The verdict is in. ITV1’s York-set legal drama Eternal Law has been convicted of being tosh in the first degree.
Benji Wilson in the Telegraph gave the angels-as-lawyers romp two stars, calling actors Samuel West and Tobias Menzies “the very best thing about a really quite bad show”.
Sam Wollaston in The Guardian declared himself “baffled” by the “odd” and “silly” episode.
“Except for the miraculous moment when York turned from enjoying a sunny day to enduring a rainy one (congratulations that continuity editor), the show lacks magic,” said Andrew Billen behind his paywall in The Times, although he did suggest “series 2 might actually work”.
Lois Cameron in The Yorker was kinder, calling Eternal Law “daft, certainly, but original all the same, and for that reason, I’m willing to go with it.” And although willing to give the series the benefit of the doubt, Vicky Parry on oneandother.com found “the script also left me cold and at points I sadly found myself cringing”.
Twitter, on the whole, agreed. Here are a few of our favourites:
Lovely setting in #York (if you can dodge the sniper) but the drama must be made out of leftover Christmas turkey #EternalLaw
— Jonathan Cowap (@joncowap) January 5, 2012
#EternallawWhat to be most concerned about? – sniper fire in street or angels drinking in a clearly signed no alcohol zone!
— York Travel (@york_travel) January 6, 2012
York looks lovely but that’s about it. I’m done. #EternalLaw
— Emma (@TheDailyEmma) January 7, 2012
Watching #eternallaw and I have to say that ITV Drama is once again hitting its ‘bollocks’ quota splendidly.
— Daniel Whelan (@misiumowi) January 7, 2012
RT @TeaShopAssessor
Almost no queue at the moment in #Bettys #Yorktwitpic.com/84dtbi ~~ Obviously scared of a sniper attack #eternallaw
— Carl (@Carl19692) January 7, 2012
Watched the 1st episode of #EternalLaw. The moment in the hospital room when Zak spreads his wings (literally) is TERRIBLE in hilarious way.
— Flo (@fuluoliang) January 7, 2012
Seriously, Castle Museum is not the hospital, fights do not happen at Punch Bowl and there’s no market in St Helen’s Sq. #EternalLaw #fail
— Caroline Challis (@challcat) January 8, 2012
Watched #EternalLaw, the new drama from the creators of Life On Mars. Also from the creators of Bonekickers – #sadlymorerelevant.
— Richard Nelson (@badblokebob) January 7, 2012
I just watched #EternalLaw. What an oddity. As if produced while on LSD.
— Rhian Davies (@crimeficreader) January 6, 2012