Single-Handed is an Irish television series partially based on the corruption of the Garda in County Donegal. The show stars Owen McDonnel as Jack Driscoll, the Sergeant of the local Garda (Police) who is partnered with a corrupt and sometimes incompetent second in command, Finbarr Colvin (David Herlihy). Their job is to keep law and order, but an ex-Garda member and shady Pub owner named Dennis Costello (Sean McGinley) has all of his dirty little fingers in almost every criminal act in the county and still holds strong ties to the Garda organization. Despite being forced to deal with the corruption, quite literally, single-handed, Driscoll’s resolve and persistence gives Costello, and whoever else may find their way into his jurisdiction, more then they can handle.   

In the first episode of Single-Handed Set 2 he meets his English cousin Brian Doyle (Matthew McNulty), along with his girlfriend Gemma (Simone Lahbib), who has come searching for clues to his own family past. When Driscoll’s mother (Ruth McCabe) is unable to give him answers Brian looks to Jack to help him uncover the mystery of where he came from. Jack agrees unknowing that what he will uncover is actually a dark family secret. Meanwhile there has been a murder and the prime suspect is a youth who comes from a troubled background. Is he guilty of murder or just in the wrong place at the wrong time. As if enough wasn’t already going on in Jack’s life Dennis Costello is looking to open a nightclub next door to his pub and Jack is fervently against it. Costello can’t even begin to plan until Jack signs off on the project and Costello knows Jack never will and begins to devise a plan to get rid of him.  

Episode two finds Jack and Brian at odds when Brian discovers that the land Jack’s mother is living on rightfully belongs to him and he is making a claim to it. Gemma is upset with Brian over this and the two begin to come apart as a couple. Meanwhile Jack is investigating an arson fire that has burned down a home owned by Dennis Costello. At first it simply looks like an insurance job but quickly becomes a murder investigation when they discover a body in the ruins.

The final episode in set 2 finds Jack investigating a car crash. Jack’s instinct tells him there’s more to it then just a simple car crash and uncovers the truth about the 17 year old girl who was driving the car and her involvement in a possible abusive relationship. Meanwhile Jack finds himself in a stew of controversy when he begins to date Gemma, Brian’s ex-fiancé. When Gemma agrees to meet Brian to talk about handling their flat back in England a scenario breaks out that finds Jack under investigation, Dennis Costello pulling strings to make sure Jack is ousted from the Garda, and Jack finds himself powerless while on suspension, and at the worst possible time when the young 17 year old girl needs his help the most.

Single-Handed is another one of those crime shows from across the pond that has the ability to throw you for a curve. You’re never quite sure where the story is going and because there’s a constant running theme through each set you tend to not get caught up on the guessing game. Are Jack and Dennis Costello going to end up going head to head? Are Jack and Brian going to end up slugging it out? Will Jack remain vigilant in his mission to stray off of his father’s path when it comes to the Garda or will he succumb to some small (or large) degree of corruption to help bring progress in the small town he overlooks? Toss these questions in with each weeks crime mystery and your kept busy with a steady story flow and some interesting tense moments between the shows characters. Yes, sometimes the show is a bit slow in some parts, but all in all your going to be well entertained. By the final episode I was up and out of my chair pacing the floor in anticipation of what was to come. A no-holds barred look at small town crime on the Irish sea-side. Enjoy.