Strange to think that this episode was written by the same guy who wrote the brilliant IL6/2 aka Know Thine Enemy, because I thought this one was just awful - I watched it through twice and felt no differently second time around...
As he always does, Nat gave us some fabulous facial expressions and he did his absolute best with what he was given. But what he was given was an attempt at a tough plot that just didn't work.
It had too many handy co-incidences and character connections, and it was just all too earnest and fake. But oh look, Tommy arrested, again... sorry but we've been there and done that. I just didn't buy the whole thing, I'm afraid.
I thought the dialogue was generally weak and decidedly naff, with sound bites/quotes that were embarrassing, frankly... as in young child to his loser of a father,
"Dad. What's this long trip? Are you trying to tell me something?" *clunk*
Or said father trying to be poetical,
"..the darkness spread like a stain." Oh puhleease...
I once heard someone say (now who can that be..?) that stereotypes were stereotypes for a reason.... well they were certainly liberally sprinkled throughout and ranged from good cop, bent cop, to lawyer with a dark secret, followed by disappointed rich man drowning his sorrows in drink.
And I think the BBC must have blown the wardrobe budget on the Rome shoot, because the annoying Julia travelled with her silly beret from her workplace in said city, all the way to an evening out with Tommy in London. But then he never seemed to take off the same leather jacket in every location in which he found himself either..!
I'm sorry but I shall have to disagree with you over Samantha Bond's performance, webmistress,

Having seen her in the theatre doing Oscar Wilde I have a very high opinion of her, but this was so OTT.
And who the heck was the creeping, slinking Det Supt Tate anyway?? A catwalk model?? Oh I forgot, she was another stereotype...
It's a great pity that, because of the sensitivity of the unresolved situation with the abduction of Maddie McCann still fresh in the mind's of a British audience, this episode may well not be shown here in the immediate future.
A great pity that is, not for *this* awful offering, but because there's a cracking second episode of this series waiting in the wings, that is like a breath of fresh air and really ought to secure Nat further episodes...
Pixie and her twopennyworth!