Love detective mystery dramas, particularly those from the UK and US ('Inspector Morse', 'A Touch of Frost', 'Foyle's War', 'Inspector George Gently', 'Midsomer Murders', 'Law and Order', 'Criminal Minds', 'Monk' and 'Murder She Wrote' for examples,, and non-English/American ones (i.e. The Swedish 'Wallander' and the Danish 'The Killing') also fascinate me.
'Inspector Montalbano' is one of the best and most entertaining examples. It is not easy breathing freshness into a well-worn genre but 'Inspector Montalbano' manages to do so with aplomb. Watching 'Inspector Montalbano' is like eating a delicious Italian meal that immensely satisfies and leaves you wanting more. There may be very familiar tropes, but in a way it's inevitable and doesn't detract from the enjoyment at all.
"August Flame" once again continues the high standard. It may not be one of the best 'Inspector Montalbano' episodes, with my only real complaint being the denouement being a little too obvious and simple by 'Inspector Montalbano' standards (being someone who has a preference for being surprised and challenged by crime mystery endings, which 'Inspector Montalbano' usually does). The brilliant things as always are a great many.
One always expects 'Inspector Montalbano' to look good. As always with 'Inspector Montalbano', "August Flame" is beautifully shot and the scenery is stunning, making those who've never been to Italy want to book a holiday there as soon as possible and is a treat for anybody who loves all things Italian. The episode contains some of the cleverest and most atmospheric use of location work of the show too, and the nocturnal images indeed stand out memorably. The music is never over-bearing or low-key with a nice atmosphere and flavour, a lot of it is very cleverly used. The sound effects are remarkably authentic.
Writing is tightly structured and taut, with very funny to hilarious humour (centring mainly around the reactions to the heat, can definitely empathise here as well), nail-biting tension and involving and poignant human drama (with Montalbano's beautifully portrayed personal life despite an unexpected conclusion to the subplot) balanced beautifully. The story is intriguing and tightly plotted, balancing the mystery and personal life elements adeptly.
Characters may be stereotypes but well-written ones, especially one of the most fascinating foreign detective mystery dramas titular characters.
The acting as always is terrific, especially from Luca Zingaretti who is a treasure in the title role, having a perfect balance of comedy and drama and playing it straight while always engaging with his material. A deliciously seductive Serena Rossi is another standout.
In summary, excellent if not quite one of the best. 9/10 Bethany Cox