So, I've only watched the first 2 seasons of this (I think there are 7 overall?), but I wanted to share.
The series focuses on Dr. Tony Hill (Robson Green), a clinical psychologist specializing in criminal cases, who assists the local police officers with cases from time to time. He's a pleasantly eccentric character. As the Detective Inspector says of her first impression of him, "He's funny... in every sense of the word."
This is a darker series. If you're looking for Golden Age-style British mysteries (Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers and the like) this is NOT it. It's much much darker. More like Morse or Cracker. With American equivalents, think Law & Order, not Murder, She Wrote. It makes sense when you consider the premise - a clinical psychology professor isn't called in to consult on every case, but on particularly puzzling ones, ones where they are looking for a profile for a suspect. In this series, those cases are often serial rape cases, or serial killers. In the first episode, it's a serial killer who is particularly fond of using medieval torture devices on their victims. Start the series with a bang, I guess!
Tony Hill is kinda like Morse, a very intelligent character, but more befuddled, less arrogant and distant. He works so much with twisted human minds, it almost seems sometimes like he forgets how to deal with regular people. Robson Green does a great job with the character, makes him very believable. Steals so many of his scenes! It's great watching him interact with DI Jordan (Hermione Norris). I haven't seen the later seasons yet, so I don't know how he works with the second DI in the series.
The characters overall are well done. It's nice to see a lot of carry-over between episodes, too. Two characters have a fight, for instance, and it's not totally forgotten by the next episode. Gives the series more continuity as a story, but also lets the characters develop, too. Watch DI Jordan grow in her promotion, watch junior officers mature. All that good stuff.
This isn't a crime series to watch for the puzzle. It's more about the characters, and the process, how they arrive at a solution, whether or not that process is real-world accurate. Some of the steps in logic are a bit far-fetched for reality, but it's TV after all, not a documentary. The crimes are made up, after all, to suit what the author wanted the characters to go through. They are going to be far-fetched, to create an entertaining plot.
The series is based on books by Val McDermid, though only a few of the episodes are actually based on the books. Like Morse - more episodes than written stories, but the characters were too good to let pass up. It intrigues me though, what the characters are like in the books. I think I might give them a try, if I can every get my hands on a copy out here.
Downsides? Not for the squeamish viewers at times (which may or may not be a downside, depending on your personal view). The writing occasionally a little stilted. The extra-enormous leaps in logic sometimes taken by Dr Hill and the investigators can leave you shaking your head.
Overall: 4.5 of 5. Enjoyable characters, some interesting puzzles, though not remarkable mysteries. I always think forensics (physical or psychological) and crime solving are interesting, so I enjoyed it. As mentioned above, though - very dark murders. Not for sensitive viewers. Still, if you're a fan of Morse or Cracker or similar shows, then this will suit you - don't miss it.
The series focuses on Dr. Tony Hill (Robson Green), a clinical psychologist specializing in criminal cases, who assists the local police officers with cases from time to time. He's a pleasantly eccentric character. As the Detective Inspector says of her first impression of him, "He's funny... in every sense of the word."
This is a darker series. If you're looking for Golden Age-style British mysteries (Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers and the like) this is NOT it. It's much much darker. More like Morse or Cracker. With American equivalents, think Law & Order, not Murder, She Wrote. It makes sense when you consider the premise - a clinical psychology professor isn't called in to consult on every case, but on particularly puzzling ones, ones where they are looking for a profile for a suspect. In this series, those cases are often serial rape cases, or serial killers. In the first episode, it's a serial killer who is particularly fond of using medieval torture devices on their victims. Start the series with a bang, I guess!
Tony Hill is kinda like Morse, a very intelligent character, but more befuddled, less arrogant and distant. He works so much with twisted human minds, it almost seems sometimes like he forgets how to deal with regular people. Robson Green does a great job with the character, makes him very believable. Steals so many of his scenes! It's great watching him interact with DI Jordan (Hermione Norris). I haven't seen the later seasons yet, so I don't know how he works with the second DI in the series.
The characters overall are well done. It's nice to see a lot of carry-over between episodes, too. Two characters have a fight, for instance, and it's not totally forgotten by the next episode. Gives the series more continuity as a story, but also lets the characters develop, too. Watch DI Jordan grow in her promotion, watch junior officers mature. All that good stuff.
This isn't a crime series to watch for the puzzle. It's more about the characters, and the process, how they arrive at a solution, whether or not that process is real-world accurate. Some of the steps in logic are a bit far-fetched for reality, but it's TV after all, not a documentary. The crimes are made up, after all, to suit what the author wanted the characters to go through. They are going to be far-fetched, to create an entertaining plot.
The series is based on books by Val McDermid, though only a few of the episodes are actually based on the books. Like Morse - more episodes than written stories, but the characters were too good to let pass up. It intrigues me though, what the characters are like in the books. I think I might give them a try, if I can every get my hands on a copy out here.
Downsides? Not for the squeamish viewers at times (which may or may not be a downside, depending on your personal view). The writing occasionally a little stilted. The extra-enormous leaps in logic sometimes taken by Dr Hill and the investigators can leave you shaking your head.
Overall: 4.5 of 5. Enjoyable characters, some interesting puzzles, though not remarkable mysteries. I always think forensics (physical or psychological) and crime solving are interesting, so I enjoyed it. As mentioned above, though - very dark murders. Not for sensitive viewers. Still, if you're a fan of Morse or Cracker or similar shows, then this will suit you - don't miss it.
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