This episode features a series of rapes of young women. The story shows the ugly implications of rape and how its web is far reaching, from the victim to her family and beyond. Frost again must make his way through red tape and the recalcitrant Mullett to be able to get to the truth. This show features Caroline Harker who plays Hazel Wallace. She is a really neat character who is willing to go the extra mile for her job. Frost has great respect for her and her dedication. She also understands his unconventional methods. She agrees to become a decoy to draw out the rapist, at the risk of her own life. There is an unforgettable scene at the end. The strength of this series is that the police work is so well done and Frost leaves no stone unturned.
7 Reviews
Another excellent episode
grantss14 June 2022
Another great murder mystery in the Frost series. The culprit is not obvious and it will take good old-fashioned police work to solve the crime. As always, resourceful Detective Inspector Frost is on hand to work it all out.
Good to see WPC. Wallace (played by Caroline Harker) play more of a role in the solving of the crime.
Good to see WPC. Wallace (played by Caroline Harker) play more of a role in the solving of the crime.
"I'll come with you as a geriatric aunt"
ygwerin111 July 2022
D. I. Jack Frost has been awarded an George Cross for an act of outstanding bravery in the line of duty and receives an official invitation to a commemoration, but he has cold feet about attending and even travelling to London for the event, "have you lost it?"
Jack Frost has been under mounting pressure to attend the event, with Superintendent Mullet feeling obliged to publicly praise him, and he even asks Shirley Fisher to join him at the do.
A number of attractive young women in the Denton catchment area have been accosted, Tara Holdsworth a local woman well known to D. I. Frost has been directly effected and he has sworn to catch him.
W. P. C. Hazel Wallace has been "rape alerted, in the absence of any available alternative", and lumbered by Superintendent Mullett to work with D. I. Frost on the Rape investigations.
Superintendent Mullett has to inform D. I. Frost that it has come down from on high that given the lack of progress over the rapes, the case has been taken out of the hands of Denton C. I. D. And he is off the case.
A number of attractive young women in the Denton catchment area have been accosted, Tara Holdsworth a local woman well known to D. I. Frost has been directly effected and he has sworn to catch him.
W. P. C. Hazel Wallace has been "rape alerted, in the absence of any available alternative", and lumbered by Superintendent Mullett to work with D. I. Frost on the Rape investigations.
Superintendent Mullett has to inform D. I. Frost that it has come down from on high that given the lack of progress over the rapes, the case has been taken out of the hands of Denton C. I. D. And he is off the case.
Best episode of Season 2, also one of my favourites
TheLittleSongbird22 June 2017
'A Touch of Frost' is a personal favourite of mine, and one of my favourite shows from the detective/mystery genre. Do have a preference perhaps for the earlier-mid-show episodes over the later ones, but none of the episodes are less than watchable and none do anything to embarrass the show.
So much appeals about 'A Touch of Frost'. Love the mix of comedy (mostly through Frost's snide comments and quips) and dark grit, the tension between rebellious Jack Frost and by-the-book Mullet which has led to some humorous moments, how he interacts with the rest of the staff, the deft mix of one or two cases and Frost's personal life, how Frost solves the cases, the production values, music and of course David Jason in one of his best roles.
There may have been people initially sceptical about whether the show would work, and with Jason (a mainly comedic actor) in a departure from usual in the lead role. Scepticism very quickly evaporated, with the first season containing three consistently great episodes, even with the darker and grittier approach with less humour, that established the tone and characterisation so brilliantly so early on with no signs of finding-their-feet. The second season opener "A Minority of One" was up to their level. "Widows and Orphans" is a slight step down from the previous episodes but is still very good, and the otherwise very worthwhile "Nothing to Hide" was let down by a far too obvious ending.
Although Season 1 and the season 2 opener were truly great, "Stranger in the House" was my favourite episode up to this particular point in the show. It is to me easily the best episode of Season 2 and one of my favourite 'Frost' episodes.
Visually, "Stranger in the House" looks great, matching the dark, gritty tone of the episode beautifully with atmospheric lighting and the stylish way it's shot. The music is haunting without being over-bearing while the theme tune is one of the most iconic in the detective genre (or at least to me it is).
The script is well written, with a few amusing quips from Frost, and thought-provoking, and the story is continually compelling with tension, grit and shocking twists, portraying the impact of rape and the portrayal of it very powerfully. The ending is unforgettably tense and a real shocker, again from personal opinion one of the best endings of the show.
Frost is a remarkably well-established character for so early on, and one cannot help love his interaction with the rest of the officers and his chemistry with Bruce Alexander's stern and by-the-book Mullet, who constantly despairs of Frost's unconventional approach. Again he shows his less than perfect side with Wallace's life being endangered but his regret is every bit as believably done.
Jason is brilliant as usual as Frost, while Bruce Alexander, John Lyons and especially the sympathetic performance of Caroline Harker excel in a way that is more than up to his high level. Support is solid too.
Overall, outstanding episode, best of Season 2 and a highlight of the whole show as well. 10/10 Bethany Cox
So much appeals about 'A Touch of Frost'. Love the mix of comedy (mostly through Frost's snide comments and quips) and dark grit, the tension between rebellious Jack Frost and by-the-book Mullet which has led to some humorous moments, how he interacts with the rest of the staff, the deft mix of one or two cases and Frost's personal life, how Frost solves the cases, the production values, music and of course David Jason in one of his best roles.
There may have been people initially sceptical about whether the show would work, and with Jason (a mainly comedic actor) in a departure from usual in the lead role. Scepticism very quickly evaporated, with the first season containing three consistently great episodes, even with the darker and grittier approach with less humour, that established the tone and characterisation so brilliantly so early on with no signs of finding-their-feet. The second season opener "A Minority of One" was up to their level. "Widows and Orphans" is a slight step down from the previous episodes but is still very good, and the otherwise very worthwhile "Nothing to Hide" was let down by a far too obvious ending.
Although Season 1 and the season 2 opener were truly great, "Stranger in the House" was my favourite episode up to this particular point in the show. It is to me easily the best episode of Season 2 and one of my favourite 'Frost' episodes.
Visually, "Stranger in the House" looks great, matching the dark, gritty tone of the episode beautifully with atmospheric lighting and the stylish way it's shot. The music is haunting without being over-bearing while the theme tune is one of the most iconic in the detective genre (or at least to me it is).
The script is well written, with a few amusing quips from Frost, and thought-provoking, and the story is continually compelling with tension, grit and shocking twists, portraying the impact of rape and the portrayal of it very powerfully. The ending is unforgettably tense and a real shocker, again from personal opinion one of the best endings of the show.
Frost is a remarkably well-established character for so early on, and one cannot help love his interaction with the rest of the officers and his chemistry with Bruce Alexander's stern and by-the-book Mullet, who constantly despairs of Frost's unconventional approach. Again he shows his less than perfect side with Wallace's life being endangered but his regret is every bit as believably done.
Jason is brilliant as usual as Frost, while Bruce Alexander, John Lyons and especially the sympathetic performance of Caroline Harker excel in a way that is more than up to his high level. Support is solid too.
Overall, outstanding episode, best of Season 2 and a highlight of the whole show as well. 10/10 Bethany Cox
A strong edition
jamiecostelo587 December 2006
Warning: Spoilers
With a rapist is on the prowl in Denton, Jack Frost has his work cut out in trying to catch him. WPC Hazel Wallace is enlisted to become a decoy in a vain last ditch attempt, but she is exposed to serious danger....
Stranger in the House is a particularly powerful edition of A Touch of Frost, not least because we can see the terrifying impact of being a rape victim and the sometimes difficult circumstances in trying to apprehend a fiend who will stop at nothing to evade capture. Real victims may see that true taste of reality.
Actress Caroline Harker put in a very convincing portrayal of a young policewoman who bears the brunt of trying to do all she can to bring a sense of relief for victims and simply put the suspect behind bars. The conclusion to the story was well carried out.
Stranger in the House is a particularly powerful edition of A Touch of Frost, not least because we can see the terrifying impact of being a rape victim and the sometimes difficult circumstances in trying to apprehend a fiend who will stop at nothing to evade capture. Real victims may see that true taste of reality.
Actress Caroline Harker put in a very convincing portrayal of a young policewoman who bears the brunt of trying to do all she can to bring a sense of relief for victims and simply put the suspect behind bars. The conclusion to the story was well carried out.
My wife and I enjoyed this episode
gmaclean1 November 2006
This episode was the best of the series so far. David Jason, whom we liked in 'Only fools and horses', plays a completely different part (although we could see mannerisms and facial gestures that reminded us of 'Del boy') of the down to earth Inspector, who obviously does not like red tape. Jack is untidy both in the office and at home (the medal scene is a good example) and his attempts to have a girl friend to help his lonely personal life usually get bungled. However he uses his experience and logic to get the job done, and in this episode manages this before the 'Heavy squad' are brought in to take over the case. His W.P.C plays a good part as his decoy.The rest of the cast are well supportive
Stranger in the House
Prismark102 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I assume that the original novel is rather dark as it deals with a sexual predator.
The episode starts with a male work colleague being rebuffed by a glamorous new girl at the office. As she sets off to drive home in the evening. The man suddenly rushes out and follows her in his car and stops her on a lonely road.
He tells her to get out and she frantically locks the door. The danger is not outside, there is a masked man inside the car with her. The work colleague spotted something sinister.
Denton had a series of rape cases thought to have been carried out by one man. He has not been caught and seemed to have lied low.
DI Frost has still been comforting some of the traumatized victims. Now it looks like he has struck again. Frost hears that the attacker also got into the bedroom of a schoolgirl.
Frost is assigned WPC Hazel Wallace who he uses as bait to entice the rapist. It seems he favours open land, a kind of place dog walkers frequent.
There were certainly several suspects in the frame and a few of them were blanks. Although I did sense a few flaws. The rapist we are told favours open land, yet he also seemed to be targeting his victims. Which means he did not do it on the spur of the moment.
He somehow got inside of the car of that woman who worked in the office. That was not open land. At the end he goes after WPC Wallace inside her home.
The grim nature of the story still has some of Frost's sardonic humour especially towards Mullett. There is a side story about Frost wanting to avoid a function in London involving people who have been awarded medals for bravery.
This was a story that was sensitively done. Unfortunately it also rang a false note for me. I still recall how West Yorkshire police back in the late 1970s and early 80s labelled some of the victims of the Yorkshire Ripper as innocent and non innocent. Many of them were prostitutes and it was heavily implied by the police (and the media) that they somehow deserved their fate.
The episode starts with a male work colleague being rebuffed by a glamorous new girl at the office. As she sets off to drive home in the evening. The man suddenly rushes out and follows her in his car and stops her on a lonely road.
He tells her to get out and she frantically locks the door. The danger is not outside, there is a masked man inside the car with her. The work colleague spotted something sinister.
Denton had a series of rape cases thought to have been carried out by one man. He has not been caught and seemed to have lied low.
DI Frost has still been comforting some of the traumatized victims. Now it looks like he has struck again. Frost hears that the attacker also got into the bedroom of a schoolgirl.
Frost is assigned WPC Hazel Wallace who he uses as bait to entice the rapist. It seems he favours open land, a kind of place dog walkers frequent.
There were certainly several suspects in the frame and a few of them were blanks. Although I did sense a few flaws. The rapist we are told favours open land, yet he also seemed to be targeting his victims. Which means he did not do it on the spur of the moment.
He somehow got inside of the car of that woman who worked in the office. That was not open land. At the end he goes after WPC Wallace inside her home.
The grim nature of the story still has some of Frost's sardonic humour especially towards Mullett. There is a side story about Frost wanting to avoid a function in London involving people who have been awarded medals for bravery.
This was a story that was sensitively done. Unfortunately it also rang a false note for me. I still recall how West Yorkshire police back in the late 1970s and early 80s labelled some of the victims of the Yorkshire Ripper as innocent and non innocent. Many of them were prostitutes and it was heavily implied by the police (and the media) that they somehow deserved their fate.
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