REVIEW: ‘Single-Handed’ from Acorn TV

Photo: Owen McDonnell stars as Garda Sgt. Jack Driscoll in Single-Handed. Photo courtesy of Acorn TV / Provided with permission.

Single-Handed, an Irish TV series consisting of nine episodes, has been on DVD and streaming from Acorn TV for a couple of years, and now with the world facing some downtime due to the coronavirus pandemic, the show proves to be extremely binge-worthy for those people looking to pass the many hours at home.

The police procedural has a light, airy feel, perhaps because of the unique environs of rural Ireland; however, lurking behind the greenery and quaint village life is a darkness that is brimming with death and destruction.

The TV series, which ran from 2007 to 2010, stars Owen McDonnell as Garda Sgt. Jack Driscoll. He used to ply his trade in Dublin, but when the show begins, he has recently been transferred to the bucolic west coast of Ireland, the place of his birth. His father is the retired police official in the local area, but Jack is now on the job, while his dad keeps company at the local watering hole.

In the debut episode, running 90 minutes after parts one and two are combined, there has been a death in the local village. The body of a woman have been found in a trailer, and it’s obvious from the get-go that she has died from inhaling gas fumes. When Jack starts asking questions about who owns the trailer, who the identity of the woman is and what might have happened, he is truly surprised by the results.

If viewers think they know how this drama’s first episode will unfold, they should be ready to be surprised. There are many twists and turns, and again that darkness factor comes into play. What is ultimately discovered is earth-shattering, creepy and fully unexpected.

McDonnell does a wonderful job keeping his cool as Driscoll. He seems to be the voice of reason in a town that has mostly lost its reason. He is willing to seek out justice for crimes both old and new, and he will not let anyone off the hook, know matter their power or personal connection to him. McDonnell offers a steady, calming performance, even when the surroundings are anything but steady and calming.

Single-Handed no doubt earned that title because Driscoll finds himself with few friends and trusted partners; he is truly single-handed in his police work. But that doesn’t stop him from disrupting the social life of this small town. Like so many good detective stories, it’s the protagonist versus the world.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

Single-Handed: The Complete Collection, starring Owen McDonnell, is now available on DVD from Acorn TV. Click here for more information.