Ep 1. Nothing But the Truth

Kavanagh QC is a British legal drama television series that aired from 1995 to 2001. The show follows the cases of James Kavanagh QC, a highly respected criminal lawyer, who, alongside his team of associates, defends a variety of cases in the courts of London.

In season 1 episode 1, entitled "Nothing But the Truth", Kavanagh defends an old colleague from his army days, Major Forbes. Forbes is accused of sexually assaulting a female officer after a military dinner. Kavanagh believes Forbes's story that the sexual encounter was consensual, arguing that the case is a result of a concocted feminist agenda and a personal vendetta against the Major. The Major's accusers are a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major from the same unit of the army who appear to be aligned in their version of events, as corroborated by witnesses from the dinner.

In his defense of Forbes, Kavanagh has to overcome numerous obstacles, including his client's unlikable personality, unsympathetic jury members, biased military structures, and prejudiced judges. Kavanagh persuades the jury to focus on the facts of the case rather than the emotions and to question the motives of the prosecution.

Meanwhile, Kavanagh's personal life is under stress, as his wife Lizzie (Megan Dodds) is pregnant with their third child and dealing with her own professional challenges. Kavanagh is also dealing with the fragile emotional state of his colleague and friend Julia Piper (Tara Fitzgerald), who has recently experienced a traumatic breakup.

The episode is a compelling introduction to the character and world of Kavanagh QC, showcasing the show's strengths in combining legal intricacies with personal drama. The episode explores themes of power structures, gender politics, loyalty, and moral responsibility in a way that is both nuanced and accessible to audiences. The acting is superb, with John Thaw leading a talented ensemble of actors who bring depth and humanity to their characters' struggles. The episode's ending is satisfyingly conclusive, but with enough unresolved questions to leave viewers eager to see what further legal challenges Kavanagh and his team will face in future episodes.