Review for Secret Life of a Call Girl: Season Four

Secret Diary of a Call Girl tells the story of Belle/Hannah (Billie Piper) a high class escort who tries hard to juggle the life of a prostitute with her own real life. This final series sees her have to become a Madame following the jailing of her boss (plus look after her daughter), have Hollywood knocking on her door for a movie version of her book and try and maintain her relationship with Ben. None of these are as easy as it seems. Along the way she entertains a client who likes to act like Dracula (maybe a little too much), a confused virgin and a policeman who makes Belle question whether she can ever truly be happy leaving her 'life' and being with one man. The final season of The Secret Diary of a Call Girl tries so hard to end with a bang and in the end simply ends with a bit of a whimper. With rumours of a movie adaptation floating around you can understand, but it did not satisfy as much as the previous three series. Some episodes are fun and the one centered on her mishap with a Dracula fan was brilliant. However, the 'Sex and the City' comparisons come thick and fast. Nowhere can this be seen more than in the episode where she stays in New York. Her shopping spree of truly hideous clothes could not have been more Carrie Bradshaw if it tried. That being said there are none that are totally unwatchable and there is still huge doses of sex in each episode. Billie Piper's performance is still great, though with all the full frontal shots being made without her face in view I do have to question whether a body double was used. With all the nudity in the previous series it would seem a little strange. Her talking to camera breaking of the fourth wall is great, but at times you wonder (as in the first episode) whether anyone can actually hear her. The eight episodes progress the story, but at times I felt that twenty two minutes an episode is simply not long enough and by the time a client or character is introduced he is gone. Considering this is the final series I am shocked that the set comes with no special features at all. There is a little blooper reel at the end of the last episode, but it lasts less than a minute and I doubt very few people even knew it was there. There is no retrospective, a proper bloopers or even a commentary. This is a shame as it would have made the set feel a bit more special.

The Secret Diary of a Call Girl Season 4 is not the groundbreaking ending that I expected to this show and to be honest I was a little disappointed. However, the ride to the end is excellent with some great episodes, and Billie Piper is excellent as always. If you are looking for a quick fix of sexy fun then this may be the show for you.