I've never thought much of Robert Pastorelli, though I am sorry for the way he ended but for me Pastorelli just didn't have any grip. He seemed at his (adequate) best in Murphy Brown but in every other role he just never seemed to be convincing, this series was no exception either.
Nevertheless, it was a great dis-service to him to cast him in an almost word for word American production of the great British series 'Cracker'. It was an insult to the original and to the poor actors doomed to the series and makes me wish that the USA would either stop doing this sort of thing or get better at adapting 'stolen ideas' to better suit the new world. The story lines, situations, attitudes and social structure didn't translate well to America and the sort of reprehensible but brilliant lead which was perfect for Robbie Coltrane needed someone with more intensity than Robert Pastorelli. Coltrane is bigger than life (even when he's not playing Hagrid) and most anybody would pale in comparison as Fitz.
Nevertheless, it was a great dis-service to him to cast him in an almost word for word American production of the great British series 'Cracker'. It was an insult to the original and to the poor actors doomed to the series and makes me wish that the USA would either stop doing this sort of thing or get better at adapting 'stolen ideas' to better suit the new world. The story lines, situations, attitudes and social structure didn't translate well to America and the sort of reprehensible but brilliant lead which was perfect for Robbie Coltrane needed someone with more intensity than Robert Pastorelli. Coltrane is bigger than life (even when he's not playing Hagrid) and most anybody would pale in comparison as Fitz.