Eternal Law - review

When you think of the word ‘lawyer’, angelic probably isn’t the first adjective that comes to mind. But ITV1 is aiming to change that with its new high concept drama, Eternal Law.

They're no angels. Oh, wait...

And high-concept it certainly is: angels are not only among us, they are practising law out of barristers’ chambers in York, of all places. (As someone who works with lawyers, I must point out that though they referred to themselves throughout as lawyers – presumably with an eye on the international market, on whom the intricacies of the British justice system are lost – they are in fact barristers, as they appear in court. Pedantic nitpick over.) It boasts a strong cast, headed by Sam West, and with a slew of ‘hey, it’s that guy’ faces, most notably Tobias Menzies (last seen in the Shadow Line) as a superbly slimy fallen angel who is acting for the other side. But is it any good?

Well, it’s always hard to judge a show from its pilot episode, and there were definitely some issues that kept the opener earthbound. Off-puttingly clunky opening credits, occasional moments of portentousness and a plot twist that you could see a mile off put a dampener on what should have been a fun introduction to the team (also, perhaps I wasn’t paying attention, but I’m at a loss to understand why the barristers, having discovered physical evidence that proved their client innocent, didn’t use that and instead chose to rely on a character witness?)

But there were enough good things to make me tune in again to see how it progresses. Sam West – always worth a watch – was great as the cynical angel with the chequered past and only a passing regard for celestial regulations, while Ukweli Roach was entertaining as the fresh-faced newbie, enthusiastic about his new gig while not quite au fait with how the human world worked (there’s a pleasing touch of Castiel about him – he even dresses the same – and a scene where he unceremoniously muzzled an hysterical woman with his hand ‘to stop the noise’, not realizing that’s not quite how you’re supposed to interact with people, was a classic). There’s a hint of a wider, darker storyline (one which hopefully gives the female characters more chance to shine – there’s a lot of potential in Orla Brady’s cool Mrs Sheringham), and some witty scripting (such as when Sam West’s Zac recognizes a friend in a stained glass window portrait). So if you can get your head round the basic implausibility of the show (barristers? York? Why?!) I’d say give it a go. It’s rare for TV drama to try something so original – why not give it a chance?