Detective and Mystery Shows

[mledawn]

Final ep of S3 Whitstable Pearl aired today. I really hope they greenlight more of this show, it's a favourite of mine!

[LisaM]

Hope Street S4 drops today on Britbox. A combination detective/police show and a soap opera. 

Watched all 4 episodes of Marlow Mystery Club on Masterpiece last night. Fun, quick, cozy mystery based on a book. Already renewed for S2. 

[abbyzenn]

Season 2 of Darby and Joan starts on Acorn on December 30.  I really liked season 1 and look forward to the new season.

[CharlizeCat]

I enjoyed Des and I believe Jason Watkins plays a biographer writing about Des. It's been quite a while since I watched it, but it was great!

I just finished S3 of The Tower. I thought it was another excellent series, but was so disappointed it's only four episodes. Hope it comes back for S4. 

 

 

[Milburn Stone]

12 hours ago, CharlizeCat said:

I enjoyed Des and I believe Jason Watkins plays a biographer writing about Des. It's been quite a while since I watched it, but it was great!

I was not familiar with the actor who played the biographer but thought he was outstanding. I will now look for other things Jason Watkins has been in!

 

[Milburn Stone]

On 11/29/2024 at 10:18 PM, CharlizeCat said:

I just finished S3 of The Tower. I thought it was another excellent series...

Since we both liked Des, I figured if you liked The Tower I might too. Watched the first two episodes of S1 last night, and I do think it's very good. The main detective is different in her way than all the other TV detectives I've seen. She has pain in her background (don't they all) but the sense is that's not the reason she is why she is. 

[CharlizeCat]

Awesome! Jason Watkins co-stars in McDonald & Dobbs, which I believe is on BritBox. The shows are self-contained stories presented in 90 minutes. I want to say they are cozy mystery-type shows moreso that the typical gang violence, drugs, etc., found in the other mystery and detective shows. JW also plays one of the villains in Line of Duty. I believe it's the season where Thandie Newton is the cop in the hot seat.

I am also enjoying Sherwood on BritBox, starring David Morrisey. Leslie Manville and Monica Dolan are also in it. 

[sempervivum]

On 11/25/2024 at 5:49 PM, mledawn said:

Final ep of S3 Whitstable Pearl aired today. I really hope they greenlight more of this show, it's a favourite of mine!

Again, way too short-only 4 episodes after waiting for almost 2 years for this season. I'm saving the last episode as a treat during Christmas week.

[LisaM]

7 hours ago, CharlizeCat said:

Awesome! Jason Watkins co-stars in McDonald & Dobbs, which I believe is on BritBox. The shows are self-contained stories presented in 90 minutes. I want to say they are cozy mystery-type shows moreso that the typical gang violence, drugs, etc., found in the other mystery and detective shows. JW also plays one of the villains in Line of Duty. I believe it's the season where Thandie Newton is the cop in the hot seat.

I am also enjoying Sherwood on BritBox, starring David Morrisey. Leslie Manville and Monica Dolan are also in it. 

McDonald and Dodds is one of my favorites. Impatiently waiting for more.

[Irlandesa]

On 11/15/2024 at 11:10 AM, mledawn said:

Just finished the second ep of Inspector Ellis and wow, what a gut punch! Are there only 3 episodes? That's all I have seen reference to in my wanderings. 

Just binged this today and I enjoyed it quite a bit.  Even though it's a little more serious than other Acorn shows, I loved the balance they achieved with Ellis where she was appropriately serious most of the time but we still saw her smiling and laughing at things she liked or found amusing in others. 

Has anyone seen Get Millie Black yet?  There seems to be a pretty big divide on critical and audience reaction and I'm curious as to why that might be. 

A bunch of new detective shows are coming back this month.  I'm excited to binge the new season of Miss Scarlet next week and Shetland starts airing on Britbox a week later, I think.

[dleighg]

Just started watching the new season of dalgliesh. 

And given my observation that there seem to be only 100 British actors in crime TV, I was surpised/not surprised to see Dr. Thomas Chamberlain in clerical garb.

[CharlizeCat]

I finally watched the first episode of DCI Ellis this evening. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I am also watching Sherwood S2. I try to follow David Morrisey and Leslie Manville. DM was on one of the celebrity charity episodes of GBBO and won! 

[LisaM]

I know it has its own section but watched Black Doves over the weekend and loved it. Tons of HITG British actors throughout. It is a spy/mystery/thriller with a lot of comedic bits. Highly recommended - especially since Sarah Lancashire has a major role. 

[Milburn Stone]

Just finished the third and final (so far) season of The Tower.

Jesus.

[dleighg]

8 hours ago, LisaM said:

Tons of HITG British actors

What is HITG?

[Schnickelfritz]

7 hours ago, dleighg said:

What is HITG?

Hey, It's That Guy

[LisaM]

Watched Parts 1 and 2 of newest season of Dalgleish. I thought it was good but definitely a different style - more cerebral, less action - than many of the shows I have been watching lately. 

Looking forward to Season 9 of Shetland but waiting until the entire season has dropped before beginning it. 

[mledawn]

52 minutes ago, LisaM said:

Watched Parts 1 and 2 of newest season of Dalgleish. I thought it was good but definitely a different style - more cerebral, less action - than many of the shows I have been watching lately. 

Looking forward to Season 9 of Shetland but waiting until the entire season has dropped before beginning it. 

I am missing Miskin so far (although she apparently is in the last ep) but enjoying Dalgleish. I did enjoy DS Tarrant with the one off "I know I'm not her, sir" - no, you're not!

Won't comment on Shetland more than to say I did enjoy the season, and am looking forward to others' impressions.

[abbyzenn]

I just can't get into Dalgleish.  I find him so boring as a character and in the acting - he comes across as if just reading his lines.  I watched the first of the new season and gave up midway.

[dleighg]

2 hours ago, LisaM said:

Watched Parts 1 and 2 of newest season of Dalgleish. 

I just watched episodes 3 and 4. I wasn't that fond of this story. Very convoluted with everybody lying constantly. When the sister used the term "friends... with benefits" I just about snorted. That phrase was most assuredly NOT a thing in that time period.

[dleighg]

^ and according to Wikipedia:

The origin of the term "friends with benefits" is difficult to trace, even though the phrase is in regular use and a familiar part of the current social lexicon. The earliest known use of the term is documented in Alanis Morissette's 1996 song "Head over Feet" in the lyric "you're my best friend, best friend with benefits".

[mledawn]

Final season of Vera will premiere January 2nd according to BritBox.

[LisaM]

Christmas episode of Chelsea Detective dropped on Monday. I still like the show but it suffered greatly from the loss of Sonita Henry, who played the DS and partner to the star. 

[Milburn Stone]

Watched the first episode of the new season of Dalgliesh. Have they digitally smoothed out his face or something? I'd say he had "work done" except it actually looks like AI smoothing. (Just me?)

Edited December 18, 2024 by Milburn Stone

[LisaM]

Watched episodes 3 and 4 of Dalgleish which I thought were much better than 1 and 2. I liked the inclusion of the abused women's shelter and the exclusion of the DS from the first two episodes. 

Watched 5 and 6 last evening. I thought these were excellent. Really liked Dalgleish's mentoring relationship with Kate Miskin. This felt like a series finale with Dalgleish indicating that he was moving towards getting past his grief and beginning a relationship with Claire Goose's character from the first episode of this season. 

Edited December 23, 2024 by LisaM

[krankydoodle]

Dalgliesh could benefit from longer episodes. When they revealed the murderer at the end of episode 2, I had to struggle to remember who the person was since I think they'd only had 3-4 lines of dialogue until then.

The story in episodes 3 & 4 was messy. They dropped a significant plot point from the book that would've explained some of the victim's actions.

I don't know about digital smoothing and I've liked Bertie Carvel in other things, but I agree with others that the character doesn't come across as very interesting. My memory of the books is that we spend a lot of time in characters' heads and there aren't a lot of big emotional moments or exchanges, which probably makes them challenging to adapt.

[J-Man]

Christmas episode of Sister Boniface Mysteries is available on Britbox. 

[abbyzenn]

The new season of Darby and Joan is on Accorn.  There's been 3 episodes so far.  I really enjoy this series, the scenery is beautiful and I find both Darby and especially Joan comforting.  

I liked the Christmas episode of Chelsea Detective.  I thought the new season would follow but so far no.  I agree that the new sidekick does nothing for the show and Sonita Henry was much better - not sure if it is the actress or the character that bugs.

While watching Playing Nice there was a scene with the actress that plays DC Jess.  It took me the whole scene to figure out where I knew her from.

Playing NIce was okay.  It started slow and I think  3 instead of 4 epiosdes would have been better.  It was rather easy to guess what was going on.  Again gorgeous scenery of Cornwall - sometimes I think I watch these shows just for the scenery.

[LisaM]

I know that it has its own topic but I cannot recommend Astrid enough. It is the one show that I wait impatiently for all year. S4 just dropped on Prime Video and PBS. Fabulous show - watch from the very beginning to see the growth. 

[Irlandesa]

14 hours ago, abbyzenn said:

There's been 3 episodes so far.  I really enjoy this series, the scenery is beautiful and I find both Darby and especially Joan comforting.  

I get Acorn through Prime and it still doesn't have episode 3 available.  It's so frustrating. I work from home on Mondays and it's the kind of show I like to have on in the background while I do some of the admin tasks I don't have to think too hard about.

5 hours ago, LisaM said:

I know that it has its own topic but I cannot recommend Astrid enough.

I had to give this a few tries but I finally got into it.  Although I think I'm behind and need to catch up.

Over the holidays, I finally watched the first season of Sherwood and really enjoyed it.  Did anyone else watch and how was the second season in comparison?

[Milburn Stone]

8 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

Over the holidays, I finally watched the first season of Sherwood and really enjoyed it.  Did anyone else watch and how was the second season in comparison?

Thought the first season was terrific but couldn't get past S2's opener. The conflicts in S1 were super-compelling but I couldn't force myself to care about the conflicts they appeared to be setting up in S2. Maybe an unfair judgment because maybe if I'd made to the next episode I would have become involved, but the first episode failed in its mission to make me want to do that.

[LisaM]

Watching Partners in Crime: Potsdam Homicide on PBS Passport/Masterpiece. The first 4 seasons were called Luna and Sophie and focused on two childhood friends who become Potsdam police detectives. Once the actresses quit the show, it changed casts and names. Entertaining, light, no real violence and good characters. 

[abbyzenn]

 Florence formerly police detective in Death in Paradise has traded a small Carribbean island for a small island in the north Atlantic.  The actress is now starring in a new show called Saint Pierre where she is - surprise -  a detective.  I had never heard of Saint Pierre but it really exists - it's a self-governing territory of France just a 90 minute ferry ride away from Newfoundland.  The show is called Saint Pierre.  It's a bit more serious than Death in Paradise.  I've enjoyed the first two episodes.

[Seelouis]

12 hours ago, abbyzenn said:

 Florence formerly police detective in Death in Paradise has traded a small Carribbean island for a small island in the north Atlantic.  The actress is now starring in a new show called Saint Pierre where she is - surprise -  a detective.  I had never heard of Saint Pierre but it really exists - it's a self-governing territory of France just a 90 minute ferry ride away from Newfoundland.  The show is called Saint Pierre.  It's a bit more serious than Death in Paradise.  I've enjoyed the first two episodes.

Where is this show streaming? 

[dleighg]

6 minutes ago, Seelouis said:

Where is this show streaming? 

I looked (briefly) and it seems like it is Canada, and I'm not interested in doing black arts, so....