219. Web-series Reviews – 66

More web-series reviews…

Hinterland – On the run from his London past, DCI Tom Mathias, a brilliant but troubled man, isolates himself on the outskirts of a town filled with secrets as dark and destructive as his own. Partnered with the intelligent and complex DI Mared Rhys, they form an engaging relationship as they embark on solving cases that involve the ultimate anti-social crime, murder. Ran from 2013-2016.  Also known as "Y Gwyll".  One trivia - Dialogue scenes were filmed twice, in English and then in Welsh; the show was broadcast in both languages. While the dialogue in both versions essentially share the same content, the Welsh scenes were often accomplished with fewer words.

Y Gwyll (means the dusk in Welsh language). Hinterland is German for the land behind such as storage area in a port, or rural part of a city.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

I love those British crime/mystery series such as "Lewis", "Wallander", "Vera", "DCI Banks", "George Gently" and "Shetland". To them you can add "Hinterland" although this is the series that has taken the theme of the troubled, depressed copper to a new level or low depending on how you look at it. Detective Chief Inspector Tom Mathias (Richard Harrington) has just about bottomed out emotionally; he makes Kenneth Branagh's Kurt Wallander seem almost carefree by comparison.

But of course that is part of the secret to these shows; the heroes are very tuned in to the pain in others because they feel so much themselves. Some of them are tough coppers, but they empathise with the victims and even the perps - world weariness is a common quality. Mathias has had the most scouring experiences of all, but as they say, that which does not kill you

John Thaw as Morse started all this. Morse was not a happy man, but he could empathise with the best of them. Luckily he had a young Robbie Lewis as his offsider to balance his jaundiced approach to life. Likewise Tom Mathias has Mared Rhys (Mali Harries). She has often experienced his abrasive nature, but respects his abilities, and she has his back.

Mathias's beat is around Aberystwyth in Wales. One key ingredient in the best crime dramas is a strong sense of place: "Wallander" and Ystad, "Vera" with Newcastle on Tyne and "Lewis" with Oxford, but along with "Shetland", "Hinterland" has the strongest sense of place of them all.

Like the others, the movie-length episodes in "Hinterland" give a chance for the stories to develop. When a series is squeezed into hour-long episodes including ads such as many US shows, there isn't much chance to develop character beyond a superficial level as in the gimmicky "The Mentalist" and "Castle". One US show that does have a similar vibe to the brilliant British ones is Tom Selleck's "Jesse Stone", and talk about depressed, not only has his wife left him, but his dog also died (he got another one).

A lot of the shows mentioned above have come to the end of their run, but no doubt others will take their place, especially now that the formula for success has been well and truly established.

My Take – A definitive watch!

 

Scott & Bailey – Two female detectives, one motherly, the other emotionally immature, have varying levels of success applying their eccentric outlooks on life to their police cases and private lives.  Ran from 2011 to 2016.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

If you know Sally Wainwright's writing, this will be familiar stuff. Scott & Bailey follows the various relationships within a police team, focusing on two women, one mature and stable, the other young, talented and often unable to control her personal life. Their boss, another woman (amazingly enough) is tough, sharp and also not without her own personal issues.

It all works remarkably well. The characters ring true, even if they are somewhat exaggerated. The police work takes a back seat a lot of the time, but it's intelligently presented, and more realistic than in most straight cop shows. The perpetrators tend to be mentally challenged individuals, and bringing them to 'justice' is often an unsatisfying business. The acting is superb throughout, which definitely helps.

There are just two flaws worth mentioning. First, there are almost no admirable male characters. Some are major jerks. Several are immature jerks. And one or two are downright evil... and jerks.

Secondly, the view of the police is sanitized entirely beyond belief. This team simply never gets the wrong man, and never fails to zero in almost immediately on the right man - who is generally the obvious candidate. It's just about exactly the view of the police that the police would like you to have, and it simply comes off as too good to be true, given the realistic settings and situations.

It's a slanted view, to be sure, but that's the format. In a less believable show, you'd never question it. Here, the sense of realism is vivid enough that its limits seem a bit jarring. But none of this spoils the fun. Scott & Bailey is a smart, tough and emotionally involving series. Bear in mind that it's basically a very female-oriented soaper, and you'll be thoroughly entertained.

My Take – A definitive watch😊!!

 

Whitechapel – Set in 2008 and against the hugely atmospheric background of Whitechapel, London, a modern police force is fighting an old adversary. A series of bloody, tragic and impossible crimes would suggest someone is carrying out copycat Jack the Ripper murders. The murders are investigated by our three unlikely heroes: Chandler, a fast-tracked, media savvy DI on his first big murder case; Miles, nearing retirement, a front-line, hard-bitten DS, and Buchan, the eccentrically brilliant Jack the Ripper tour guide.  Ran from 2009 to 2013.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

This century has generated and produced so many distinct TV series that one would inevitably become "spoilt" by them, you become picky and demand fluent and smooth course of events, lots of twists and turns, and sharp focusing on the approach or topic you prefer. I, for example, withstand some mysticism in the background, but wrongdoers should be'of flesh and blood' and the crimes should be using wisdom and attentiveness, not a divine hand or someone from outer space...

So, to me, Whitechapel had some pain to kick start, and the first 2 seasons seemed protracted and vague; references to old mysteries did not clarify present matters, but added odd comparisons and hectic events. True the cast was distinct, to be followed with interest and sympathy, particularly Phil Davis as D.S. Ray Miles and Steve Pemberton as Edward Buchan (at first, Rupert Penry-Jones reminded me of Monk too much). Nevertheless, I decided to watch all 4 seasons in sequence, and began to somehow plunge into their mood and depiction manners, trying to "skate over" long time lags and playful mysticism... A case per 2 episodes seemed good to me, the events became catchier, but the final case (4/3) did not round up the Series in a reasonable manner, just added confusion about the possible Season 5 that has never come into existence.

Thus, "only" 7 points from me, as the UK series like Luther or What Remains have been more to my taste. But still a good work, better than many US related series.

My Take – A definitive watch!

 

Magpie Murders – Editor Susan Ryeland gets drawn into a web of intrigue and murder when she receives Alan Conway's unfinished manuscript of an Atticus Pünd mystery. Came out in 2022.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

An awesome double mystery, with 2 stories going hand in hand and finally culminating in a beautifully conceived climax!! One of the most satisfying Brit whodunits that I have watched in recent times.

The first mystery set in the present era is about a book editor's investigation into the murder of a famed novelist and the last missing chapter of his final novel featuring his most famous Detective Atticus Pünd.

The second mystery is set in 1955 and we actually follow Atticus Pünd go about solving the murder (the novel itself which is missing the final chapter).

Who has killed the author and will the final chapter of the novel ever be retrieved is what this series is all about.

The 2 plots are integrated seamlessly into the narrative to make this series absolutely unmissable. The past/present storyline is interesting & using same actors in the both adds a totally different dimension to the storytelling.

It is unusual for me to lose control of my emotions while writing reviews .. but this series has actually made me do it. Going totally gaga over it!!

Sonyliv has a lot of good content to offer and this is just one of them.

My rating 5/5 for this brilliantly conceived and executed whodunit. ..adios 🙂

My Take – A definitive watch!

Cheers till next time😊!

Daffy Definition 

Flattery – The power to describe others as they see themselves😊!