Commissario Montalbano Il senso del tatto (1999– ) Online

This episode opens with the murder of a blind man; we know it was murder as we see it happen but the police initially think it was an accident. Of course Montalbano is suspicious from the start. Having done what can be done on site Montalbano decides that somebody needs to look after the victim's guide dog Orlando; that some one is himself! He clearly hopes to keep the dog as every time the charity asks him about its whereabouts he makes excuses. The dead man's sister is bit distressed to answer questions immediately but suggests Montalbano come to her home to question her later… when she mentions she is a good cook agrees to her request. She lives on a smaller island so he decides to make a holiday of it and invites Livia too; of course he doesn't mention to her that he will be engaging in police work there. While he is on the island there is another suspicious death; this time of a local fisherman; as unlikely as it may seem the deaths could be related; there is certainly something suspicious happening there as the blind man had ?400,000 in his bank account on the island; a lot of money for somebody on a pension as small as his.

I think this was one of the best episodes yet; the case was suitably mysterious although as things became clear the relevance of some strange early clues became clear... such as why would the man who found the victim claim the docile Orlando was actually a dangerous dog. One thing I love about this series is the way it manages to be funny without actually being a comedy; much of this is down to Luca Zingaretti's brilliant performance in the title role although Angelo Russo's performance in every scene Catarella is in is hilarious as well.

Love detective mystery dramas, particularly those from the UK and US ('Inspector Morse', 'A Touch of Frost', 'Foyle's War', 'Inspector George Gently', 'Midsomer Murders', 'Law and Order', 'Criminal Minds', 'Monk' and 'Murder She Wrote' for examples,, and non-English/American ones (i.e. The Swedish 'Wallander' and the Danish 'The Killing') also fascinate me.

'Inspector Montalbano' is one of the best and most entertaining examples. It is not easy breathing freshness into a well-worn genre but 'Inspector Montalbano' manages to do so with aplomb. Watching 'Inspector Montalbano' is like eating a delicious Italian meal that immensely satisfies and leaves you wanting more. There may be very familiar tropes, but in a way it's inevitable and doesn't detract from the enjoyment at all.

"The Sense of Touch" is another one of my favourite 'Inspector Montalbano' episodes, notable for its darker than usual tone and some very thought-provoking without being heavy-handed social commentary/criticism. With this being said, all the episodes of 'Inspector Montalbano' up to this early point in the series are very good to outstanding.

One always expects 'Inspector Montalbano' to look good. As always with 'Inspector Montalbano', "The Sense of Touch" is beautifully shot and the scenery is stunning, making those who've never been to Italy want to book a holiday there as soon as possible and is a treat for anybody who loves all things Italian. The music is never over-bearing or low-key with a nice atmosphere and flavour, a lot of it is very cleverly used. The sound effects are remarkably authentic.

Writing is tightly structured and taut, with very funny to hilarious humour, nail-biting tension and involving and poignant human drama balanced beautifully. The subtitles are not hard to follow and the story, although a little more complicated and darker than usual, is absorbing and a real brain-teaser, suitably challenging the viewer while still being logical and comprehensible.

Characters may be stereotypes but well-written ones, especially one of the most fascinating foreign detective mystery dramas titular characters there is to me and the scene-stealing Catarella (hilarious comic relief but more than that). The supporting characters intrigue too.

Acting is terrific, especially from Luca Zigaretti who is a treasure in the title role. Angelo Russo's comic timing is a refreshing and always perfectly timed joy and the supporting cast are strong. Katharina Bohm, Peppino Mazzotta and Cesare Bocci also give very well judged performances.

Overall, outstanding and one of my favourite 'Inspector Montalbano' episodes. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This episode opens with the death of a blind man, Piccolomini, which is treated as routine at first but later discovered to be murderous. Montalbano embarks on a complicated quest involving bribery, charities, more blind people and a large dog called Orlando. As he puts together the pieces of the complicated jigsaw, he discovers just how callous people can be, especially when there is money involved. Blind people are treated like commodities, to be picked up and dispensed with at will; a reformed criminal is perceived as irredeemable; while dogs like Orlando are treated with the utmost contempt, especially when they are perceived to have outlived their usefulness. Despite being good with people, well-trained and generally good-natured, Orlando is left for dead in an illegal dog-fighting ring. Needless to say everything ends happily, but not without a struggle: Montalbano (Lucia Zingaretti) is forced to use his shotgun, a practice he normally abhors, while the stress of the case provokes him to such an extent that he treats his fellow-investigators Mimi (Cesare Bocci) and Galluzzo (Davido Lo Verde) with the utmost contempt. Alberto Sironi's production contains its fair share of humor from the incompetent cop Catarella (Angelo Russo), the master of the malapropism; but in general this is a darker episode than most in the series.