Ep 2. The Burning Man

In the second episode of the first season of George Gently, the detective inspector and his sergeant, John Bacchus, are drawn into a case involving a gruesome murder in a small Northumberland town. The victim, a respected doctor, has been burned alive and left in the middle of a pagan stone circle known as The Circle of Fire.

As they begin their investigation, Gently and Bacchus find themselves dealing with a tight-knit community that is distrusting of outsiders and determined to protect its own secrets, particularly those related to the Circle of Fire and the traditions surrounding it. They receive little help from most of the townspeople, who are only willing to offer the most perfunctory information through gritted teeth. However, they do get some assistance from an old friend of Gently's, an eccentric hippie named Ellen who lives in a caravan in the nearby woods.

As they sift through the sparse information they have, the detectives uncover a number of startling connections. The victim, it turns out, was not as revered as he initially appeared, and had been involved in a number of less-than-savory dealings, including drugs and human trafficking. In addition, there seem to be links between the Circle of Fire and a charity organization in the area that may have been set up as a front for something more nefarious.

As the case progresses, Gently and Bacchus navigate a number of roadblocks, both from the townspeople and from official channels. They are particularly hampered by their intense disagreement with the pathologist assigned to the case, who they feel may be covering up crucial information. Meanwhile, tensions run high between the two detectives, as Bacchus's brash, impulsive manner clashes with Gently's more measured, intellectual approach.

Ultimately, the case takes them down a dark path full of twists and turns, culminating in a dramatic confrontation at the Circle of Fire itself. As the detectives work to bring the killer to justice, they find that the true motive behind the murder is more complex than they could have ever imagined, involving a web of deception, greed, and retribution.

Overall, The Burning Man is a tense and enthralling episode full of complex characters and intricate plotting. It highlights the difficulties inherent in investigating crimes in close-knit, rural communities, and showcases both the tensions and camaraderie between Gently and Bacchus. While it can be challenging to watch at times due to its dark subject matter, it is a powerful example of the high-quality storytelling and nuanced character development that makes George Gently such a compelling series.