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Must Watch reviews: 'Code of Silence'

Every week, the Must Watch podcasters review the biggest TV and streaming shows.

This week, Scott Bryan and Hayley Campbell review Code of Silence.

A deaf waitress in a police canteen with lip reading abilities is pulled into an investigation - a dangerous game of pursuit into a violent criminal gang, starring Rose Ayling-Ellis.

But what will the team make of it?

Credit: ITV

Steffan: So, Scott is it a must watch then?

Nice little touches that I ire"

Scott: It is for me. I really enjoyed this. We've seen and we have reviewed so many different police procedures. But this is another take on it.

Scott: So, she's brought in because she's deaf and she's a lip-reader and then what happens is you see subtitles essentially appear on the screen when she's seeing other people's lips from the other side of the room.

Scott: And what I quite like is that you get to see her mental process and she's trying to work out what they're saying, the words for letters they appear on the screen, but they might be a bit jumbled at first or require a bit more context as she was explaining in that clip. So I quite like the fact that she's trying to work it out at the same time as you.

Scott: I think also there are nice little touches that I ire. So for example, her bosses, you know, originally have some reservations about her being included in the team. So, they go off to discuss it in another corner about whether, you know, she should. She can, of course, lip read. She can see it from the other side of the room!

What do the Must Watch reviewers think of Code of Silence?

Must Watch reviews Code of Silence on ITV 1 starring Rosa Ayling-Ellis.

Scott: I think the way that it includes sort of storylines important to that community, but also does not let that be the primary focus, the primary focus being just a good thriller and this is what I find Code of Silence delivers in the bucket load.

Different way of telling a crime story"

Scott: I found that every time I was able to guess where the plot was going next, it would then go in a different direction. And whilst I think the original premise is a little bit far-fetched, it is an enjoyable thriller all the same.

Hayley: Yeah, she works in the canteen downstairs.

Scott: She works in the canteen downstairs. That makes me go, maybe just wait another day and then wait for the person to come back rather than just hiring somebody from the kitchen with no training.

Scott: I like the fact that it's a thriller I haven't seen before. I thought it was very well executed. Rose Ayling-Ellis is fab in this. I’ve watched the first four now and still can’t work out where it’s going to end up.

Steffan: Which is quite an achievement here, given you’ve both laughed at this, the amount of crime procedurals and ‘whodunnits’ in British television.

Hayley: I watch them.

Scott: We review them.

Steffan: It’s the life blood of the television that we make here. And this has managed to, you know, find a bit of a sweet spot for Scott that's different for you…

Scott: I can tell a sigh is coming…

Steffan: I'm going by Hayley's facial expression…

Scott: Really an ITV drama where we're trying to guess just purely on this.

Steffan: Yeah, I'm going to say judging by these facial expressions, I'm going to say that Hayley doesn't like it. What are you saying?

Hayley: No, it's not a must watch for me. I think Rose Ayling-Ellis is great. And I love that it's a different way of telling a crime story outside of the stuff we always know. You know, the detective waking up with the hangover and the horrible home life. All the cliches that we all know.

Hayley: This is telling a different story with a character I don't think we've ever seen before. And so yes it's another police procedural, but it's doing it in a different way.

Hayley: And it also gives a lot of information to hearing people who might never have thought about what lip reading actually entails and how much of it is contextual, because, like Scott said, they do this thing with the subtitles, where it's all kind of gibberish, and she's got to put context on top of that to figure out what they're actually saying. That said, it was a little bit too explainy for me.

Scott: Really?

Credit: ITV

Hayley: Yeah, I thought it was slow moving, I lost interest. Later episodes do pick up in of plot and danger, but the first one was such a slog for me. I was checking how much longer I had to go at 25 minutes in, which is halfway through. I found it really long, but I am so picky about crime shows.

The first one was such a slog for me"

Scott: Is it because we're at saturation?

Hayley: No, we're never going to be at saturation point with crime shows. I love them, but I will just be extra picky about them. I think it's doing amazing things with the deaf community and the BSL community, but I'm not going to go, yes, well done, it’s a must watch. That seems very patronising.

Hayley: I wanted more from this.

Scott: Yeah, I can see what you mean.

Hayley: I mean, you're looking at me like I've personally broken your heart. Did you make the show?

Steffan: I'm enjoying this, I'm kicking back.

Scott: That's my general reaction to you, Hayley, may I just say. No, I mean, I can see where you're coming from. I mean, I had my attention throughout, really. And I didn't find it to explainy to me, but then again, it's me.

Steffan: Well, you're saying you need things explained?

Scott: All the time.

Hayley: This comes down to being Hayley and Scott, I think.

Steffan: But is, do you sort of give them, the makers of this, for trying to do something different.

Hayley: Absolutely. Yeah. Anyone who doesn't do the hungover detective cliche… please do more.

Scott: I also like the fact that it is, I think, having a great sense of realism throughout it, even though the stakes are a bit too ridiculous at the same time. Like, for example, Rose Ayling-Ellis' mum in this drama, she's Deaf. So when it's just them two, they are just purely g between them because what is the point of speaking out loud when the person, your loved one is deaf too?

Scott: I think the way in which it's now becoming much more commonplace of having sign language on screen as just a general point, same in Doctor Who too with Rose Ayling-Ellis’ appearance, makes such a difference to representation in our society.

Scott: I think there is always a balance - I see your point view Hayley as well without making it feel like you're in a lecture. For me, this feels like it hit the right balance, but I can see why it can be perceived that it hasn't.

Code of Silence airs Sundays and Mondays at 9pm on ITV1 and ITV X.

But before all that, why not the Must Watch team with the shows you’ve been loving, loathing or lamenting on [email protected]

This week, the team also reviewed The Bombing of Pan Am 103 and Murderbot.

As always, we like to include your reviews - on shows you love, loathe or lament.

Message @bbc5live on social media using the hashtag #bbcmustwatch or email [email protected].

Charlotte sent her thoughts on Four Seasons...

"I just wanted to write in to show some for both Hayley’s finely honed critical eye and Four Seasons! I (a 40-year-old married mother of two) watched the whole series with my husband over three nights - long live the 30 minute comedy!!

We both loved it. There were plenty of laughs amongst the more captivating feeling of the reality of couples who met in their early 20s and are now in their 50s, attempting to find a path through a new phase of life with their chosen person.

My husband and I had a conversation around how we see our own marriage developing, especially after our children grow up and leave home.

The cast's chemistry was amazing and while the comedy was not as on the nose as 30 Rock or The Office, it was most definitely there! All in all, a highly enjoyable way to spend three evenings after long, busy and often over-stimulating days!

Keep doing the good work!”

Sarah also ed the Must Watch reviewers about Four Seasons...

"I have watched the first two episodes of The Four Seasons, and just to reassure Hayley that she's not going mad, there absolutely are jokes in it, and I laughed (out loud) several times.

For reference, I am in my 40s so a lot of the topics in it are a bit closer to home than I'd like.

I could never seem to find 30 Rock as funny as everyone else thought it was though, so I don't think I'm suffering from Tina Fey blindness.”

Mike recommends Mid-Century Modern...

“Hi to the Gang of Three. I don't think you’ve mentioned Mid-Century Modern on Disney+.

It's a 10-part sitcom about three gay men who move in together, sharing the house with one character's mother.

Two of the men are older and looking to find love, while the third is a younger air steward.

I watched all 10 episodes in one go, it helps that they are all about 20 minutes long.

I can't wait for a second series."