Eternal Law (2012– )

Creators:

Matthew Graham, Ashley Pharoah

Stars:

Ukweli Roach, Samuel West, Orla Brady

Cast

Series cast summary:
Ukweli Roach	...	Tom Greening (6 episodes, 2012)
Samuel West	...	Zak Gist (6 episodes, 2012)
Orla Brady	...	Mrs. Sheringham (6 episodes, 2012)
Hattie Morahan	...	Hannah (6 episodes, 2012)
Tobias Menzies	...	Richard Pembroke (6 episodes, 2012)

Storyline

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2011 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Purey Cust Nuffield Hospital, Precentors Court, York, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kudos Film and Television, Monastic Productions

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tobias Menzies and Hattie Morahan were both at Frensham Heights School together but not in the same year - there's about 5 years different.

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Quotes

[introduction to each episode, spoken over opening titles]
Mrs. Sheringham: [voiceover] Whenever human beings are in trouble, that's where you'll find them. They may be tinkers or tailors, soldiers or sailors, nurses or bin-men, or strangers in the street. Perhaps, even - and this is hard to believe, I know - lawyers. They're here to help, to comfort, to guide.

User Reviews

If people are saying Eternal Law has no redeeming qualities, tell them they're completely wrong...

I admit it, I enjoy Eternal Law an ungodly amount every single week. The episodic plots are rarely good. The occasional weekly supporting actor can be atrocious. There are some dodgy special effects.

But the show has heart. It has a beguiling sense of optimism, hope, and the belief that love - while painful - is worthwhile. The show doesn't take itself seriously at all. It knows it is ridiculous. It's not trying to be Drama. The angel lawyers have gigantic wings that suddenly appear in scenes, with very little rhyme or reason. There are scenes in which angel lawyers smoke cigars on top of York Minster with their wings unfurled! But, and this is important, whilst the cheese is strong with this one, there are also a lot of balancing scenes. There are some good, tasty water crackers being used as a base for the cheese (with maybe a bit of pepper, if that's your thing) so that the taste isn't all boursin.

I adore all of the characters, who are well-rounded, with complex motivations and understandings. This is including the villain of the piece, Richard, who is a fallen angel, rather menacing, and yet completely hilarious every second he's on screen. There are compelling dynamics between the leads, not to mention some fantastic dialogue (after the pilot, which still had stellar lines such as "What happens if we get shot in this world?"/"Hurts to buggery.") Zak has epic angelpain, yet still manages to be wise and witty. Tom is adorably confused and on the steep learning curve that is life. Mrs Sheringham is supportive yet tortured. Hannah is oddly compelled to the craziness that is Zak Gist and his emotional temperature control of doom. It's all golden.

And it isn't merely the characters I have fun with. Apart from the somewhat dodgy SFX on occasion the show is shot beautifully, with interesting yet not jarring camera-work and York shown from every stunning vantage-point. The music and credits are similarly quality work.

I am very much looking forward to buying the DVDs. And whilst I doubt there will be a second series, I will jump for joy if there is one. Eternal Law makes me happy. It isn't High Art, but that doesn't mean it isn't good. It is, in its own, special, way. When it's good, it's wonderful, when it's bad, it's laughable. But I am never, ever bored.