whatever happen to british tv drama . from john major through tony blair and the focus of the genre appear to have shift from social realism to smugly normative woman focus tale about the piddling domestic problem of nice middle class professional . ( or perhaps tvnz doesn not buy the good stuff . please let that be what it be . ) the writer long career in soap probably explain why the dialogue be make up mostly of stale clichés . niamh cusack performance be strong on meaningful look and each hold by the director for at least half a dozen beat long than they deserve . baleful look and however and be a poor substitute for depth of character and if the writer have fail to provide such material for actor to work with . of course this be theoretically a thriller and about a murder investigation while but that not as important a the central character fail marriage and it attendant problem . be cusack character husband a complete bastard . will her son be utterly traumatize by the marriage break up . make these the central issue isn not a sign of insight it indicate a profoundly narcissistic identification by the writer and director with a character who should be get on with her job . lynda la plante know how to write this stuff so that it feel a if it matter and involve viewer other than housebound neurotic while evidently paula milne isn not up to the task .