TV Crime Series.

Did anyone se the programme on BBC last night about tv series? I only caught the end of it but it looked very good. I've never seen Dexter but I know people have recommended it to me several times. i think the programme was about how characters develop in series compared to how limited that can be when making a feature film. I'm looking foreward as well to the 5 parter with Gillian Anderson starting tomorrow night [one of my favourite actresses]. I wonder if the success of The Killing has raised the standard for British crime drama?

Yes I have. See link below

www.gransnet.com/forums/television_and_radio/1198232-America-in-prime-time-on-BBC-2-Saturdays

I am just watching the one last night you talked about. It's been brilliant. I loved the one last week about how the perfect person that used to be portrayed on TV is no longer. The misfit is the norm now. All very interesting.

I didn't realise it was on last week as well. I was flicking channels and Alan Alda was talking which stopped me dead in my tracks. D'you think it was Cracker that started these anti heroes?

Hi Nonu

Spiral is very 'gritty' - I'm a wimp, and have to close my eyes at the horrible bits and rely on my husband tells me when I can look again.

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_(TV_series)]

Very strong story lines and excellent acting.

This series is about American prime time TV. I think it's just how it's evolved and what people want. Times change and the public I think just didn't buy the all American normal people, cop shows etc.

As I said the one last week I enjoyed the most. How times change and tv changes with them. The misfit is now the norm. Friends comes to my mind.

Noodles i don"t DO gritty , I like my TV to be all all soft & fuzzy.

Having said that i do love watching in the States "America"s most wanted , and they do go into gory detail. Doh !!

I like quite a few of the crime series, but one that still sticks in my mind is Boney, an Australian series from the mid 70s, starred the gorgeous James Laurenson as Aboriginal detective Napoleon Bonaparte. I loved it, was really sorry when it finished, would love to see repeats.

Spiral is demanding and fast moving - and it take place in Paris which is a bonus. The sets, interiors etc are all different, (as is the French legal system) so I need to really pay attention to keep up with the story. No knitting or reading the newspapers when Spiral is on!

I loved Spiral and wished I'd seen the previous series.i tried to get some of the Boney stories when last in Oz but was told they are non PC. The ones I got from the library bookstore here had disclaimers that the opinions expressed were not that of the local council!

I read all the Boney books back in the 70s, but I believe they were written in the 30s, although the TV series was more up to date. Attitudes probably have changed a lot since they were first written.

I thought John Thaw made Morse - the story lines were usually ridiculous but he was such a good actor that I could suspend disbelief.

I hate Lewis - I find Kevin Whately and Edward Fox totally uncharismatic and uninteresting. Edward Fox is supposed to be a complicated, torn character but to me he just looks bored stiff.

I think the actors in Endeavour are far more believable and nuanced, particularly young Morse and his boss and Morse's uniformed colleague.

I think Vera is brilliant and Scott & Bailey - the characters are interesting but still believable.

I love the quirkiness and humour of Poirot.

Midsomers Murders - yawn.

Who used to like Z-Cars?

Montalbano, Lewis, Arne Dahl crime thrillers on BBC4, Morse, Frost, Foyles war, the charming Poirot and New Tricks. I'm afraid I find Scott & Bailey a bit course and vulgar for my taste - I think! I struggled to concentrate on one and a half episodes but the side storylines were not for me I'm afraid so have not bothered since.
Montalbano is a must for humour and storyline with the long suffering co stars playing equally important parts. Foyles war I believe to be very underrated and Michael Kitchen plays a superb Foyle. Frost and Morse speak for themselves and I do feel that Lewis and Hathaway are well suited to their respective characters. All in all all good watches and for someone with just 4 walls to communicate with welcome distractions well made, acted and produced. Long may they continue.

I enjoyed Endeavour although the actor playing him was good I didn't think he looked like a younger Morse so I found that a bit disconcerting.
I also like to watch Hawaii Five -O. It is rather violent but fast moving and has lovely clips of Hawaii. The actors in it are quite dishy too!

I love any of the so called 'Nordic Noir' also Endevour, Lewis, Frost, Wire in the Blood is a favourite of mine.

Do like The Suspicions of Mr Witcher, Cracker I could go on and probably will given time.

Nonu - Julia, is the name, if I recall correctly. If you like Murdoch (and he is dishy), have you seen him in "Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye" which is also on Alibi? I love it, even though I have seen it all several times. I like the idea of a young deaf girl helping out the FBI - do have a look for it. It was obviously filmed several years ago, but still very watchable.

By the way, I downloaded a Murdoch boook for my Kindle and enjoyed reading it.

Gillie, thats the one , Sue thomas, I will look out for that when I am back from Hols.

remind me again of the author of murdoch , save me googling , she is Canadian I believe ?

Nonu - Maureen Jennings, if I remember correctly. I have also downloaded a couple of Miss Fisher books, too - very, very good.

Enjoy our holiday.

or even your holiday!!

Miss Fisher , author ? like 20 questions here ,what .ho.

I love New Tricks. I am not sure how the next series will be with Tamzin Outhwaite replacing Amanda Redman and Alun Armstrong leaving though.
Only Dennis Waterman left of the original cast.

The Fall [with the wonderful Gillian Anderson] on BBC2 tonight looks good. I do like Spiral. We had great fun in Paris pretending all the police we saw were from Spiral [although it did scare us a bit thinking they all had guns ].

Oh dear...Alun Armstrong is pretty much why I watch 'New Tricks'

I liked the brief series BBC did.....Shetland, it had quite a Nordic flavour.

Nonu - Kerry Greenwood wrote the "Miss Fisher" books. I have two of them; the first one took me a little time to get into it, but I was soon lapping it up. She has actually written quite a few, so I know what I will be getting for my Kindle before we go away in September! I love Essie Pryce? as Phryne in the tv series - why don't I look like that? And her clothes!

Gillie , thanks for that . I will enjoy my holiday and you enjoy yours in September are you back Stateside ?