You might think you've become immune to heartbreaking experiences at this point in your life. The cumulative effect of age, life experiences, and daily headlines highlighting the world's relentless cruelty may have thickened the protective callus surrounding your soul. Especially when it is transmitted through the simple, everyday medium of television.
However, along comes a production like “The Sixth Commandment” that, throughout its four carefully crafted episodes, systematically peels off that callus, scene by scene. It serves as a stark reminder of what television, human beings, and the human heart are still capable of achieving.
Stars: Adrian Rawlins, Amanda Root, Conor MacNeill
Created by the talented Sarah Phelps and skillfully directed by Saul Dibb, the series reveals the chilling true story of Peter Farquhar (played by Timothy Spall), a retired schoolteacher from Stowe, and his neighbor Ann Moore-Martin (played by Anne Reid ). Both individuals, one after the other, become entangled with a young orderly named Ben Field (played by Éanna Hardwicke). Field insinuates himself into their lives, making himself indispensable, and after they change his will to make him the primary beneficiary, he proceeds to murder Peter and attempts to murder Ann. Before these heinous acts, he subjects them, especially Peter, to repeated poisonings and various forms of psychological torment, all out of sheer excitement.
Sarah Phelps is recognized for her work on “A Very British Scandal” and her expert adaptations of Agatha Christie's novels. However, with “The Sixth Commandment,” she applies her considerable talent to create something more nuanced and even more brutally impactful in her own subtle but profound way. The layers of horror in Peter's story, which takes center stage in the first hour, build relentlessly to the point where watching becomes almost unbearable. It is a study in the power of faith, loneliness, and the enduring vulnerability of humanity, particularly that of the virtuous, innocent, and unworldly when faced with someone devoid of moral limitations.
Peter is a homosexual man who, due to his faith and personality, has rarely acted on his wishes. “Even my deviation is pathetic,” he confesses to his priest and advisor. We helplessly witness how Ben, a born predator, effortlessly sizes up this good, suffering man, exploiting his longing for any form of companionship (he will settle for so little) and his self-loathing, before making the sinister move of he.
Beginning with gentle affection, poetry, and a professed love for Christ, Peter is overjoyed to find his soul mate. Initially, the poison in their relationship is metaphorical, as Ben positions himself at the center of Peter's world, isolating him from the rest of his life, while he spreads innuendo about Peter's nonexistent drinking problem. Meanwhile, Ben presents himself as the young savior. Later, the poison becomes literal.
Timothy Spall delivers a performance that equals or even surpasses any previous work, a statement not made lightly. Given the exquisite writing and direction, Spall offers a magnificent and captivating portrait of what could easily be the least notable subject: a good man. Peter, a beloved professor who continues to give guest lectures at a university even after retiring (how he meets Ben), is smart, funny and kind, but tormented by what he sees as his deep weaknesses.
His faith serves as an anchor, but church teachings prevent her from reconciling it with his homosexuality. “The Sixth Commandment” deserves praise for never mocking faith. In the next few episodes, especially with Anne Reid as Ann, he recognizes his importance in people's lives and the comfort he can provide, even as Ben distorts everything he is meant to represent.
Éanna Hardwicke, who plays Ben, strikes a remarkable balance. Evil characters can often be one-dimensional and uninteresting, but Hardwicke infuses Ben with a disconcerting mix of calculation, charm, and a subdued, almost hidden delight in the damage he inflicts. It becomes impossible to look away.
You'll want to look away because he's truly heartbreaking. The intrusion of malevolence into the lives of these good and godly individuals is devastating. Before Ben resorts to murder, he inflicts immense suffering. Beyond the central trio of characters, the entire supporting cast is brilliant, with performances from Annabel Scholey as Ann's devoted niece, Conor MacNeill as Martyn, Ben's guilt-ridden accomplice and victim, and Anna Crilly, Jonathan Aris and James Harkness as the police investigators. who finally catches Ben.
Watch The Sixth Commandment 2023 Tv Series Trailer
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