Striking Out

The cast of Striking Out, with star Amy Huberman on far right .

Premise:  After discovering her fiancé Eric with another woman, Tara Rafferty (Amy Huberman) hits reset on her life and career. She quits the law firm where she worked with Eric and breaks off her engagement. Describing herself as a "corporate attorney gone walkabout," she sets up practice in a former metal works factory adjacent to a coffee house. Tara surrounds herself with a team comprised of: a client--awaiting trial for fraud--who serves as her assistant; a leather-clad, soft-spoken female private detective; and a legal colleague immersed in a high profile case. Tara's clients include a bigamist's wife, a young couple who may lose custody of their son, and a woman written out of her late father's will. These cases often cause Tara to cross paths with Dunbar & Calloways--and Eric's parents, who are seriously displeased that she refuses to take back Eric.

Running Time: 50 minutes.

Status:  Striking Out debuted on Irish television in 2017 and can be streamed on Acorn TV in the U.S. Thus far, it consists of one season of four episodes.

Production Notes: The most familiar faces for American audiences are probably Neil Morrissey and Nick Dunning. Morrissey, who plays barrister Vincent Pike, previously starred in the TV series Line of Duty, Grantchester, and The Night Manager. He was also cast as a murder suspect recently in a season 19 Midsommer Murders episode. Nick Dunning, who stars as Tara's father Conrad, has had a long career in film and television. His previous work includes Da Vinci's Demons, Vexed, Injustice, and The Tudors.

Our Review:  Striking Out is an engaging, well-written legal drama that hits the ground running and never lets up. There's no shortage of subplots, whether it's Tara's strained relationship with her mother or the potentially dark ulterior motive of private investigator Meg Riley (smartly played by Fiona O'Shaughnessy). Amy Huberman makes an appealing lead, portraying Tara as a professional woman still sorting out her emotions even as she embraces her new "adventure." The colorful Dublin cityscapes will be an added bonus for American viewers. It's too bad the first season includes just four episodes--but thankfully, a second season has already been commissioned.

Grade: A-.