David Tennant Shines in The Escape Artist Despite Tortured Plot

BBC One’s The Escape Artist promised a taut legal thriller, and in many ways it delivered. It offered suspense, strong performances, and an engrossing premise about justice denied and vengeance pursued. Yet by its conclusion, the drama revealed itself as both entertaining and implausible — a series buoyed by David Tennant’s brilliance but weighed down by a tortured and often ludicrous storyline.

A Final Scene That Showed Tennant’s Brilliance

The closing act of The Escape Artist distilled exactly why Tennant remains one of the most highly valued actors on British television. His character, Will Burton, was a celebrated barrister, undefeated in court but haunted by the consequences of his professional success. Having defended Liam Foy, a vicious killer played by Toby Kebbell, Burton inadvertently freed a murderer who later took the life of his wife.

In the final episode, Burton tracked Foy to a remote pub in the Scottish Highlands. Sitting alone in his car, he was paralyzed with dread at what he was about to do. Tennant conveyed the moment with a raw authenticity — the beads of sweat, the nervous tics, the palpable terror of a man crossing the line from law to vengeance. For viewers, it was a rare moment of absolute connection: a credible human response to an otherwise extreme, even implausible, situation.

A Storyline That Strained Belief

That Tennant could make the moment so affecting was all the more remarkable given the script’s shortcomings. The story, though gripping in pace and presentation, often strained belief to the breaking point.

The courtroom scenes bordered on the absurd, with Foy repeatedly acquitted of charges on flimsy technicalities. His transformation into an almost mythic villain — simultaneously unstoppable yet undone by a conveniently fatal weakness — felt contrived. By the finale, the series leaned heavily on coincidence and melodrama rather than careful plotting.

The killer’s sudden relocation to an isolated log cabin in Scotland, coupled with his extremely rare allergy that could be used against him, stretched the drama’s credibility even further. The concluding trial seemed perfunctory, especially given the title of the series had already foreshadowed the outcome.

The Strength of the Performances

Yet if the script faltered, the cast never did. Tennant brought nuance and intensity to Will Burton, balancing arrogance with anguish, confidence with torment. His portrayal elevated the material, grounding even the most implausible twists in emotional truth.

Toby Kebbell was equally compelling as Liam Foy, imbuing the killer with menace and unpredictability. His performance made the villain both terrifying and magnetic, the kind of adversary viewers love to hate. Sophie Okonedo also stood out as Maggie Gardner, Burton’s legal rival, bringing intelligence and sharpness to a role that could easily have been overshadowed.

Together, the trio’s chemistry gave the series an energy and tension that kept viewers watching — even when the story’s logic faltered.

Direction, Pace, and Style

Credit must also go to the direction and production team. The show maintained a slick pace and polished style throughout its run. The cinematography made strong use of contrasts: the sterile confines of the courtroom, the claustrophobic interiors of Burton’s home, and the eerie emptiness of the Scottish countryside.

Dialogue was sharp, if occasionally overblown, and the editing kept viewers hooked with well-timed revelations and cliffhangers. Even as the story veered into melodrama, the momentum rarely lagged.

A Flawed But Gripping Thriller

In the end, The Escape Artist was both maddening and mesmerizing. Its narrative flaws — implausible legal maneuvers, improbable coincidences, and overwrought twists — were glaring. Yet its ability to entertain, to keep audiences glued to their screens despite those flaws, cannot be denied.

For some viewers, the drama’s manipulations felt insulting, as though the writers prioritized shock over substance. For others, the sheer energy and suspense outweighed the implausibility. Either way, it was the performances — especially Tennant’s — that ensured the series left a lasting impression.

Tennant’s Legacy

If nothing else, The Escape Artist reinforced Tennant’s reputation as one of the finest actors of his generation. His ability to inhabit Will Burton so completely, to make viewers feel the character’s fear, grief, and rage, elevated a flawed script into must-watch television.

Tennant’s turn in the series may not eclipse his work in Broadchurch or Doctor Who, but it reminded audiences of his range and his ability to anchor even the most far-fetched drama in something recognizably human.

Conclusion

The Escape Artist was not perfect — far from it. Its plotting was tortuous, its contrivances obvious, and its credibility often stretched to breaking point. Yet it was also riveting television, bolstered by stylish direction, sharp pacing, and an extraordinary central performance.

It was proof, once again, that even when the script lets him down, David Tennant rarely does.

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