Jenna Coleman sleuths in clichéd but compelling feminist drama The Jetty – review

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In a painting from the 17th century called Judith Slaying Holofernes, the Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi showed a well-known biblical scene where Judith cuts off the head of the Assyrian general, Holofernes. This painting is thought to represent Gentileschi's own personal experience - she was attacked by her mentor, Agostino Tassi. It has become a powerful symbol of women taking control of their own stories after experiencing violence from men. In the BBC thriller The Jetty, when a detective sees this painting, we can expect a story about fighting for and owning one's own narrative.

In a small Lancashire town where everyone is familiar with each other - and some are even related - a fire at the boathouse sets off a series of events that will lead DC Ember Manning (played by Jenna Coleman) back to her own past. As they sift through the remains, podcaster Riz Samuel (played by Weruche Opia) joins Ember in investigating a cold case. A young girl named Amy (played by Bo Bragason) vanished many years ago and her body was never discovered. What is the connection between the fire at the jetty and the missing girl? And could this old mystery be linked to a series of current sexual crimes?

It is a well-known mix. The story includes police investigation along with memories from the past, giving viewers a glimpse into Amy and her friend Caitlin's story unfolding in the 1990s. Meanwhile, Ember and Riz are solving mysteries in the present time. Ember, a skilled and bold police officer, is investigating a case involving her ex-husband who has passed away. She is more capable than her current position as a detective constable. "I am a mystery, hidden in a puzzle, wrapped in affordable office clothes," she says to her clueless partner, Hitch. Balancing work on the force and raising a teenage daughter has left Ember little time to reflect on her personal life, but the revelations in Amy's case force her to think about her own circumstances.

Coleman, known best for her role on Doctor Who, is a great host for the show, giving Ember a realistic charm. She confidently declares, "I can detect my own mistakes." This world is full of them, a world where men's crimes against women are constantly surfacing. The Jetty focuses on the widespread nature of abuse. Ember talks about the search for sex offenders in the town, men who may have raped and impregnated a young girl, comparing it to "looking for a single needle in a stack of needles." In this environment of ongoing violation, how do you identify the person who takes that next step and becomes a murderer?

Ember explains to a group of students that not all men are capable of harming women, but our society creates an environment where those who are can thrive. This is a strong feminist perspective that is often missing in portrayals of violence against women in crime stories. This can lead to a sense of hypocrisy, where the show unintentionally perpetuates the very issues it criticizes. While Ember is working to expose the community's systemic sexism, flashbacks depict the teenage girls in a sexualized manner. The struggle to maintain a balance between the message and the delivery is filled with challenges.

Nevertheless, there is a lot of good content in The Jetty compared to your typical detective show. Ember fits the mold of a troubled detective with a dead spouse, rebellious daughter, and issues with authority figures. The mystery storyline is straightforward, and the characters are limited in number. While the ending may not be groundbreaking, it avoids cliché plot twists often seen in stories with multiple timelines. Even though the dialogue can sometimes feel forced, Coleman's performance remains captivating to watch.

The TV show "The Jetty" doesn't bring anything completely new to the crime genre. It actually takes inspiration from many shows on the BBC. However, the controlled and contained story, along with the appealing main character, helps to make up for some of the clichés. The end product is a captivating mystery that subtly and confidently incorporates political themes. It may not be considered a work of art worthy of being displayed in a prestigious gallery, but among cold-case dramas, it earns its spot on the wall.

You can watch 'The Jetty' on BBC One and iPlayer.