that neighbor girl begin to form a friendship. At one time, Jane almost gets them both killed, driving while drunk. Suspects are all over the place, including a young black man whom all the girls are crazy about.

Just an addition to the other glowing reviews: I watched this when it first aired, as I did all of the Prime Suspects, and enjoyed it very much, but wasn't as impressed as I'd hoped I would be. However, after watching the first 6 again on DVD, and then watching "Final Act" I have reconsidered: this is an excellent send0off, perfect in so many ways, and I'm not sure how I missed it the first go-round. Perhaps watching the others just before watching the "Final Act" made the difference? One thing that stood out this time that I'd not noticed before: the music. The music was perfectly done. I'm not sure how to describe it, ominous, tense, subtle, but it certainly worked well for the film.SPOILER FOLLOWS: The scene that reintroduced Ottley was masterfully done. I can remember the first time I watched it, I did a bit of a double take as soon as Jane walked through that door, thinking, "That looked a bit like Ottley" (I hadn't heard that he would be reintroduced). It seemed to me that the filmmakers managed to give the viewer the same sort of experience that Jane had: an almost subconscious reaction, followed by curiosity, then realization. Very clever.Ottley, and a few other choice characters/moments, provided a welcome bit of warmth to a film that is in many ways terribly cold and lonely. Jane's lifestyle at the opening of "Final Act", her almost complete loneliness and isolation, and her alcoholism, seemed to me to be the natural outcome of her personality from previous episodes. Ultimately, and thankfully, Jane is redeemed, and the viewer is left thinking that there is hope for her, despite her retirement from the job that defined her.I have rarely been so moved by any television program, let alone a finale. Kudos to the filmmakers/producers for avoiding the sort of tragedy the "Cracker" finale was subjected to.

2007 Emmy Award Winner for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries, and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act is as dynamic, brilliantly written, directed, paced, and acted as the rest of the series that started in 1991. The Final Act is filled with the unexpected plot turns and introduces interesting complex characters. Prime Suspect 7 was dedicated to the memory of Tom Bell (Otley) who returned as Sergeant Bill Otley and who died two weeks before the episode was screened. As in all Prime Suspects, Helen Mirren owns the screen as Detective Superintendent Jane Tennison working on her last case before retirement. This time, Jane investigates the missing of a 14-year-old girl while struggling with her alcoholism and coping with her father's death from incurable cancer. She dedicated all her life, talent, energy, and heart to her work where she had proved to be the best but the price she paid is incredibly high. The Final Act introduces a young actress Laura Greenwood (born in 1991) as 14 years old Penny. The scenes she shares with Mirren are "nothing short of phenomenal," according to David Bianculli of the New York Daily News, and I hope that her following roles will be as impressive as her first work next to one of the greatest modern actresses.9.5/10