Posted on 04/26/2013 8:49:59 PM PDT by Mountain Mary
Okay, I'm normally a political and news poster..but am searching for some new BBC shows to addict myself to post Downton Abbey. Hoping Freepers can help. There was a thread about this a while back.
After realizing that the Brits are light years better than us for turning out watchable, absorbing and well acted, directed and produced "who dunnits", and as I am on a political sabbatical for obvious reasons..
Here's my completed viewing list over the last three months: 1. Prime Suspect: Helen Mirren 2. Foley's War: all except the new ones that aren't out yet. 3. George Gently...Seasons 1-4.
I am currently addicted to the latter, especially seeing as Lee Ingleby as Sargeant John Bacchus is the best(and yummiest) actor EVER...and the chemistry between him and Martin Shaw as DCI Gently is priceless. Similar is interaction between Michael Kitchen as DCI Christopher Foley and his driver, Sam Stuart played by Honeysuckle Weeks in Foyle's War.
I suggest “Cracker” and “Wire in the blood”
Want something gritty....try “Spiral”
Something with a bit of humanistic stuff...try “The Last Detective”
Or...”Rebus” (human and grit)
Well there is Mid Wives - I’ve not watched it so can’t comment. I wonder what’s happened to Upstairs Downstairs. Are they shooting a new episode or dropped it? In Downton Abby I’m glad Mr. Bates returned but saddened at the death of the heir Matthew Crawley. He was a stunner. It’ll be interesting to see how they’ll pull that one out.
Murdoch is awesome- the show is actually set in my neighbourhood (Garden District in Toronto).
The last two full seasons are streaming at http://www.cbc.ca/player/Shows/Shows/Murdoch+Mysteries/
I like grit...
If you are talking the 1984(or so) version with Jeremy Brett, right on! He’s perhaps the best Holmes I’ve seen! Quirky as heck!
I tried Mid Wives and thought it to be a bit too light and stereotypical. Looking for something a little more raw and gritty!
In the detective genre you may enjoy Inspector Morse.
Re Montalbano...we tried to get those on Netflix but I don't think they're available yet. Very much looking forward to those. "Zen" is another show about an Italian detective you may like.
MI-5 is not to be missed, if you haven’t already seen it.
Widely available on DVD.
I get a lot of my British programming from UK torrent sites, but Netflix has some excellent offerings for British mysteries/dramas.
Jonathan Creek, Inspector Morse, Inspector Lewis, Whitechapel, Midsomer Murders, Inspector Lynley, are all available from Netflix.
That’s what I meant: Wire in the Blood..and Cracker?
New to me but I just looked it up and both of these got good reviews. thanks Ribeye.
Spiral is one of the grittiest foreign shows I have seen on Netflix. As I understand it, it is still in production...Different name in Europe..
It’s French, if I recall..well subtitled..and it’s real gritty....Been a while since I checked for new seasons...will do that tomorrow...
A suggestion. Do a search on British drama and see what comes up. See if your local stations carry it.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy then (in that order) Smiley’s People both with Sir Alec Guinness as George Smiley. A very faithful adaptation of LeCarre’s books and runs circles around the recent movie version of Tinker Tailor.
A movie that is pure ham is Murder By Death. Neil Simon’s send up of every Saturday matinee B movie mystery all rolled up in one. Wonderful roles for Peter Falk, David Niven, Maggie Smith, Peter Sellers and (of all people) Truman Capote. If you know those old B movies, you’ll recognize the characters. And those puns !!
Tom Barnaby can’t be beaten. I haven’t seen it without Nettles. We also like Inspector Lewis, Zen, Poirot, and Jane Marple (the first three seasons). Most are available on Amazon Prime.
It is fantastic! Brett portrayed Holmes exactly as Holmes was meant to be: brilliant, impatient, and quirky.
Read some of the reviews there and you'll see what I mean.
Here's the only downside. Once you've seen Brett as Holmes, no one else will do.
*
Does it have to be British? I also have liked Doc Martin. I haven’t gotten to Wallander yet, but heard it is good. And there was a Canadian series I can’t seem to find. I have watched a few episodes of Annika Bengtzon: Crime Reporter. I think that is a subtitle series.
A little more like Downton (the Masterpiece Classics) - have you seen Cranford or Larkrise to Candleford. Those are 2 of my favorites that are available on Netflix - but only on DVD (not streaming).
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