Tennant plays Will Burton, a barrister who has never lost a case and is the go-to man for seemingly impossible cases. He is asked to defend Liam Foyle (Toby Kebbell), who is accused of brutally murdering a young woman. Foyle is weird and sinister and Burton certainly doubts he is innocent, but he does his job. And because he's so good, he is able to get Foyle off on a technicality, much to the chagrin of his rival, the prosecuting barrister Maggie Gardner (Sophie Okonedo). Unfortunately, despite winning the case, Foyle does not like Burton's attitude towards him, and proceeds to stalk his wife and son, with deadly consequences.
The Escape Artist follows Burton's attempts to use his vast legal prowess to defeat Foyle both inside and outside the court. Maggie Gardner becomes Foyle's defense attorney and Burton quickly discovers that the very laws that have helped him win cases in the past will now prevent him from protecting his family from this psychopath. The lead performances from Tennant and Kebbell are outstanding as Burton and Foyle try to outsmart each other and come out on top. The story is a legal thriller but it is also deeply emotional as Burton's family experiences horror and heartbreak.
The Escape Artist is painfully suspenseful and packed with twists that you won't see coming. As a BBC production, the intriguing plot is crammed into three nail-biting episodes rather than stretched out into a tepid 22-episode season. Writer David Wolstencroft has devised a thoroughly dark and engaging story that makes the three hours just zip by. So seek it out and settle in for a haunting but thrilling ride.
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