PopSyndicate.com

Sex, sex, sex.

Linda Nelson (Suranne Jones) is a former cop turned sex therapist who shares a practice with her brother-in-law Greg (Tristan Gemmill), with whom she once had an affair. At the outset, Linda finds out that her sweet but rather dim husband Richard (Cristian Solimeno) is infertile, escalating her intense desire to have a baby into something just short of mania. She and Richard turn to Greg as a sperm donor – even though Greg’s wife is uncomfortable with the idea – but this stirs up old feelings with Linda, and the two rekindle their affair (making Greg a direct sperm donor). Meanwhile, Linda’s former lover, Detective Sergeant Angie Morton (Eva Pope) calls Linda in to consult on a case involving a very rare female death from autoerotic asphyxiation, which may point to a serial killer.

Strictly Confidential is nothing if not frank, especially with graphic scenes set in a sex club that involve male and female nudity with plenty of simulated sex, but there’s nothing particularly erotic about these bits; they come off as rather unsavory, but that was probably the intention.

Each episode of this six-part series is split into three interwoven threads: the interpersonal lives of the main characters, the quirks of their patients, and some aspect of the murder investigation. Trouble is, these disparate elements never quite seem to mesh and tend to clank up against one another, especially the far more lighthearted aspects of the patient visits, which are often played for overt humor and seem like they belong in another show entirely. The murder plot also seems tacked-on, and the ultimate solution is so out-of-the-blue as to be laughable.

Which leaves us with the interpersonal lives of the characters, but these aren’t particularly likeable people. Everyone is cheating on everyone else, and Linda’s obsession with impregnation leads her to emotionally blackmail those around her. It’s well-acted and probably realistic in many ways, but ultimately amounts to high-gloss soap opera stuff. It’s not particularly fun to watch damaged people further screw up their lives. 

The six episodes are presented across two discs with pristine transfers. The only extra is an hour-long “Behind the Scenes” feature obviously made for UK television that gives a pretty detailed look at the making of the series, including plenty of shots of extras in skimpy costumes. 

Strictly Confidential is well-produced and well-acted, but the extreme subject matter will not appeal to every taste. As a drama, it lacks a cohesive tone, and often seems clumsy and overwrought. It’s watchable, but not particularly engaging.

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