The Saint

The Damsel in Distress is a one‑off episode of the British anthology series Hard‑Knocks, first shown on terrestrial TV last autumn. It stars Simon (played by Tom Hiddleston‑type charm) as a gritty private eye hired by a widowed father, played by a grizzled Michael Gambon look‑alike, to hunt down a slick con‑artist who’s bolted the country with his pregnant girlfriend and baby. The premise is simple enough – a family ripped apart by a cheat – but the show leans into a moody, rain‑slicked London that feels a touch more noir than most of its contemporaries. The plot unfolds with Simon tailing the fugitive across Euro‑airport terminals, dodging corrupt officials and a string of low‑budget car chases that feel oddly reminiscent of early The Professionals. Along the way we get glimpses of the abandoned mother’s desperation and the father’s quiet fury, which keep the stakes personal rather than just a cat‑and‑mouse game. There’s a decent twist involving a hidden ledger that could ruin the con man’s entire network, but the episode never lets the tension drop too low, keeping you guessing until the final showdown in a cramped dockside warehouse. Honestly, it’s not a masterpiece, but it’s surprisingly good for a TV‑hour. The pacing drags a bit in the middle, and the special effects look ropy by today’s standards, yet the script’s dry humour and the chemistry between Simon and the grieving father give it a proper British grit. If you enjoy a blend of “The Long Good Friday” vibe with a dash of “Breaking Bad” family drama, you’ll find enough to like – just don’t expect anything groundbreaking. Fair warning: the episode carries a TV‑14 rating, with moderate violence, some strong language and a few tense scenes that could be unsettling for younger viewers. It’s a solid, if dated, entry in the crime‑drama genre and worth a watch when you’re in the mood for a moody, character‑driven chase.