‘This is an absolute mess!’ rage Grace viewers as they issue major complaint minutes into new ITV drama
GRACE viewers all had the same complaint with the new episode of the ITV crime drama.
ITV viewers saw John Simm return to our telly screens as DS Roy Grace in season four of the compelling drama.
The second episode aired on Sunday where Grace and his team investigated two strange murders.
Only when a connection is found between them does the investigation begin to advance.
The episode opened with a character found in a nun’s habit and restrained to a metal railing on Brighton Beach.
A locksmith tried to help before casually walking away after realising he wouldn’t get paid for his work.
Meanwhile, on Wooding Beacon, there was a tragedy as a park ranger discovered a dead body had been dumped on the hills.
When DS Roy arrived at the scene with DS Glen Branson (Richie Campbell), they immediately pointed out the condition of the corpse and predicted the victim had died by drowning.
Following the pathology tests, it was revealed the man’s death was caused by very peculiar circumstances as he had drowned in sheep’s milk.
However, viewers were left disappointed as they claimed the TV series had strayed too far from the original plot of Peter James’ Want You Dead book.
Taking to X – formerly Twitter – one viewer said: “This one’s totally different to the book, isn’t it? John Simm said it was but… #WantYouDead #Grace.”
Another wrote: “This isn’t #WantYouDead. Totally different plot. #Grace #PeterJames.”
A third added: “This is an absolute mess. There is artistic licence to make a TV drama but this has no correlation to the book! #Grace.”
A fourth penned: “I wonder why they totally change the plot. #Grace”
The series is based on Detective Superintendent Roy Grace books by Peter James.
In the books, Roy Grace is depicted as being in his late 30s to early 40s at the beginning of the series, with a strong physical presence that reflects his years in the police force.
Crime dramas on ITVX
Crime drama buffs have a wide selection of choices on ITVX - here is a selection of some of the programmes available to binge.
- Professor T: Based on a Belgian TV series of the same name, former Death in Paradise lead Ben Miller plays the title character. Professor Jasper Tempest is a criminologist with OCD who helps the police solve crimes. The cast also includes Emma Naomi, Barney White and Andy Gathergood.
- The Beast Must Die: This series follows a mother’s grief for her son, who was killed in an accident. Nicholas Blake’s novel of the same name has been adapted for the programme. Stars include Cush Jumbo, Jared Harris, Billy Howle and Geraldine James.
- Red Eye: Starring Richard Armitage, Jing Lusi and Lesley Sharp star in this six-part thriller, which mostly takes place during an all-night flight between London and Beijing. With dead bodies piling up and a mystery to unravel, the heroes must work fast to get to the truth.
- The Twelve: This Australian drama originally aired as a miniseries in 2022, with the episodes dropping in the UK in February 2023. Four months later, the show was renewed for a second season. Jurassic Park star Sam Neill stars in the leading role of barrister Brett Colby.
- Manhunt: Martin Clunes stars in this drama based on true murder investigations. Series one focused on the death of Amélie Delagrange, which took place in 2004, while the second depicted the search for serial rapist Delroy Grant.
But in the TV adaptation, Roy Grace is portrayed by actor John Simm, who brings his own interpretation to the character.
Simm’s portrayal might differ slightly in age and physical demeanor from the Roy Grace described in the books.
Supporting characters, such as Glenn Branson and Cleo Morey are less explored in the TV series, along with the many subplots.
The TV series does not always capture the same level of psychological depth and realism that the books provide.
Roy Grace is a deeply complex character with a rich backstory. He’s a detective haunted by the disappearance of his wife, Sandy, which is a recurring theme throughout the series.
His personality is shaped by this personal tragedy, making him a thoughtful, introspective, and sometimes melancholic character.
His relationship with his team and his methods of solving cases are given a lot of depth.
While the TV series touches on the same backstory, the depth of his character is somewhat compressed due to time constraints.
The series focuses more on the procedural aspects of his job rather than his internal struggles.
The exploration of his personal life and emotional nuances is not as detailed as in the books.
Grace airs Sundays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.