Maxine

It is an interesting and well-acted study of relationship dynamics, but the question remains: why are we examining this particular relationship at all?

Writer Simon Tyrrell steered a careful, middle course in the opening episode. Carr (played by newcomer Jemma Charlton) was clearly enamoured with Huntley.

A restrained, unsalacious affair. ... The drama's purpose is in trying to understand what made Carr cover for Huntley, thus far suggesting she believed he was innocent. But the thing is, I don't care. Her motivations don't interest me.

It’s a perfectly serviceable script and the two leads – newcomer Jemma Carlton as Carr and Line of Duty’s Scott Reid as Huntley – wring every bit of truth and nuance out of it that they can. ... Virtually all other characters are banished to the periphery. The police investigating the case are no more than ciphers, and Jane (Natalie Britton), the brash London journalist, is there to do no more than enable an underbaked exploration of press freedom and journalistic responsibility.