We asked for your comments on Waking The Dead, you said:
"Has anybody else spotted the striking similarities between Dr. Henderson and the real-life case of Jean-Claude Romand*, including that of reading travel guides to pretend he's actually been somewhere? "
Andrew, Surrey
"There seemed to be distinct similarities between the Channel 4 documenary, The Man Who Faked His Life*, regarding the French doctor who had lied his way through life and the episode concerning Dr Nick Henderson. Most remarkable was the fact that he had also burnt his parents' house down, killing them in the process.
I wonder if the script writers had seen this documentary and been inspired to write this episode."
Steven Fawkes, Newcastle upon Tyne
"The drama made much better television than the Channel 4 documentary. Nice to get a bit more cerebral episode than the far fetched and inconsistent Black Run. Keep it intelligent, not just action-packed."
Rosie Gillham, Lancashire
"The events depicted so mirrored relatively recent events in France that any tension was lost."
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"Good first instalment that was ruined by a weak conclusion. The events depicted so mirrored relatively recent events in France that any tension was lost. The similarities between the murder trial regarding a 'false doctor' were too based on fact. He lived a lie for 18 years, supposedly working for the IHO [International Hydrographic Organisation]*, before his lies unravelled, resulting in the murder of his family.
Shame to waste a story when so few are produced."
Ian, UK
"I really enjoy this drama and take it for what it is - great entertainment, with good stories and good actors. I think anyone with a bad word for this programme are taking things a bit too seriously."
Derek, Preston
"What a pleasure to have the strength of mind to use the 'off' button. For a Sunday night's viewing Waking the Dead is not our choice, though I notice there are viewers who find it entertaining. My husband and I will not be watching it again. The acting was stiff and totally without feeling. The continual use of flash shots in the first few minutes was very annoying. As the story developed we realised why there are so many sick people in our society today. Once again we debated why we pay a licence fee for such BBC rubbish. A very sick programme."
Mrs J Hawker, Birmingham
"This is the kind of quality drama that fully justifies the BBC licence fee. Waking The Dead offers the viewer real quality.
The latest episode built well and the new look Cold Case team are really growing together. Stella adds a bit of X-factor to the team dynamics and Felix is a new force to be reckoned with.
Most TV programme when they are into their fifth series tend to sleepwalk into meltdown - but this show remains good quality, fresh drama. It's the BBC at its absolute best."
Geoffrey Rowbottom, Peterborough
"This story was very weak, it was devoid of any suspense and lacked originality. The characters from episode 1 were thrown aside, and it soon became apparent they had little to do with the plot. There was a fine performance from guest star Toby Stephens, but he could not save perhaps the worst Waking The Dead story in five years. It's such a shame that this was so static after last week's fine story and the excellent fourth series in 2004. Fortunately it is unlikely it will get worse than this."
Bobby Fackrell, Bristol
"Toby Stephens and Nicola Stephenson, as the killer and the loyal wife in denial, both gave truly memorable performances."
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"I thoroughly enjoyed this episode and thought the plot was intriguing. It was extremely well written and directed and I loved every minute of it.
The characters of Felix and Stella are really beginning to come into their own and I look forward to seeing how their relationships develop in future episodes.
Special mention also has to go to the excellent guest stars, in particular Toby Stephens and Nicola Stephenson*, as the killer and the loyal wife in denial, who both gave truly memorable performances."
May, Cumbria
"Waking The Dead is one of very few programmes I would list as 'must see' these days. The new series does leave some room for criticism though.
Boyd's increasingly bad-tempered tantrums are getting much too frequent and staged, so much so that we will soon dread scenes he is part of.
Stella, the new character introduced to replace Mel, whilst being a lovely lady, mumbles incoherently much too often. Please speak up and speak out. As ever, the team are held together by Grace, who is a wonderful character, full of discernment and wisdom.
Overall, still a great show but could be even better with more attention to small details."
Rodney McCain, Co. Londonderry
"This series just gets better and better. Flawless acting. Exciting script. Brilliant drama.
Subterraneans was one of the best episodes of all five series. The script crackled with grit and suspense, and once again all the main Cold Case squad put in sublime performances. Unlike some previous stories, it wasn't too complicated, and I think that's when Waking The Dead is at its best.
The second part of the story was incredible. It had all the suspense, action and atmosphere of a big budget film. Toby Stephens was marvellous as Dr. Nick Henderson. This story was unique because we all knew the killer very early on, but it was a case of making him confess, and as a consequence the storyline was powerful, emotionally poignant and psychologically thrilling. As usual Boyd and Grace had fantastic on screen chemistry - and I love the way they bounce off one another.
Brilliant episode - there's not enough quality drama around these days."
Ben, Manchester
"Why is it that this drama rouses no emotion in me whatsoever? There is nothing wrong with the acting. But it's all about egos - mind games and psychobabble, cold and clinical - no soul, no smiles, no humanity.
They're characters who live in a narrow little world of lab and interrogation room. All so intense, so rushed, so incomplete. Please give the characters some genuine humanity. Even the final denouement and histrionics left me completely unmoved."
Ben Cord, Combe St Nicholas, Somerset
"The Cold Case team worked well and we did not have to suffer Boyd's weird character traits - the series works best with a good story and less emphasis on the team. Only thing I found difficult to take in was that this guy had not worked for 12 years. So how did they live? This was not explained. We as the audience are expected to suspend reality - and this does annoy sometimes."
Julia Dawson, St. Albans
"I was pleased to see a slow and well thought out finalé rather than the rushed affair of the previous story which left far too many unanswered questions."
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"One of the best stories for quite a while. I thought the cast played it brilliantly, and Toby Stephens was a superb villain of the piece. A much more human and three dimensional bad guy than any we've had so far this year. I was also pleased to see a slow and well thought out finalé rather than the rushed affair of the previous story which left far too many unanswered questions.
I didn't think anyone could replace Mel, but Stella fits in great. I hope she sticks around a while.
I wasn't impressed with Towers Of Silence, and Black Run was so so. But this episode reminded me just why I love this series."
Paul Starkey, Notts
"With the focus on the guest stars, rather than the main characters, this story gave over more time to build an understanding of the motivations and intentions of the key protagonists. Unfortunately (perhaps deliberately?), it left matters unresolved, in terms of understanding the character's motivations.
Mercifully less complicated than some previous storylines, it didn't stand up to close scrutiny e.g. How did the 'doctor' support his family financially whilst leading his double life? Why didn't research conducted under the initial police investigations into the disappearance of the two men not yield more clues?
Whilst still worth watching, the show tends to suffer from a greater emphasis of style over substance."
Graham, Edinburgh
"A great disappointment - loose ends not tied up and the whole premise of the millionaire's incarceration totally unbelieveable!
Love the show anyway though."
Songsinger, Cheshire
"It's TV - it's never going to be 100% accurate. Enjoy it for what it is and stop over-analysing it."
Paul, Reading
"I'm in the middle of watching the first episode, and have noticed when the doctor walked across the bridge to wave goodbye to his brother he was wearing wellington boots. He then saw Boyd's car approaching, and came immediately back across the same bridge but this time he had shoes on!"
Laura Sullivan, Bridport, Dorset
"The sets are low budget, unimaginative, and dark. The cast are ludicrously low in numbers."
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"This series comes a very poor second to Silent Witness. The sets are low budget, unimaginative, and dark. The cast are ludicrously low in numbers - the audience is led to believe that four detectives and one forensic scientist are all the law can muster to investigate hugely serious crimes of kidnap and murder. I find it laughable that so few are, as it were, 'on the case'. When the chief suspect is in the interview room, there isn't a soul at large in what is supposed to be a working Police Station, and when Boyd hits him, not one subordinate is on duty to witness the event.
Sue Johnston, bless her, is hopelessly miscast as Boyd's second-in-command. One expects her, at any moment, to enquire whether anyone would like a cup of tea.
As for the storyline, and the dialogue, it relies more on the odd few moments of gruesomeness to try and make an impact. But the killer's retreat, an allotment shelter, says more about the drabness of this series than anything I could write here."
Bill, Northampton
"This story was the best of the series so far, particularly the second episode. The acting was top notch and very moving at points. The storyline seemed to work better than the previous two.
I liked the way the story brought out Grace's abilities more. I do wish they would take Boyd back to the person he used to be somehow - it was more enjoyable when he had a sense of humour, but I sense this may be coming towards the end of the series."
Lindsey, Leeds
"Personally I thought this was too simple a story, as it became clear in the first episode that Nick Henderson was living in a fantasy and would need to 'deal with' people who threatened his world.
But even a below-par Waking The Dead is still good. Toby Stephens was excellent as Henderson, whilst Trevor Eve is always watchable."
Andrew Booth, Manchester
"This is the best crime drama I've ever seen. Although the storylines are compelling, the best thing about the show is the relationship between Boyd and Grace. Boyd is such a closed book that it was good to see him share a little with Grace in this episode. Trevor Eve acts his part brilliantly."
Gemma, Derbyshire
"A consistently excellent series. It has its flaws, but is still light years ahead of the many over-hyped US imports."
Alan Cornforth, Stockton-on-Tees
"Someone get some lightbulbs for the building."
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"Please, please, please will someone get some lightbulbs for the building. How anyone can work in somewhere so gloomy is beyond me."
Vicky, Durham
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