BBC Silent Witness viewers ‘struggle to watch’ as fans left ‘sickened’ by ‘harrowing’ plot line: ‘I’m traumatised!’
Silent Witness returned on Tuesday for the second episode of the gripping new series, but some viewers were left feeling as though the drama had taken things too far with scenes that left them “sickened”.
The latest instalment of the long-running BBC drama saw an elderly character killed off in devastating circumstances, which sparked a strong response from “traumatised” viewers.
The latest episode saw Dr Nikki Alexander (played by Emilia Fox) and her co-worker and fiancé Jack Hodgson (David Caves) introduced to two new colleagues.
Harriet Maven (Maggie Steed) and Kit Brooks (Francesca Mills) made their debut in the dramatic episode, which centred on the elderly character Benjamin (David Hargreaves) desperately searching for his friend, Gloria.
The confused man sadly became the target of a con artist who attempted to take his life in heart-wrenching scenes. However, Benjamin ended up killing the cruel criminal.
He then went on to attack a couple that had been living in Gloria’s house, with no idea his beloved friend had sadly been killed.
Taking to X, several viewers expressed how disturbing they had found the episode, labelling it “difficult to watch” as the vulnerable gentleman desperately sought answers.
“Horrible #silentwitness,” one penned while another admitted: “I can’t watch!! #silentwitness.”
“I’m traumatised during this episode. #SilentWitness,” a third commented.
“Love the new characters but boy was that a difficult storyline to watch. Sickening scams that no doubt have a large foundation in reality, sadly. #SilentWitness.”
Others highlighted the importance of the horrific plot, with one writing: “I found the story itself quite harrowing and upsetting about how elderly people are mistreated but there were some brilliant moments in it too – #Jakki moments and individual moments with all the cast members even Flynn #SilentWitness.”
“Tragic but brilliant storyline #silentwitness highlighting the dangers of scammers on the elderly. Hope carers and authorities were watching,” another shared. (sic)
Earlier in the week, leading man Caves talked about the possibility of “exhausting” storylines as the show’s writers seek to come up with fresh and intriguing storylines.
Detailing why he believes the series, which first made its debut on screens back in 1996, is still going strong, he commented: “What the writers really do so well is come up with different takes on subjects.
“You would have thought that by now we would have exhausted the canon of crime and murders, but the writers always find new angles.
“It’s not just simply a clinical show about pathology and solving crimes, it’s a show about relationships.”
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He continued: “There’s Jack and Nikki’s central relationship but we’ve also got these satellite characters now as well who really have their own atmospheres going on.”
He went on to describe the first two episodes of the current series as an “intriguing thriller”.
It wasn’t just the hard-hitting subject matter that sparked conversation following Silent Witness’ return either.
The relationship between Nikki and Jack piqued diehard fans’ interest with many divided over their newfound overly affectionate romance after years of teasing a will-they-won’t-they fling.