Advice on Brit detective series....

[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.

[ican'tbelieveit]

It is quite dark. I got through the whole thing, but... yeah.

[ican'tbelieveit]

My son bought a tablet, that has resided in my room for close to 6 months now. I “tried” it right after he got it, Netflix on it. Match made in heaven, so to speak.

[Mountain Mary]

Sounds wonderful, Stentor. You’ve given me some homework to do. Midsommer Murders is the only one I’m hesitant about..having heard that it is a bit predictable.

[Mountain Mary]

Got it, Eepsy.

[Mountain Mary]

LOL icbi.
I just remembered that I have a refurbished Ipad that is sitting in my kitchen and I haven’t tried it yet.
Is it going to bite? I think not.

[donna]

Your local library sometimes has DVDs.

[az_gila]

Another vote for “MI-5” - called “Spooks” in the UK. It’s on our local PBS station late on Sunday evenings.

Also try “Law & Order, UK” - pretty good but sometimes I have to translate London terminology for my wife...:^)

[ican'tbelieveit]

It is so much easier to handle than a laptop. I haven’t had my TV on in that long, either. Son traded for my bluray. No remote controls to keep up with. Can do most “surfing” things that I do on reg computer.

[Momto2]

I love the I-Pad for streaming - it is the perfect size - I do the same thing (take it to bed to watch an episode before going to sleep) - of course they tell us this is NOT a healthy sleep habit but oh well.......

[Stentor]

Midsommer Murders is the only one I’m hesitant about..having heard that it is a bit predictable.

I am a fan of the exteriors. Can't afford to see them in person anymore so... As to predictable, I must be stupid. As far as gritty goes it's not, but the stories are the ones your family wouldn't tell you about it's own history with the addition of murder.

Stuff is available if it falls off a truck. I also respect scruples.

[Stentor]

Another vote for “MI-5”

Very well done but I couldn't hack the American anti-abortion bad guys in one episode.

[Stentor]

Did you mean you haven’t found season 5?

You might say I found it on the gray market but haven't acquired it.

[spokeshave]

BBC series “The Carpetbaggers”

[Oztrich Boy]

A widower, a compulsive gambler with a dark secret in his past, an alcoholic with OCD team with a dog-killer to solve crimes.

Backstory: Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman is derailed from the fast track when a kidnap rescue she led went pear-shaped (the problem was not the kidnapped buisnesman broke his leg in the rescue, but that she was attacked by the gang's guard dog. Sandra "You shoot one bloody dog in this country...") and put in charge of the Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad, composed of retired detectives from the 80s.

With combined acting experience of 165+ years the cast chemisty is amazing.

NB This applies to the first 8 series, there have been recent cast resignations, and the priducers seem to be casting for a younger demographic.

James Bolam, 67 when the series started, replaced by Denis Lawson (65)
Alun Armstrong, 56 when he started,. replaced by Nicholas Lyndhurst (51)
No word on the replacemen for Amanda Redmond (45 when the series started), but on the trend it could be Jenna Louise Coleman.

[ican'tbelieveit]

:-)

[vbmoneyspender]

You can watch the series from the beginning on that link. I recommend putlocker or filenuke links if they are available.

[airedale]

Jekyll. It is creepy and it only lasted a short time, but it is very good. Netflix has it for streaming. It is a modern version of Jekyll and Hyde. James Nesbit does an amazing job.

The newer versions of Sherlock Holmes are pretty good as well. Again Netflix has the one set in the proper period and one set in our current era. I like both.

[JennysCool]

That was excellent, and an all-time classic, but the new “Sherlock” brings it all very brilliantly up to the digital age.

[llevrok]

Brett portrayed Holmes exactly as Holmes was meant to be: brilliant, impatient, and quirky.

My favorite. The dark moods, drugs and (to me) some hint of more than professional friendship between Watson and Holmes.

[truth_seeker]

“Wallander is dark and uncomfortable at times but extremely good.”

Netflix has two versions of Wallander; Swedish version, and British version with Kenneth Branagh.

I prefer Swedish, which is actually the 2nd version.

Try other non-Wallander books by Henning Mankell.

Scandinavian material on Netflix is good, like The Eagle, The Protectors, Lillehammer, original Swedish version of Millennium Trilogy-Girl With the /Dragon Tattoo, etc.