C.B. Strike, ‘The Cuckoo’s Calling’ Plot Summary:
Based on the novel, ‘The Cuckoo’s Calling’ written by J.K. Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Cormoran Strike (Tom Burke) is a down-on-his-luck private investigator with a complicated past. He’s the son of a famous British rockstar, an Army veteran who lost his leg in the Middle East, and is estranged from a socialite fiancee. With a new secretary in tow (Holliday Grainger), he takes on the case of the suicide of super model Lula Landry (Lula Landry) — which might not be a suicide at all.
C.B. Strike, Cinemax’s latest imported crime drama, is a series you should not be sleeping.
Don’t think just because this series is airing during the summertime at 10 p.m. on a Friday night that this is some disposable series Cinemax is using to fill time. If they wanted to fill time they could rerun Sherlock Holmes, or Assassin’s Creed for the millionth time.
Cinemax has been sneaky good at airing really strong shows on this late Friday night slot like The Knick, and Banshee. C.B. Strike is no different.
On the surface C.B. Strike seems like another procedural featuring an eccentric British investigator. How many of these have we seen? And how many American versions of this series have we seen?
However, there’s something different about this series. Eccentricity, and motormouthed over-explanations of criminal proceedings have been replaced with a grittier, methodical lead character who used his wits and street smarts to advantage like the detectives of the days of Sam Spade, and the stuff of film noir heyday. Tom Burke breathes so much complexity into the quiet Cormoran Strike. Despite knowing only cursory information about Strike’s complex life, Burke carries this yet-to-be-shown history into every scene as both a cross, and a birthmark. Burke’s quiet charisma sucks you in at every turn — whether he’s investigating where he should, dealing with his amputated leg, or even self-medicating through drugs and alcohol.
Outside of our charismatic lead, the story structure of the premiere episode really draws you in. The reason for this is because the story unfolds as the investigation unfolds. When we’re met with the case — doing a deeper dive investigation into. model’s suicide — to both the audience and Strike, it all seems pretty routine. However, as new information comes to light we, as well as Strike become more and more intrigued. Both our curiosities are piqued, and we really want to know more. And as the end credits roll — we’re left at 11 p.m. on a Saturday night desperately wanting more.
We want to know about the case. We want to dive deeper into Strike’s life. We want to see more of the excellent, sparingly used team of Strike and Robin Ellacott. Simply put, we can’t wait for Friday night at 10 p.m.
Rating: 8 out of 10
I totally agree with your brilliant review. But Strike doesn’t use drugs neither in the books, nor on the show.
I thought right before he meets Bristow that he does some sort of drug because he’s rubbing something on his gums, which I assumed was cocaine.
It was toothpaste.