A dip back into the archive with 2008’s Wired led by a sparky Jodie Whittaker
“Did the police take the bait?”
Nothing dates a show quite like its depiction of technology. Wired may only be 15 years old or so but it already feels as dated as Toby Stephens’ floppy hairdo. Written by Kate Brooke, it’s a 3-part ITV miniseries that boasts an impressive cast but lacks a cutting edge to its storytelling located in the world of high finance crime.
Jodie Whittaker plays Louise Evans, a single mother and bank employee who finds herself trapped in a web of conspiracy and fraud when her best friend’s boyfriend (Laurence Fox, who thankfully gets punched) decides to blackmail her. He used to work at the same bank but got fired and as he knows things about Louise’s past, he forces her co-operation.
There’s multiple layers to the fraudsters though, bosses who have bosses who have bosses, and so it is an uneasy alliance at best, with double-crosses the name of the game. Toby Stephens’ undercover Detective Hill is also in the mix but as he gets involved with Louise, an already murky picture becomes increasingly dangerous for all concerned.
It’s pacy enough under Kenny Glenaan’s direction and with a cast that also includes Jason Watkins, Riz Ahmed, Ramon Tikaram and a baby Sacha Dhawan, it is watchable. It just never feels particularly convincing as a thriller, not finding a visual language for watching bank transfers that is exciting enough to be its main thrust. Whittaker is good though, working in ambivalence to Louise so we’re never quite sure where she is in the game.
