Silent Witness (TV Series) Cease Upon the Midnight: Part 2 (1997) User Reviews

A Little Heavy Handed/But Provocative

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 7 February 2019]

This is the second part of a show that goes into the center of the AIDS epidemic. It become clear to Sam that someone is killing AIDS patients. There are two cases of men who are desperate who are now dead. In addition to the cases themselves, we have the conflict between the morals of individuals who are in such pain and anguish that they don't want to go on, and the cultural imperative that we should never end ours or anyone else's life. This takes an interesting twist as a conflicted brother tries to understand his sibling's death from the disease. Sam tries to come up with some rationale--that there is no black and white--and yet. This is an excellent portrayal of these societal issues, including the morality of mercy killing.

Powerful.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 9 December 2019]

This heart breaking story focuses on two sensitive subjects, the AIDS tragedy and the taboo subject of euthanasia. It continues to be a very sad, but very powerful story. Attitudes have definitely changed over the years, but the desire for vengeance has not.

Euthanasia was the same complex taboo subject in 1997 that it is in 2019, we have moved no further on it, but fortunately the treatments for HIV have.

This one asks all sorts of questions, and poses scenarios which are way above my thought processes.

Finally there are some lighter moments, with a few laughs, these were officially the first ones on the show. They worked.

Powerful performances, Geoffrey Beevers is excellent, as is Joe Duttine.

Intensely sad. 9/10