The Channel 4 drama "Pierre" centers on Pierre Jeffreys, a duty solicitor facing a cascade of personal and professional challenges. The series, reviewed for its initial episode, highlights the character's struggles as he attempts to maintain his practice and personal life.
David Harewood portrays Jeffreys, who appears to be putting on a brave front as his circumstances deteriorate. At home, his son has abandoned university for computer games. His law office is in disrepair, plagued by rats and outdated wiring, while the practice itself is losing money, forcing Jeffreys to use roulette winnings to cover wages.
Jeffreys's professional life is equally fraught. He has a makeshift consultation with his doctor in a gambling den and learns he may have diabetes, adding to his personal health concerns. His football team, Queens Park Rangers, is also performing poorly, mirroring his own misfortunes.
The drama introduces two difficult clients: Mad Miriam, a shoplifter accused of hiding stolen goods in her undergarments, and Michael, a young man who "borrowed" his aunt's car. In Miriam's case, Jeffreys discovers a collection of items, including a pair of stockings, an electric toothbrush, sweets, and a spatula, concealed within her clothing. She claims divine instruction for the theft.
Michael's situation involves a police officer whose demeanor suggests villainy. Jeffreys intervenes, persuading Michael's aunt to drop charges, arguing against making excuses for young black men. However, Michael later vandalizes a basketball court with graffiti and is subsequently stabbed to death by the end of the episode. The police officer, identified as PC Tanner, is depicted as unconcerned. Jeffreys resolves to find Michael's killer, despite the overwhelming demands on his time from his family, business, and health issues.