Season 1 |
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Episode Guide
Episode 1 Review Score- 3.5/5
Episode 2 Review Score- 3/5
Episode 3 Review Score- 3.5/5
Episode 4 Review Score- 3/5
Episode 5 Review Score- 2.5/5
Episode 6 Review Score- 2/5
Episode 7 Review Score- 1.5/5
Episode 8 Review Score- 1/5
Culprits had a lot of potential. It started on a promising note with a unique story told in two interconnected timelines. All the pieces looked like they were falling into place…until we were done with the first half and all the momentum fizzled out. It is befuddling how the writers and creator J Blakeson completely lost the plot in the second half.
Culprits is heavily stylized and all its elements are initially tied together by well-rounded storytelling. Gemma Arterton plays Harewood, who assembles a team of hardened criminals to rob wealthy businessmen in London, England. David Markings (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) is one of them. Although the heist is successful with a few casualties, the real action picks up in the present day.
After the job, each of the team members goes their separate way. David becomes Joe Petrus and goes to live with his partner, Jules, in Washington.
However, the members start getting hunted by a contractor. It starts with Marcello Bari, the getaway driver, who is murdered at his villa in Italy. One by one, this contractor starts getting to the members in search of something that Harewood took but didn’t tell the rest about. Joe comes together with his fellow members codenamed Officer, Specialist, and Greasman to stop this contractor and figure out what he wants.
So the structure of Culprits is relatively simple. Each episode starts with a part of the heist in the past, invariably leading into the present. All the flashbacks are not related to the heist itself and are smartly used for character development. The rest of the episode is spent in following the members in the present being hunted down by the contractor. Without taking into consideration what happens in the second half, this proves to be a solid storytelling technique. Quite often, Blakeson and his team of writers use the combination to elevate the overall texture of the story.
With a sound base, we are better able to know the characters and see their progress. This is refreshing but the structure is also a little disappointing as the creators drop the idea of showing the heist itself. We briefly see glimpses of the heist but the focus remains on the aftermath.
After a while, the flashbacks change track and veer away from the show’s central conceit. The story is tied together but we wish it was backed up with more muscle in the writing department.
The show is fast-paced and certainly engaging but loses our curiosity due to its robotic sheen of predictability. Despite the genre, the viewers are not treated to many surprises. The graph of the storytelling is linear. Still, the execution is professional with quick cuts and smart editing. Culprits is underscored by a strong “Eat the rich” sentiment that has dominated creative projects. But without supporting buildup, this feels more like a distraction than another dimension to the social commentary.
Jarret-Stewart’s character is used to set the tone of the show. He is admirable as the leading protagonist, although some of the choices he makes near the end do not feel authentic. The rest of the characters aren’t touched upon in as much detail, which is a disappointment. Officer (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) and Specialist (Niamh Algar) feature sparingly.
On the plus side, two great things about the show are its soundtrack and costume design. Both fill the screen with vibrancy and colours that make the viewing experience good fun at times.
Overall, Culprits is a run-of-the-mill heist with not too much substance. It frustratingly sticks to the script in the hopes of playing it safe. Although the execution itself is respectable, there is a lack of challenge that will annoy a lot of viewers. It comes on the back of decent acting but confused creative choices ultimately lead to the show’s demise.
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Verdict - 5.5/10
5.5/10