The one hundred fifteenth TV show: #660 State of Play
There is something luxurious about these BBC mini series. Not because they're necessarily high budget - State of Play doesn't look cheap, but the budget probably didn't go that high either. Instead, it makes the best use it can of the full hour each episode can run for - not wasting time, but giving scenes and the story time to breathe and creating a natural flow for the plot. It might not be strictly needed, but it makes the story work so much better.
Then there's the acting. Looking at the list of names, it shows what talent is working on this. John Simm, Bill Nighy and others were somewhat known at this point and deliver the strong performance you'd expect, but there's also an impressive job by James McAvoy, who was just starting to arrive on the scene. It feels like they all give it their best and live through their roles. It's a joy to watch and they sell all of it.
In everything else, everyone is also at the top, down to the use of handheld, shaky cameras for some key scenes that feel slightly disorienting and important. All these choices feel considered and just right to create the atmosphere. The way the story comes together at the end is satisfying, while keeping parts of its decision close to the vest. It's a great show, from start to finish, and the six hours feel just right for it.