Ending To Season One?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Prime Suspect
kailess — 18 years ago(January 10, 2008 05:49 PM)
I'm considering buying the Prime Suspect series after catching season one on NetFlix. My question (spoiler warning) - did Season One really end with the guy saying "not guilty" at the trial? I was getting ready to order disc three of season one and can't find one. Was that really the ending or is NetFlix missing a disc?
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Harold_Robbins — 17 years ago(May 22, 2008 07:02 PM)
I just finished watching Series One a few minutes ago - I watched the entire thing today - I don't know yet whether to be angry or impressed with the way it ended. I'll have to think about it.
"Stone-cold sober I find myself absolutely
fascinating!"
Katharine Hepburn -
cheri-ross — 17 years ago(June 10, 2008 11:54 AM)
I was surprised by the ending ("not guilty") but then my very perceptive husband pointed out that the camera had just panned over the gallery in the courtroom, lingering on Marlow's mother. His whole psychology was based on a fatal distinction between his mother ('saint') and women he was sexually attracted to ('whores'), which enabled him to treat the latter as he did. (And remember that his confession was spurred by his anger at the thought that Moyra, his common-law wife and former prostitute, would talk with his mother.)
When it came to admitting in front of his mother what he had done, he couldn't do it. But there was no question that he would be convicted. So not really a cliffhanger, as some have described it.
hope this helps! -
gobears87 — 15 years ago(July 01, 2010 04:28 AM)
The ending of Season 1 is not a cliff-hanger at all. With all the forensic evidence available at the garage, plus Moyra's statements, plus the taped confession, a guilty verdict is a foregone conclusion. (Cheri-Ross floats a plausible pschological explanation for Marlow's unwillingness to plead guilty in open court.)
I don't think it's a spoiler to note that George Marlow's character reappears in a later Prime Suspect series as a man behind bars for life. He is definitely convicted for his crimes. -
grendelkhan — 15 years ago(September 24, 2010 02:35 PM)
It's interesting to note that when originally broadcast, both in the UK and US, many viewers at the end of the first epsiode believed Marlow to be innocent and that he was being railroaded or "fitted up", as the Brit's say. Episdoe 2 pulls it altogether. The Series 4 episode, "The Scent of Darkness" reveals the motivation for Marlow's killings and the basis for his psychosis.
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holly-4ever — 11 years ago(September 27, 2014 01:51 AM)
Thanks for this. I just finished E1 and was flabbergasted by the ending, but now I understand.I actually couldn't settle on Marlow's guilt because we weren't told/shown a clear motivation and he seemed innocent, as he stuck to his story.
John Bowe was amazing in the role. -
AnneOnymous — 12 years ago(September 15, 2013 09:39 AM)
It's quite common for guilty people who have a wealth of forensic evidence and witness testimonies to plead "not guilty," as a last ditch attempt at freedom.
I liked the ending because it shows you how no matter how hard the police work to get that confession, charge him and bring him to trial, the legal process doesn't end there and it isn't a foregone conclusion that he will be found guilty. That's life! Fantastic ending.