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The Five: Deconstructing a Harlan Coben Mystery Thriller

An in-depth analysis of the British miniseries, exploring its intricate plot, compelling characters, and thematic depth.

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Series Overview

A Gripping British Miniseries

The Five, also known internationally as Harlan Coben's The Five, is a British mystery thriller miniseries. It was conceived by acclaimed crime author Harlan Coben and primarily penned by Danny Brocklehurst. The series delves into a complex narrative centered around a childhood trauma that resurfaces decades later, driven by forensic evidence.

Core Premise

The series follows four childhood friends—Mark, Danny, Slade, and Pru—who are irrevocably bound by the disappearance of Mark's younger brother, Jesse, twenty years prior. When DNA evidence from a murder scene is identified as Jesse's, the friends are drawn back into the mystery, seeking answers and confronting the possibility that Jesse may still be alive.

Production and Broadcast

Produced by Red Picture Company, the ten-episode miniseries was filmed in various locations across the United Kingdom, including Liverpool and its surrounding areas. It premiered on Sky1 in the UK on April 15, 2016, with two episodes broadcast weekly, concluding on May 13, 2016.

Narrative Arc

The Twenty-Year Shadow

The narrative begins in 1995, depicting the harrowing experience of four young friends—Mark, Danny, Slade, and Pru—who are left traumatized after five-year-old Jesse Wells vanishes while playing in the park with them. Despite the efforts of the police, including Detective Sergeant Danny Kenwood's father, no trace of Jesse is ever found. A convicted serial killer, Jakob Marosi, claims responsibility for Jesse's death, offering a semblance of closure to the devastated Wells family.

The Unforeseen Connection

Twenty years later, Danny, now a Detective Sergeant with the Westbridge Police, investigates a brutal murder. The discovery of DNA evidence at the crime scene, matching Jesse's, shatters the fragile peace and reunites the four friends. This revelation propels them into an intricate investigation, unraveling a complex web of secrets, lies, and potential connections to Jesse's disappearance.

The investigation into the murder of prostitute Annie Green (later revealed as Selena Callaway) uncovers Jesse's DNA, suggesting he may have been present at the crime scene. This leads the friends to re-examine the past, confronting their own roles and memories surrounding Jesse's disappearance. They encounter various characters, including a convicted serial killer, individuals involved in human trafficking, and figures connected to the victims, each potentially holding pieces of the puzzle. The series explores themes of guilt, redemption, the lasting impact of trauma, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets or find the truth.

Key Cast & Characters

Principal Roles

The series features a compelling ensemble cast, bringing the complex characters to life:

  • Tom Cullen as Mark Wells: A lawyer haunted by his brother's disappearance, who actively participates in the search for missing persons.
  • O. T. Fagbenle as D.S. Danny Kenwood: A detective working for Westbridge Police, whose investigation into a murder unearths the connection to Jesse.
  • Lee Ingleby as Slade: A childhood friend who manages a shelter for vulnerable youth, providing a safe haven and a base for some investigations.
  • Sarah Solemani as Pru Carew: A doctor who returns from the United States, bringing her medical expertise and a complex history with the group.

Supporting Ensemble

A robust supporting cast fleshes out the world of The Five, contributing significantly to the unfolding mystery and character dynamics.

  • Alfie and Harry Bloor as Jesse Wells: Mark's younger brother, whose disappearance is the central mystery.
  • Don Warrington as Ray Kenwood: Danny's father, a retired police officer suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
  • Lorraine Burroughs as Jennifer Kenwood: Danny's wife.
  • Alicia Charles as Sarah Kenwood: A character connected to the Kenwood family.
  • Hannah Arterton as D.C. Ally Caine: Danny's investigative partner.
  • Tom Brittney as D.C. Ken Howells: A forensic scientist.
  • Vicky Myers as Selena Callaway: An IT consultant whose murder triggers the main investigation.
  • Honeysuckle Weeks as Laura Marshall: A woman involved in a complex personal entanglement.
  • Tom Price as Kenton Marshall: Laura's husband.
  • Sophia La Porta as Britnay Shearer: A volunteer at Slade's shelter.
  • Martin McCreadie as D.C. Karl Hatchett: A forensic analyst.
  • Geraldine James as Julie Wells: Mark's mother.
  • Michael Maloney as Alan Wells: Mark's father.
  • Jonathan Kerrigan as Stuart Carew: Pru's controlling husband.
  • Rade Serbedzija as Jakob Marosi: A convicted serial killer.
  • Barnaby Kay as D.I. Liam Townsend: Danny's superior officer.
  • Naomi Ackie as Gemma Morgan: A young woman who has been missing.
  • Sam Swann as Matt Lohan / Mr X: An enigmatic figure.
  • Lee Boardman as Jay Newman: A local record producer with a dubious past.
  • Alexa Davies as Alexa Mills: A mysterious girl with connections to the case.
  • Charles De'Ath as Dominic Porter: Head of an IT firm.
  • Stephen Boxer as Ron Hatchett: Karl's father.
  • Paul Warriner as Frank Lipton: An old family friend.

Episode Guide

Series Structure

The miniseries comprises ten episodes, broadcast over five weeks, with two episodes airing consecutively each week. This structure allows for a rapid unfolding of the mystery and character development.

No. Title Directed by Written by British air date UK viewers
(million)[3]
1 "Episode 1" Mark Tonderai Danny Brocklehurst 15 April 2016 1.42
In 1995, five-year-old Jesse Wells disappeared whilst playing with his older brother, Mark, and three of his friends. Twenty years later, one of those friends, Detective Sergeant Danny Kenwood, is investigating the murder of prostitute Annie Green, and finds Jesse's DNA at the crime scene. He informs Mark, now a lawyer, and their other two friends, Pru, who is now a doctor, and Slade, who runs a homeless shelter. Convicted child killer Jakob Marosi had admitted to killing Jesse and sticks to his story when Mark visits him in prison. Slade encounters a young woman, Gemma Morgan, who has been missing for five years and claims to have been held with other women, but her presence disturbs Slade's colleague Brit. Slade attends a mysterious meeting in a hotel room, while Danny pursues a murder suspect who may, or may not, be Jesse.
2 "Episode 2" Mark Tonderai Danny Brocklehurst 15 April 2016 1.05
Danny arrests a mysterious man whom he suspects committed the murder of Annie Green, for his having her mobile phone in his possession. Mark and his father, Alan, visit the police station to view photos of the man in the hope that he may be Jesse. Having viewed the pictures, they dismiss him as not being Jesse. Whilst in the station, Mark uses his mobile phone to take a sneaky picture of Annie Green's mortuary photo, which is on Danny's desk. Mark and Slade use the photo to carry out their own investigation, and after speaking with a contact from Slade's homeless shelter, discover the victim's real name was Selena Callaway; an IT consultant working for the city. Danny is forced to release his suspect, who gives his name as Joe Hanley, after he claims that he only stole her phone, and there is no further evidence to suggest otherwise. Gemma is reunited with her parents, and subsequently describes to Pru the place in which she was being kept captive. Using the description of the location, Danny and his partner, Ally, search for a place matching the description. They find a house owned by music producer Jay Newman. He invites them inside to show them around and it is revealed that he is holding several young women captive in a soundproof room behind his recording studio. Whilst they are not able to see or hear the women, Danny's suspicions are aroused when he is unable to see any sign of Newman owning a dog, despite a neighbour informing him that Newman walks a dog around his yard at night. He recalls that Gemma had said that her captor sometimes made her wear a collar.
3 "Episode 3" Mark Tonderai Dan Sefton 22 April 2016 1.03
Danny and Ally visit Joe Hanley's house to ask further questions, only to find that the Joe Hanley there is not the man they arrested. It transpires that the real Joe Hanley has been blackmailed over his use of escorts and has allowed his identity to be stolen. Mark is called upon by Simon Marshall, the schoolboy son of his ex-lover Laura, to locate his missing father, Kenton. Laura denies any mystery, claiming he is on a business trip, but Simon suspects otherwise. Danny and Ally visit Selena's flat to search for further clues, and in the process, disturb 'Joe Hanley' who assaults Danny and runs off with Selena's laptop. Danny pursues him, but the pursuit ends in tragedy when the man ends up in a coma after a well-meaning citizen uses a wrench to stop him from getting away. Mark, Alan and Julie visit 'Joe Hanley' in hospital to find out if he is Jesse, but Julie is adamant that he is not. 'Joe' regains consciousness and escapes from the hospital. Danny and Ally return to Newman's house, only to find he has been murdered. Whilst there, they discover his captives, one of whom disappeared 5 years prior as a 19yo. Selena's laptop, recovered from 'Joe', turns out to have been wiped, but Ally suggests Selena may have backed up her data. A police technician discovers the backed-up data on the cloud and cracks the password, only to find an auto-delete protocol has been activated. Danny manages to take a photo of a list of names on the screen before all the data is wiped. Jesse's DNA is subsequently found at the scene. Pru, having seen Brit at Slade's request, has an admission for Mark, regarding the day Jesse went missing.
4 "Episode 4" Mark Tonderai Mick Ford 22 April 2016 1.01
Pru helps Mark dig for information into the disappearance of Kenton Marshall by posing as his wife and visiting the school Marshall teaches at, under the pretext of them being a married couple with a daughter they are considering enrolling. When asking a group of students if they know Mr Marshall, one of the girls makes a comment suggesting Marshall is sexually involved with a student named Alexa. Mark sneaks into the Head Teacher's office and uses her computer to discover the student's full name is Alexa Mills. He gets her address and goes to her house with Pru, only to be told by Mr and Mrs Mills that they don't have a daughter. Mark goes back to the school and again sneaks into the Head Teacher's office and prints out a scanned copy of Mr Mills' driver's licence which has been lodged as part of Alexa's enrolment paperwork. Upon confronting Mr Mills with this information, Mills reveals he has been blackmailed after being with a prostitute and was forced to sign enrolment paperwork for Alexa. Upon seeing Alexa's photo in the paperwork Mr Mills has, Mark realises that he has seen her somewhere before. Mark is subsequently attacked by a well dressed man who tells him to stay away from Alexa. Meanwhile, Danny and Ally are perplexed when a body is found buried at Newman's house. Danny digs out his father's old case files from the time of Jesse's disappearance, only to find they have been doctored. Mark and Pru go out for drinks and rekindle an old flame. Brit decides she must tell the police about her part in the kidnapping of Newman's captives and goes to the police station, asking for Danny. When told that Danny isn't there, she waits in the foyer for his return. Danny and Ally return with Newman's captives to conduct interviews. One spots Brit and tells her that none of it is her fault and that she should leave. Brit leaves the station but is followed by one of the other captives who is less forgiving. She follows Brit back to the homeless shelter, and attacks her with a knife.
5 "Episode 5" Mark Tonderai Danny Brocklehurst 29 April 2016 0.98
Slade finds Brit seriously injured, but alive. Meanwhile, Danny and Ally receive news that the body at the bottom of Jay Newman's garden was a former doctor and convicted serial rapist, Aldaeous Croft. Pru comes to blows with Stuart after staying out all night and sleeping at Mark's. Brit later dies in hospital of her injuries, leaving Slade devastated. Her killer is subsequently arrested. In the hunt to discover who Selena Calloway really was, Mark speaks to a fellow prostitute who reveals that she regularly met her customers in the Envy room at the Old Town Hotel. Mark visits the hotel, only to find a bloodied crime scene, with no victim. Julie confronts a mother at the markets who is haranguing her son. The woman calls Julie an 'old bitch' and Julie slaps her. After some more verbal altercation, the woman headbutts Julie in the face and leaves. Danny and Ally interview Jakob Marosi again, but the interview comes to a sudden halt when Danny reveals that he is the son of the original investigating officer. Slade, devastated by Brit's death, takes off in his van to a remote area and burns some papers and pictures of Brit. Jealous of Pru's relationship with Mark, Stuart uses a tracking programme to follow her movements via her mobile phone. He confronts Mark at his office and warns him to stay away from Pru and to stop contacting her. Later, Pru leaves the house and Stuart tracks her to Mark's apartment. Unbeknownst to Stuart, Pru had arrived in time to see Laura going inside with Mark and so Pru was watching the pair from his outside courtyard. Stuart bangs on the door, and when Mark answers, pushes his way into the flat in a rage. Initially confused when he finds Laura instead of Pru, Stuart sees on his tracking programme that Pru is on the move and rushes outside to see her trying to get away.
6 "Episode 6" Mark Tonderai John Jackson 29 April 2016 0.91
Mark, after speaking to a girl at the shelter, follows a friend of Alexa's from school and is led to where she is hiding out. She tells Mark that Selena left her a memory stick with all the information that led to her being murdered. She also tells Mark that Kenton Marshall is her father and that he left Selena after getting her pregnant. She says that she told Kenton everything that had happened and that he had gone to the Old Town Hotel to meet with the people threatening her. Mark takes Alexa back to the shelter but, when she goes outside for a cigarette, a mysterious lady drives up and tells her that if she wants to see her father alive again, she must get in the car and come immediately. As Alexa gets in and is driven off, Mark sees them leave. The mysterious man who assaulted Mark - Payne - also turns up, as does Slade in his van and all three follow the car to the house of Porter, the head of the IT company Selena worked for. Porter has Alexa in the kitchen and demands she give him the encryption code to the memory stick Selena left her, which his crony found hidden in her plaster cast. Matt Lohan aka 'Joe Hanley', who works for Porter, is there as well. Outside, Payne gives Mark and Slade the security code and they break in from the rear of the house whilst Payne enters from the front. Payne enters the kitchen, and during a tense standoff, Porter shoots him in the leg before killing Lohan. In the meantime Slade is captured and brought into the room. Porter says that he intends to kill both of them and blame the murder of Lohan on them and tell the police he acted in self defense. Mark sneaks up behind Porter and overpowers him. He tries to get answers about Jesse from Porter, but before Porter can say anything, Payne picks up the dropped gun and shoots him in the head. After they manage to escape with their lives, Slade takes Mark and Alexa to a safe house where Kenton has been hidden. Slade reveals to Mark that he killed the man who had been sent to the hotel to kill Kenton. He also confesses to Mark that he is the one who is responsible for Jay Newman's murder. Meanwhile, Ally makes a breakthrough in the case after Ray reveals to her the location of the missing files from the Jesse Wells investigation. He had stored them in the basement of his old house, and Danny is able to retrieve them. However, some other items which were stored in the same spot bring back some dark memories for Danny.
7 "Episode 7" Mark Tonderai Mick Ford 6 May 2016 0.90
Mark becomes concerned when his parents' house is broken into, and the burglar appears to have only targeted some old family photos left in Jesse's room. Meanwhile, further excavation of Newman's garden uncovers a copy of Gulliver's Travels, which Jesse had on him the day he disappeared. Forensic examination later reveals the book is a reprint from ten years after the disappearance. Danny and the team attend a police charity gig, but are called away when Mark manages to corner the burglary suspect in a disused warehouse nearby.
8 "Episode 8" Mark Tonderai Mick Ford 6 May 2016 0.89
Danny and Ally visit Jakob Marosi in prison, where he offers to take them to the place where Jesse's body is buried. Danny agrees, but is angered when initial forensics reveal remains found at the site are those of a young girl, not Jesse. Slade is arrested at the shelter for suspicion of murdering Newman, as his van was seen in the area at the time of death. Slade calls Mark to appear as his attorney but Mark tells the interviewing officers that he is unable to represent Slade as he will be an alibi witness and will testify that Slade was with him for the entire day. Pru receives a call from Stuart who tells her that he is at the airport and is taking their daughter out of the country. Pru has a meltdown and heads to the pub where she meets a stranger who spikes her drink while she's in the toilets. A girl from the shelter witnesses this and calls Slade who arrives in time to stop the stranger taking Pru home. Instead, Slade takes her back to his place and admonishes her for her behaviour and her burgeoning drug habit. Meanwhile, Mark tells Danny about letters that his father received from Marosi in the late 1990s. Forensic examination on one of the remaining envelopes suggests the letters were posted in Malton, 120 miles away. Danny discovers that one of Marosi's prison visitors lives in the village, and sets about tracking her down. When she refuses to give him any information, Danny asks Slade to break into her house to a dig a little deeper. Slade discovers the woman is renting a storage unit and surmises that she's doing so on behalf of Marosi. Mark and Slade break into the storage container and find tapes relating to all of Marosi's victims - including Jesse.
9 "Episode 9" Mark Tonderai Danny Brocklehurst 13 May 2016 0.93
Danny views the Marosi tapes. There are three tapes for each child relating to the three 'acts'; Track, Pain, Kill. When Danny and Ally view Jesse's tape, they discover only Act one, 'Track', has any footage, whilst Acts two and three, 'Pain' and 'Kill', are blank. Marosi confirms he did not kill Jesse, because just as he was about to lure him, his father arrived. Alan is arrested and questioned by Danny and Ally. Meanwhile, unable to deal with her feelings any longer, Pru decides to tell Mark that she loves him but their meeting is cut short when Danny phones Mark and tells him that it's important he come to the station immediately. When Mark arrives, Danny tells him they've discovered DNA evidence which suggests Alan was not Jesse's father. Danny and Mark confront Julie, who confirms the evidence, claiming that an old friend, Frank Lipton, with whom she had a brief affair, may be Jesse's father. As Danny and Mark try to track Lipton down, Pru and Ally view CCTV footage of a mobile blood bank that they believe the person who dropped the band-aid at the scene of Selena's murder may have visited. They are shocked when they see someone very familiar wearing the smiley face backpack which Mark previously chased.
10 "Episode 10" Mark Tonderai Danny Brocklehurst 13 May 2016 0.93
Slade and Mark interview Frank Lipton, who confirms the events of that day - he saw Jesse alone in the park, talking to Marosi, and took him home to stay with him. At the age of eight, he convinced Jesse to adopt a new name to escape his former life - and from that moment on, he was known as Karl Hatchett. Meanwhile, Danny is forced to confront his own demons when he finally decides to place his father in a care home. When Ally realises that Karl has disappeared, she confronts Ken, who confirms that Karl stumbled upon his real identity after realising that the plaster found at the crime scene, containing Jesse's DNA, was his. Karl had driven a drunk Ken to the crime scene and convinced Ken to let him help with evidence collection despite the fact that Karl was only an analyst, not an actual legal forensic tech. Karl dropped the plaster, contaminating the scene and later convinced Ken to leave his blood at the other crime scene to obfuscate the blood's origin. Ken agreed because Karl being at the original crime scene was his fault and he didn't want to lose his job. While searching for Karl, Pru and Slade find a library card in Karl's car, and discover that he borrowed a copy of Gulliver's Travels from Julie's library just 24 hours earlier, leading Mark back to the spot where Jesse disappeared twenty years ago. Mark, Slade, Pru and Danny reunites with Karl, with their parents soon following and Mark confesses his love to Pru.

References

Source Material

The information presented on this page is derived from the comprehensive Wikipedia article on The Five (TV series). The detailed citations from the original source are managed programmatically.

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