TV review: The City and The City

Starring David Morrisey, Lara Pulver, Danny Webb and Ron Cook

BBC2  9PM Friday


Based on an novel by China Melville The City and The City is somewhat of an unique take on the Dystopia idea made famous by George Orwell. It's setting is a place where two cities exist side by side with both rarely acknowledge each other this brings up the real world example of Berlin during the Cold War. Morrisey plays a Police Detective whose latest case is the murder of a young Woman brings to the fore many tensions, first of all the political tension between the 2 cities due to her illegal travelling between the 2 and a personal one for Morrisey's character as the case reminds him of the disappearance of his wife (Pulver) who appears to him in visions. As a first episode it more than does the job of World building as see the difference between the 2 citiies with one being run down compared to the other's clean sheen. Morrisey is more than convincing as a man who is trying to make sense of the chaos that has ensmaped him. The City and The City has set itself up well for the remaining 3  episodes.

If you are so inclined you can watch all 4 episodes on BBC I-