If you are interested in watching something this weekend with a criminal law theme, there is a superb Scottish detective show currently available on Netflix. It’s called Shetland. A joint production of the BBC and ITV, Shetland is based on the novels of the distinguished mystery writer Ann Cleeves. The series is set in Scotland’s remote Shetland Islands and it follows the criminal investigations of Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez, played by the superb Douglas Henshall. The show’s acting and writing are consistently outstanding and the scenery is breathtaking. The series has also attracted notable actors in guest roles, including Ciarán Hinds, Saskia Reeves, and Brian Cox.
If you are a fan of Kenneth Branagh’s great Wallander series (which aired on PBS a few years ago and is now also available on Netflix), you will love Shetland. Netflix has the first three seasons of Shetland but the fourth season is currently only available in the UK. Like Wallander, Shetland has also previously aired on PBS and may do so again, so if you don’t have Netflix, keep an eye on your local public television station. Shetland is definitely worth waiting for.
We (my spouse and I) loved Wallander (not enough episodes!), and have also enjoyed such earlier series as Inspector Morse and Prime Suspect (yes, we're that old), as well as Inspector Frost (the last, I suspect, has not garnered the attention and respect it deserves!). The only series in the states I find on par with these in quality is The Rockford Files (of course it is a bit older and utterly different from the others, but I ardently believe its charms are many and enduring). Having lived through the period of Jim Crow laws, the Vietnam War and Watergate, I never imagined our national political life would ever again be so utterly mad and degrading, exemplifying democratic politics at its worst: hence these wonderful shows provide necessary respite and innocuous if not intelligent escape.
In short, thanks for the recommendation (at present, we're viewing two gems, oldies but goodies, via our Netflix subscription, As Time Goes By and All Creatures Great and Small).
Posted by: Patrick S. O'Donnell | March 23, 2018 at 06:49 PM
[On "old" above: I've perhaps revealed here a linguistic variation on the Freudian "repetition compulsion."]
Posted by: Patrick S. O'Donnell | March 23, 2018 at 06:59 PM
Patrick, I loved Inspector Morse and Prime Suspect! Anything with Helen Mirren in it is great, and John Thaw's Morse is my favorite fictional police detective of all time. Jeremy Brett was also great in the 1980s Sherlock Holmes series (and I enjoyed the more recent Benedict Cumberbatch version very much as well). I haven't seen the Inspector Frost series but will check it out. Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Anthony Gaughan | March 23, 2018 at 09:13 PM
Two more series worthy of full attention: Vera and Inspector Lewis. They are superb. Vera is also based on books by Ann Cleeves; I think it's an even better series than Shetland. It will certainly shatter any romantic notions about the north of England. The Inspector Lewis series is equally extraordinary; Morse fans will remember him as Morse's sergeant, and this series gives him his own adventures.
It's a shame that American television cannot come up with any competition to these British series.
Posted by: Ellen Wertheimer | March 26, 2018 at 02:20 PM
Thanks so much, Ellen. I will be sure to look into Vera. It sounds great. And I am definitely a fan of Inspector Lewis too.
Posted by: Anthony Gaughan | March 26, 2018 at 03:19 PM