The City & the City
This climax of this atmospheric adaptation of China Miéville’s sci-fi novel sees troubled Inspector Tyador Borlú (David Morrissey) go through hell while seeking answers to the mysteries dogging him: why was archaeologist Mahalia Geary (Andrea Deck) murdered and what happened to Borlú’s missing wife, Katrynia (Lara Pulver)?
Borlú endures torture at the hands of Breach, the Stasi-style police, and gets fired in his quest. But, in true TV cop fashion, he forges on in a solo investigation, bruised and nearly broken. Ultimately, it’s a mundane trawl through CCTV footage that provides Borlú with some answers. This reminds us that despite the fantastical premise of two cities coexisting in the same space, this TV drama really just boils down to a routine murder-mystery.
Having said that, a couple of nice twists towards the end explain whether Orciny, the fabled third city between Besźel and Ul Qoma, really exists. Along with impressive production design that creates a rich backdrop to the series, what makes The City & the City compelling is Morrissey’s performance; he’s able to convey the soft centre within the cop’s hard-boiled shell and is always worth watching. Vicki Power