Edge of Darkness

Edge of Darkness was first broadcast on BBC 2 thirty five years ago. Immediately afterwards, it was given a repeat on BBC 1 – yes, it was that good and it later won 6 BAFTA's. Watching it in 2020 via the superbly produced Blu-Ray release only confirms that what they got so right back then when broadcast in 1985 stands up all too well in 2020.

CD single and Blu-Ray

I know, I know, culturally, it’s a million miles away from where we are today – the fashion screams mundane ‘80’s, computers are quaintly text based with dot-matrix printers, every time a telephone rings, you’re deafened by the bell and, on the surface, the politics are ancient, but for all of that, this tale of international nuclear conspiracy holds up very, very well.

And whilst the nuclear conspiracy tale might be one to draw you in, it is the journey of Yorkshire police officer Ron Craven (a never better Bob Peck), whose daughter (a young Joanne Whalley) is murdered in front of him and the investigation as to why she was killed that drives the story. Indeed, Craven’s descent into what appears to be a grief filled madness takes up a good third of the story – visited as he is by her ghost and the flashbacks to her childhood.

The special features are a decent addition, but nothing different from the DVD release

It is not all about Craven though, though he is the glue that holds the story together, as we are introduced to a supporting cast that lifts each episode of EoD to new heights. From Joe Don Baker’s slightly unhinged CIA agent Darius Jedburgh and Jack Watson’s old-school union leader James Godbolt; to the perfect pairing of Charles Kay and Ian McNeice as government fixers Pendleton and Harcourt, there isn’t a duff piece of casting here. Being a BBC production, there are some lovely real-life cameo’s of then current TV presenters and politicians which adds flavour to the production.

Mixing nuclear politics, 1980’s socialism and Gaia theory, EoD never quite goes full mental with it’s story, remaining grounded throughout (though famously, Peck refused to entertain the idea that his character turn into a tree in the final shot). With 20 weeks of production and a budget of £2 million, writer Troy Kennedy Martin and director Martin Campbell are given more than enough room to tell their tale well. Over six episodes, the story is slowly unfurled and tension built and, despite what might seem a pedestrian plot, nothing is wasted. Every plot point is dealt with in some way, even if it is just a seemingly throw away line. There is no sense of bloat or padding – everything has it’s place. This is an intelligent drama and requires, nay demands the viewer's attention. That’s what gives EoD it’s deeper appeal. It's engrossing and by the time you get to the penultimate episode (Northmoor), you know a worthy finale is near. And it’s Northmoor that also demonstrates one of the key highlights of the show: the soundtrack.

Composed by Michael Kamen and Eric Clapton, the music is pitch perfect for the tone and feel of the program. Whether it be the soulful, slow beats that accompany Craven’s grief or the heart-pounding clean guitar work of Clapton during the action sequences in Northmoor, every track fits. It is a successful pairing that continued to Hollywood with the Lethal Weapon series. I used to have the soundtrack on BBC cassette until it disappeared during a house move. The replacement CD single was a great find and no, it’s not for sale. At the time of writing, there is one for sale on eBay for £50 which is just plain nuts – and no, I didn’t pay that for my copy!

CD single with adapter - it's so sute!

With spot on politics for its time, on the surface EoD might seem anachronistic now, but that is to ignore the undercurrent running through it. Despite the support of Jedburgh and help from Pendleton and Harcourt, Craven is on a one man quest and by the final episode, you understand that despite whatever actions undertaken by individuals, the greater political cause will continue in its own, monolithic way. This is shown in a lovely, understated manner when Harcourt, Pendleton and Bennett (a superbly slimy Hugh Fraser playing the boss of IIF, the owners of the nuclear site at Northmoor) sit down for a meal in the final episode. Also, any comparison of the political style and content of the two main UK parties in 1985 and their modern day counterparts are... well, that's up to you. 

I originally owned this on DVD which wasn’t really a good transfer – after all, it was broadcast quality, which for those of you who lived through the ‘80’s wasn’t that great. The Blu-Ray transfer, however, is superb. Seriously, some of the shots in this show look almost blockbuster in quality – such was the benefit of using film and having the effort put in for the Blu-Ray release. If you can only pick it up on DVD by all means watch it – the quality of the writing, direction and acting are still there, just you’ll get a better visual and audio experience on the more modern format.

For me, Edge of Darkness is the quintessential 1980’s political thriller. It gets so much right, even if the politics, culture and tech have changed in the intervening years. Whether you watch this as a piece of entertainment or as an historical curio, it is certainly worth your time. It is truly a masterpiece!