The Sixth Commandment (TV Mini Series) Episode #1.4 (2023) User Reviews

A strong conclusion.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 31 July 2023]

Ben Field gets his day in court, the families of both Peter and Ann are forced to listen to all manner of revelations. Ben attempts a smart course of action in order to avoid a murder charge.

Obviously it was going to end with the courtroom sequence, but don't expect a long drawn out, dull affair, this final episode is another nail biter.

Ben was so crafty, pleading guilty to the lesser crimes in the hope that he could dodge the murder charges, he really was a cool and calculating monster. It seemed to be his own vanity that cost him in the end, he really was too clever by half.

Huge credit to writer Sarah Phelps, I have always been a fan of her work, and continue to be. Once again, she got it spot on.

There's some fascinating additional material out there, worth looking into, as are the various news articles and interviews.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Eanna Hardwicke win an award for this.

Maybe this wasn't as sharp and dramatic as the previous episodes, but it was still compelling viewing.

8/10.

Face

[hazangel-89910 · 8/10 · 4 October 2023]

The actor that plays Ben was really perfect for this role. He has such a punchable face it's unbelievable! His smugness was so infuriating!!! His fake "thank yous" and "thank you so much" were enough to make anyone gag!!

It wasnt mentioned (although I havent finished watching episode 4 yet but I wonder if either Martyn or Ben had any family support?

The actress who played the niece did a fabulous job as did her supportive husband. I dont know anything about British courts but it was wonderful that she did not have to look at the murderer as she gave her testimony.

All in all this was very well done and kept your attention throughout. I am so sad that this happened to two lovely elderly people and wish that elder abuse (whether financial or emotional) was a crime punishable by life in prison!!

Episode 4

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 14 August 2023]

Given that this was based on a true story and the verdicts were known in advance. I did feel a certain oddness with the dramatised presentation and the actual verdicts.

The series presented both Ben Field and Martyn Smith's guilt as an open and shut case.

In the final episode Ben pleads guilty to lesser charges such as altering the wills but not guilty to murder.

He opts to victim blame and in the case of Peter Farquhar, relies on some innate homophobia within the jury. That Ben had to sedate Peter as he would demand sex after Ben came home from work tired.

Ben Field is certainly shown as cunning and conniving, but the jury took their time to come to a verdict of guilty for murdering Peter. He was found not guilty for the murder of Ann Moore-Martin. Martyn Smith got off altogether.

Although there is some conjecture as to what may have happened to both people. It was not for definite, that maybe because Ben Field himself never told the truth.