Over the years, our world has seen its fair share of murderous women. For example; there was Lizzie Borden, who was the top suspect regarding the rather gruesome murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts in August 1892.

Then there was Genene Jones, a rather charming (Not) serial killer who murdered up to 46 infants and children whilst working as a pediatric nurse in Texas between 1971 & 1984.

What a little love.

It is understood globally speaking; that females make up a good percentage of criminal naughtiness, and some of the most appalling and horrific crimes ever recorded, have indeed been committed by women.

Gulp!

Anyway; that previous and rather disturbing little nugget of historical trivia brings me nicely to the latest ITV Drama to hit our screens, Dark Angel, which aired last night (Monday) at 9pm.

Say hello to Mary Ann Cotton folks! aka, the Dark Angel.

I like period dramas, especially the one's that take us back into the deprived, desperate, dirty, dingy, slum ridden, rat infested backwater towns of the 19th Century.

Drama's like these always remind me of that famous Monty Python sketch about the four Yorkshiremen who 'Had it tuff"

Ah yes brother, we ad it tuff tha knows, we'd work 28 hours in't mill for tuppence a year, come ome t shoe box of an house, and we ad nay telly back then tha knows, and if we were lucky, in the winter we'd spend our evenings counting the fleas jumping abaat on't cat.

Then we'd eat the cat! Luxury.

By Andy Simon @AndySimon55

Ah yes brother, thas long winter evenings would fly by! Kids today; don't know they're bloody born!

Yeah; period drama's, love em. Anyway I digress.

This two-part drama is a true story based on the rather unpleasant 19th Century Victorian poisoner, brilliantly played I have to say by the extremely talented Downton Abbey actress, Joanne Froggatt.

The story from the start goes at quite a pace.

Within half an hour of the first episode our budding serial psycho has had and lost 4 children, had a bonk on the side with coal miner Joe Nattrass ( played by Jonas Armstrong) a fellow she barely knows and is seen very soon afterwards calmly poisoning husband Number 1 because he came home with a bit of a sore leg.

The fast-track story continues . . .
Within an hour she has moved on to her next potential victim/husband after her first vomits himself to death, a soldier bloke who she met
while he was in hospital, and what seemed to be literally seconds later, we see them standing together at the alter.

Now I enjoy a fast pace story but bloody hell; slow down a bit!

She then has another quick bonk with Joe again, marry's husband Number 2 and soon after starts the poisoning cycle all over again and again; pockets the life insurance money after husband number 2 has croaked

Her mother Margaret (played by Penny Layden) grows suspicious of what her darling daughter might be up to, and as a consequence of her Agatha Christie style sleuthing, gets bumped off herself!

Clearly Mary Ann is getting the hang of this poisoning lark. She makes Jack the Ripper look like a hopeless amateur.

I can't fault the cast; Alun Armstrong, who plays Mary Ann's Step Father George Stott looks right at home in the part, but the story although true and intriguing was for me, a bit too fast.

It was like ITV thought it would be a good idea to just throw it all in our faces inside of a hour and a half, and hope we get it.

Well; no. Not really.

A shame; because a story like this although very disturbing should have had the time for more clarity. Don't get me wrong; it was good telly but for me personally, I wish more thought had gone into it's storyline and made it go at a more slower pace.

It's like woofing down you're dinner, you're going to get indigestion.

Some stories I think, deserve more time and care, to be told.

It's a pity that we were not given the opportunity to learn more about Mary Ann Cotton, more about the supporting characters, and why Mary Ann was so driven by this need to improve her status in life, that she eventually embarked on this horrible, gruesome murderous path that unfortunately led to her own demise.

Had this story been spread over say, four parts, then perhaps it would have made better viewing? But for me it was just too fast, and way too much character building was left out which deprived the drama with the depth it needed.

Still, it was intriguing stuff, and I will be watching Part Two when it comes on however, the drama itself although brilliant with its scenery, it's costumes and great acting over all; fell for me, very short with regard to its depth & delivery.

It certainly brings home that old saying, "Hell hath no fury like a Woman scorned." Or in Mary Ann's case, Hell hath no fury like a woman deprived of cash who just happens to be married to a man with a dodgy leg . . .and a Life Insurance policy.

So far the morale of this fast pace story is . . .It doesn't do to upset the lady in your life.

Which reminds me . . .Must stop by Tesco's and buy my wife some chocs.

And as for a Life Insurance policy? I don't have one. I want my family to be REALLY sorry when I'm gone!

What's that dear? Another cup of tea? No thanks, just had one.

Gulp!

ITV's two part drama concludes next Monday at 9pm.

Thanks for reading.

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