Silent Witness (TV Series) Matters of Life and Death: Part 1 (2021) User Reviews

Better than last week.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 6 October 2021]

An elderly resident at a rest home is studied some months later by medical students, their findings trigger some awkward questions.

I quite enjoyed this, it was a million times better than last week's offering. This was an incredibly bleak storyline, and upsetting, but on the whole I did enjoy it. Do my eyes deceive me, a Detective appearing twice in a series, we've not seen that since the early years.

Some bits were a bit over the top, I would agree with that, those bodies looked like test dummies. One wonders how these pathologists have any time for pathology things among their busy sex lives.

Jack, please burn that waistcoat, it's utterly hideous.

Simone was much improved over last week, I liked Jack's storyline, but best of all was the masterclass from one of the country's finest, the awesome Sian Phillips, charisma and talent in abundance, she boosted the overall value of the episode.

I hope last week's dismal two part story hasn't put fans off, I thought this was pretty good, 6/10.

Worst episode so far

[inathanburn · 2/10 · 6 February 2022]

After binge watching 24 seasons since late in 2021 I was pleased to finally reach the latest series. Silent Witness for the most part has been fairly realistic but this episode felt like a rip off of Emmerdale or some other awful soap. Nikki wouldn't act like that with a student, the care home seemed more like a horror movie - the dog being hurt was an awful addition to the script, and a flood and Jack's Dad falling coincidentally just made for bad viewing.

Mid way through episode 10 and that looks almost as bad. Hopefully the next season will be better.

Just not believable

[nwelford-01213 · 5/10 · 4 October 2021]

Too many things are just not right. The police sergeant doesn't act professionally. Nikki Alexander just wouldn't act like that. She would not lose her phone like that, would not act like that with a student.

In my experience, even the worst care home is better than that. The doc was shifty.

Jacks dad having an accident at just the wrong time.

Too many things coming together concurrently. One or two we can believe but this is too much.

Totally unbelievable

[jeanbulmer-13560 · 3/10 · 5 October 2021]

So disappointed with this episode. Nikki acting out of character there's no way she would behave like a besotted teenager. Losing her phone drinking and making out with a student half her age. For me her character has lost all credibility. The police Sargent again acting so unprofessionally . The coincidence of Jack's dad having an accident at the same time. Filming in the dark in the care home interspersed with flashing lights at the disco was reminiscent of a z list horror movie. I found this episode very disjointed and confusing. A difficult watch.

Pure silly schlock

[pflans-98870 · 5/10 · 15 July 2022]

This episode was silly and contrived. Waaay beneath the quality of this superior series. Emilia's stupid sex escapade was nonsense and completely out of character. The series has begun reaching too far. It more resembled an old Bela Lugosi movies than what we have come to expect from these writers.

What was that?

[howdylc · 2/10 · 30 July 2022]

I have watched all seasons of this show and always loved how "Nikki" was no nonsense but always ethical, since this season started is like the whole team changed roles and now I am wondering if maybe "Alex" should have been kept. Nikki's behavior in this episode is deplorable, being the ethical work and college standards, in real life, she would be stroke off. The whole episode was kind of cheesy, not a lot of the technical "forensic science" that has kept the show on the map for 24 seasons at this point. I sure hope the next season is not going to be more of the same.

I started watching British Television because even though they have half the funds American producers do, to create their content, the shows are usually quality. I loved this show, Vera, Shetland and such but this season of Silent Witness is giving me the American vibes and believe me, there was a reason I stopped watching American content, and started watching content from across the pond. When a show relies on character stunts and PREDICTABLE silly plots, it is no longer worth watching. I hope this season was a one off, it started well but is definitely not ending well. Very sad to see it.

What the heck ?

[jjennings99 · 4/10 · 5 October 2021]

I'm a huge fan of sw, but Nikki in last weeks episode cringely singing and this week copping off with a young lad. Ewww, midlife crisis anyone. It was terrible. Btw I reckon the old retired oxygen lady is the murderer. Seems to be some kind of mercy killer. And prob in better health than she seems. Yes I'm going as daft as sw script writers now !

Not sure what happened with this last two parter

[luke-hanna · 2/10 · 7 October 2021]

I enjoyed the rest of the series, but this last two parter was a bit pants really.

Time to call it a day?

[Cheshire55 · 2/10 · 28 October 2021]

Silent Witness remains a decent watch in episodes which focus on the very real and fascinating search for the truth via forensic/scientific analysis and (occasionally) good police work.

Unfortunately, the producers/writers have decided that it needs more than the 'core' material and we are now subject to increasingly unbelievable plots and back stories which add very little.

I'm addition, my wife thinks David Caves is increasingly resembling Dracula!

20 Odd seasons. Time to call it a day.

Worst ever

[nina-42550 · 3/10 · 6 October 2021]

I don't know what the bbc are thinking but how this series was approved for broadcast I really dont know It's like the very worst of those American TV movies I am flabbergasted.