Steeltown Murders

The Steeltown Murders is four-part drama based on real life events that took part in 1973 and 2002 beginning with the series of murders that occurred in the South Wales area. Generally, the TV drama has some time travelling features about that frequently takes us back to the beginning of the basic side of the somewhat painstaking and exhaustive investigation of the murders and then forward to DNA developments to identify the suspect. For those whom are unfamiliar with this case, it might be hard to follow at times as it frequently time travels back and forth but nevertheless it's very gripping, bleak and gritty.

But here he gets the role he has been waiting for, and many chances to carry the production on his shoulders when needed. It is not for this reviewer to wonder why this was done as a series instead of a one-of? The fact remains that any shortcomings in the "action" are more than compensated for by the superb writing, acting, and direction. Give it a chance and you will get caught up. Stories about doing the right thing for the right reasons are so rare today, they should be cherished. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

I agree with everything Geordie 101 said. It started quite slowly and in a slightly confusing manner, but that's good. It makes the viewer sit up and pay attention. Really good performances from everyone especially Glenister and the actor who played his younger character. It was marvellous to see 'Coaches' from Gavin and Stacey play such a prominent part and the chemistry between him and Glenister was palpable. I was a young woman working with the police in the 70s and their portrayal of the CID officers in particular was spot on. This is a dramatisation of real events where people really were murdered. I think the tone was perfect. I've just read a review by the The Telegraph where is was described as 4hrs of turgid viewing. Ignore that. Watch it. It's a tremendous piece of drama retelling true life events.

Writer Ed Whitmore has a couple of decades experience with crime stories, including penning many of the best episodes of 'Silent Witness'. The compelling Steeltown story seemlessly alternates between the original investigation in 1973 and the new investigations in the present.

It had resonances with 'Life on Mars' and shared a lead in Philip Glenister, who shines here along with the rest of an accomplished local cast. Above all it felt totally authentic.

Production values were excellent, it was beautifully directed and photographed by Marc Evans and Sam Thomas respectively, with some tremendous set piece scenes (The funeral - wow!). It had a very strong sense of period with fantastic attention to detail and a fine score by Sarah Warne.

One of the best UK dramas of 2023, highly recommended and hats off to all involved, it was obviously a labour of love created by a close team.

A very confusing beginning. Where music is often used to establish a time frame for a drama, the two songs used at the beginning of this one were from 1970. So I thought it was 1970, but then there was one from 1973. The latter being the correct one chronologically to map on to the events that unfolded.

But hang on, this was a flashback, so what year was the new investigative work taking place. It took a while, but I think it was 2003.

So, the start of the drama was very muddled, especially character wise.

Overall I thought it was one episode too long. The third part particularly dragged and the final couple of episodes could have been condensed into one.

Premise: Twenty-first century technological advances help detectives with a cold murder case from 1973.

Geraldine Hughes and Pauline Floyd both left the Top Rank nightclub in Swansea without ever making it home.

Their bodies were discovered later in Llandarcy. Dubbed the case of the "Saturday Night Strangler", it became the first documented case of a serial killer in Wales.

If it hadn't been for the fact it was based on real events it would have seem cliched; young detective should be seen and not heard and not have anything to offer the operation being run by superiors who are seriously flawed policing wise.

A strong cast, particularly Philip Glenister, made this watchable.