British TV/General Discussion

Happy New Year all. 

appara, what a great idea for Christmas Eve, massive meals are overrated. I'm so over them. Enjoy the new year.

solar, quite true about Perez. They wrote a nice reality storyline for him. I miss him, but the female duo isn't bad. Darned if I can recall who did the schmoopy storyline, Chelsea Detective perhaps.

Brit, I have to hand it to you, I usually cringe at many oldtime mysteries, sad to say. I thought I found a good one, Queens of Mystery, but a constant narrator grated on my last nerve and that was that.

Ah well, here's to the return of Vienna Blood.

Happy  New  Year  dee  .....     Vienna  Blood   S4   premieres   this  Sunday ,  January  5 .  on  PBS .

Cool, thank you solar.

My favorite  ' feel  good '  show   All Creatures .....  S5   starts  this Sunday  Jan. 12   ,  and for those inclined  Miss  Scarlett  S5  also starts   Sunday ,  Jan. 12  ,   both  on  PBS .  Settle  down to some good viewing . 

Solar, enjoy, enjoy! I will be stopping in to visit "All Creatures" - I usually watch an episode or two. I like the characters, but shy away from the animal stories unless all turns out well, so I do a quick episode synopsis before I watch.

I am currently bingeing "The Sinner" on Netflix. I unfortunately started with the last season, not realizing that I did. Almost done with it, so now I have to go back to the beginning of the series.  I was wondering why they weren't giving us more backstory on why he retired, they alluded a few times to a previous case, but never delved in to it. Now I know why! 🙄

I like the lead, in this last season he is a (somewhat) troubled retired detective. One of those that won't stop until he gets to the truth. He has a low key style, but very pointed in his approach. He just goes for it - asks the pertinent question regardless of situation he finds himself. This last story is interesting because every time he thinks he figured it out, he is wrong and we are going through one suspect after the other and the real story in each case is not what he thought or expected. 

I am starting to get a theory in my head now that so many suspects have been taken off the list, but I could be totally wrong - so many things in this have not been what they seem. I have two more episodes left to find out.

Correction, I had three more episodes to go. Watched two last night... my theory was so off base, I was not even close. This series has an intentional dark, creepy feel to it. Filmed in Novia Scotia I found out.  

Watching the finale episode tonight. If the lead detective makes it out of this alive it is going to be a miracle. Between his own demons, and the fact that everyone is after him - I think only one person in the town, possibly two, don't have him in their sights (and not in a good way). We will see how this all unfolds.

Agree  Brit  ...  about the animals  ,   won't be such a  .' feel good  '  show if any of the animals are not  properly cared for and thoroughly loved. 

Good find on  The Sinner  ,  Brit  ...  brought up Netflix  and found it.   It started out at S4  so I went back to  find S1 to  S3   so as to start at the beginning  but  no   1  to 3  so I  started watching S4  ,  finding  it very suspenseful .  Apparently he had some sort of breakdown and maybe why he left the force although it doesn't make this connection .  He stopped taking his medication and left it at home which is a concern to his wife.  As you referred to , like how he picks away ,  you can see the  detective coming out of him and  the police chief is glad he's getting  involved.   Although the setting is  Maine  and filmed in  Nova Scotia , i recognized   those  3 or 4 red buildings on the  wharf  are in Lunenburg  ,  about an hour down the coast .   If ya Google  Lunenburg  NS  , those  red buildings will most likely pop up  somewhere  as they are a sort of a town  landmark. 

Solar, it is funny how some things work out, because starting with S4 was the right way to go - believe me. I went back to S1 to start that last night, S1-3 is still available here in this States. Can't tell you enough how much I dislike the storyline, ugh - nothing like S4, which really pulled me in. If I had started at S1, I would have quit half way through the first episode. 

The thing is that I really like him as a detective - I enjoy the way he peels the onion, he is one of the most quietly, dogged detectives I have seen in a long while. But, the story itself, can't wait until it is over. I am fast forwarding through the parts that are unnecessary to the story (and there is quite a bit of it - they do drag out scenes in this one) and keying in on the pertinent info and the scenes he is in. Still enjoy watching him despite the story.

I am going to pull myself back from being judgemental here, but I will say they are giving us more information about him than we (I) need to know. Let me just say that the man is more "complex" than we realize from S4 (there is only one allusion to it in the forth season - it seemed odd when I watched it, but of course I didn't get it - I didn't have the background (and honestly didn't need it). 

He has a deep rooted fetish that we have to see on full display, and as it doesn't have any impact on him as a detective, or advance his investigation, it really seems more like it was done to add an edge to the story that isn't necessarily. The reference to it is in S4 during the opening intimate scene with the girlfriend. If his response to her asking if he was okay seems slightly off, it's not. 

So, I am glad you started where you did. If S1 shows up at some point, skip it. Will I try S2 in hope that I like the story better, yes. Maybe I will have a better response and can keep my finger off FF.

While I was watching S4, I knew we were supposed to be in Maine, but I kept thinking to myself, that looks more like Novia Scotia than Maine, I wonder if they are shooting there instead. When I looked it up, bingo that was it. I will Google Lunenburg and take a look.

Brit, your description of this show The Sinner made me curious, and sure enough, I had seen it. No doubt when I had Netflix.

I like Bill Pullman, but as per my usual, I forget details as soon as I've binged something. Heck, I've forgotten most of Vienna Blood already, which I binged on PBS Passport!

I do remember this show as very dark, very intense, but compelling. I stuck with it, though, only because of Pullman.

Deedee and Solar... I'm bailing on S1, I can't finish it, I'm done. When it gets to the point where it no longer is entertainment, but too uncomfortable to watch, it is time to go. 

I don't know if I will continue on at this point. Like both of you, it is Pullman that keeps me interested. He is really good at the detective genre, he nails it. 

All, an article I found interesting. I didn't know Midnight Diner was an izakaya, and now it seems they are falling the way of shows I don't find fault with.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/18/japan-legendary-izakaya-closing-costs-declining-demand

Thanks for posting the article, Deedee. How interesting, I had no idea either that the Midnight Diner is part of a larger dining concept - I kind of always thought of it as a Japanese (cozy) local pub - which it is, I wasn't aware of "izakaya" (in and of itself) as a dining experience.

You already know I would be all over this, and what to find out - it's going the way of the dinosaurs. 😟

Brit  wrote :

Solar, enjoy, enjoy! I will be stopping in to visit "All Creatures" - I usually watch an episode or two. I like the characters, but shy away from the animal stories unless all turns out well, so I do a quick episode synopsis before I watch.

Better skip   E2   Brit ......   don't think  ya would like it  much. 

Thanks so much for the heads-up, Solar, much appreciated. I did watch E1 and enjoyed it. 

Xfinity, my cable provider, is offering Acorn TV streaming free this week and I am taking full advantage of it. I watched two episodes of the new series Inspector Ellis and I really like it! I have one more episode to go. If this one ever comes up on a local PBS channel in your area Solar and Appara definitely give it a watch. Deedee, I know you have Acorn TV and have access.

I have a bunch more series I want to watch - I won't get to all the episodes of each, and I am not really interested in doing that anyway - some series I just like to watch a few episodes of, like Madame Blanc Mysteries, because I did enjoy the first series of that, watched some of the second, but by now in the third, it doesn't keep my interest as much. I watch because of Sally Lindsay. Also, there are much less exterior shots in S3 and the series suffers for it. We got to see a lot more of Malta, where it is filmed, in the first two and that location is a large part of the attraction.

I did watch an episode of Dalgliesh - "Death of an Expert Witness" and I thought it was good. Quite surprised at that because I am a fan of the original series, I own the DVD's and have re-watched the stories to the point where I know them well. I am also a fan of PD James -  have read her more recent books in the series - so I am invested. The one thing I will say is that the original has some of the best British actors starring in it and I can see their performances in my mind as I am watching... can't help comparing, and the gravis of these actors was missing; Barry Foster was in this one as was Brenda Blethyn and Geoffrey Palmer. That being said, it was well done.

Thanks Solar. They worry me because there isn't an animal welfare person on the set as there is with American movies/shows. Or at least I don't think there is, but they don't have a 'no animals were harmed in this show' blurb at the end and I've got the woman tearing the fur off the rabbit in an early episode of MM burned in my brain. No reason for animal cruelty, none whatsoever.

Thanks, Brit, the promos weren't engaging. But I trust you! Madame Blanc gets on my last nerve, I watched the wedding of that harridan to the guy whom I recognize, and I wanted to slap her silly.

And as to Dalgliesh, I've shared my shallow opinions of the new guy Bertie Carvel in Dalgliesh and Marsden's wig entering the room before he does. Sorry!

Opinions on Vienna Blood?

Meanwhile, PBS is reshowing Seaside Hotel and I love this show.

Deedee, their are two camps when it comes to Marsden as Dalgliesh, either you think he was great, OR he was totally miscast and did not fit the character. People have strong opinions one way or the other - there seems to be little middle ground. I like Marsden in the role, so I enjoyed the original. I know you are not a fan, and I respect that. PD James herself did not approve of Marsden in the role. He was not her choice and she did not  like his portrayal, so you are in good company. Now, she LOVED Martin Shaw in the role when he did the mini series of "The Murder Room" and "Death in Holy Orders". And, I'll say it for both of us... when it comes to Martin Shaw - what is there not to like. Sigh. I totally get it. 

I might watch "The Murder Room" next. I'd like to see Carvel take this one on. From the episode I watched, he worked well as Dalgliesh. Would he get the same enthusiasm as PD James had for Martin Shaw - something tells me no, but I think she may have approved of his performance more than Marsden's.

Another series I want to get caught up on - "Signora Volpe" with Emilia Fox. I watched the first season and liked it. I have read that the second is not as good, but I want to make that decision for myself. I remember the Italian scenery was pretty spectacular in the first season, I hope this remains the same and it doesn't resort to mostly interior shots.

I get you on "Madame Blanc" - the first season is the best. Went too overboard on the caricatures after that. It was a bit more serious the first season as Jean tried to figure out a life that fell to pieces on her. It also didn't hurt that it was set in an enticing location. 

"Seaside Hotel" is back.... book us in for two weeks. Anyone else up for a visit?  I'm off to pack. 

Brit, I totally forgot about Martin Shaw's portrayal of Dalgliesh. I hate to pieces that they gave him an illness at the end of Inspector Gently, as if dealing with Bacchus wasn't punishment enough.

Meanwhile, speaking of scenery, I made it through the series where a detective (?) took residence at a gorgeous villa, spent a lot of time in a gorgeous pool in the altogether, and if I recall (which I'm not doing much of here), it was a convoluted storyline. The lead was well known, but at this moment not to me!

Oh, would I love a summer at Seaside Hotel. I want to sit at Mr. Aurland's table.

For those with Britbox (the Britbox weasels actually put adverts on their movies, I only thought the weasels at Prime did that), a lovely, lovely, lovely little documentary on the set of Vera - Vera: Farewell Pet.

Did I say it was lovely? I'm missing her already.

Thanks, Deedee, I haven't watched the last season of "Vera" as yet, I am saving it a little longer (before I cave in), but I am certainly putting this on the list for after. For me (as well as you) the series is without doubt, among the best of the best.

...as if dealing with Bacchus wasn't punishment enough.

Oh boy, truer words have not been said. How  Gently managed to put up with him all those years attempting to make some semblance of a human being out of him  - and to what end - for him to turn on him in his moment of most need. Could not stand the character.

Finished "Inspector Ellis" - honest opinion -  the first episode was quite good, the second not as good as the first; the last episode's story had too many red herrings flying everywhere and at some point you get lost in it all. 

I did like how all the characters worked together in this one and the ending was 👍. I hope the series comes back for another season because it has real potential, it needs to solidify itself a bit more, which will hopefully happen if it is given the opportunity to develop.

Unfortunately, Dalgliesh's "Murder Room" was a big disappointment. "Death of an Expert Witness" wasn't bad, Carvel kind of held it together... but the "MR" was subpar. The writing is no where near the quality of the original - and I think that can be said for the series as a whole. I know I am only two episodes in, but there was nuance in the original stories that I am not getting in these. 

There were some familiar faces in this one, and they added some weight to the story, but Carvel (and his sidekick) are so wooden in their acting that I don't think he really wants to be there. And, enough with his partner's cow eyes. She is useless. 

Deedee, if only you could rewatch Martin Shaw's version of this episode (done as a mini-series) and see the difference in how the character is played and the more involved storyline for Dalgliesh, both personally and professionally, you would see what I mean. It is not streaming anywhere that I could find.

BTW, I just read Martin Shaw turned eighty!  All "my guys" are now in their eighties. 🥹