DVD REVIEW: ‘The Brief’ is far too brief

There’s much to appreciate in The Brief, the legal drama from Great Britain that’s now available on DVD from Acorn Media Group. Alan Davies’ performance is subdued, but spot-on. As Henry Farmer, an accomplished law barrister with many problems plaguing his personal and professional life, the actor is able to ground the show in realism. The goings-on of The Brief could have easily titled toward the melodramatic rather quickly, but because Farmer is such a believable character, the drama feels authentic.

It’s safe to say that shows like this one rarely gravitate across the Pond. The offbeat humor and storytelling techniques seem quite foreign to an American audience. Perhaps the great divide is that The Brief focuses on its characters, much more than the crime of the week. Farmer’s cases hold equal weight to his personal troubles, including his guardianship of a drunk father, his budding relationship with a journalist and his dedication to ensuring his clients have a fair trial. He is in no ways righteous. He has his flaws, much like everyone else. Whether it’s bookie’s fees from gambling or his impatience with his colleagues, Farmer might be heroic, but he’s no hero.

The complete collection from Acorn Media only consists of eight episodes, each running a little more than a hour. With only 600 minutes of The Brief, the show is far too brief. If the show were retooled and shortened, it would have felt more episodic. As it stands, these eight episodes play like mini-movies.

At first glance, the legal drama appears to be set in a much older era. The barristers sport those black robes and curly white wigs, but this isn’t the 18th century. When the courtroom battles are over, the wigs are tossed and legal teams return to their normal clothes.

The series premiere, called “The Road to Hell,” displays the show’s strengths and inevitable weaknesses. With such a strong central performance, plus some nice supporting work, the life and difficulties of Farmer far eclipse his individual cases. There’s not much of an invested interest in what happens to a married couple charged with murdering their children in the first episode. It’s a devastatingly sad case, but the emotion is largely missing. Farmer is not a reactionary type. He sees the good in people, but doesn’t get caught up in the feelings of his clients. This keeps his cases distant.

The other negative is that a central plot point is largely missing: The Brief shows Farmer collecting evidence and interviewing his clients, but he seems to rely on a great deal of assumptions and hunches. These feelings don’t receive much subtext. Farmer simply makes an estimation about a person and then goes from there.

Still, there’s much more to enjoy in The Brief. It’s thoughtful, high-minded drama that somehow feels down to earth. The comedy is also present through the plot. Farmer and his friends are good company, indeed. Don’t let the wigs and robes throw you, this is a show about real people with real problems and real triumphs.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• The Brief: Complete Collection

• On DVD from Acorn Media Group

• 4 discs, 8 episodes, 599 minutes

• Starring Alan Davies, Cherie Lunghi, Chirstopher Fulford, George Innes and Linda Bassett

• Rating: