Great television. I wouldn’t mind watching all of the many LONG episodes. (90 min.)

It is formulaic. But a terrific formula. Fast paced. It keeps me guessing.

I watched a number of episodes with my family over the Christmas holidays.

Vera is a British crime drama television series based on the Vera Stanhope series of novels by Ann Cleeves.

First broadcast 2011, it stars Brenda Blethyn as the principal character, Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope.

In January 2024, it was confirmed that the show had been renewed for a fourteenth series, which was later announced to be the show’s last.

Vera is a nearly retired detective chief inspector of the fictional Northumberland & City Police, who is obsessive about her work. She plods along in a dishevelled state but has a calculating mind and despite her irascible personality, she cares deeply about her work and colleagues. …

I really like Paul Kaye as pathologist Dr. Malcolm Donahue. But he’s only in 14 episodes. Dry humour.

Well … all good things must come to an end.

Vera’s final season — the 14th — with Brenda Blethyn aired January 2025. Two episodes considered to be a Special.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Excellent. One of the best shows of the year.

Silo is an American science fiction dystopian drama television series …

Set in a dystopian future where a community exists in a giant underground silo comprising 144 levels …

10,000 people live in a society bound by regulations they believe are meant to protect them. …

You should watch this show.

Brave. Original. Well edited. Great cast.

My favourite character, by far, is Solo.  Seemingly … the only survivor of one silo disaster.  He’s played by Steve Zahn. 

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. He shows off to viewers where he survived alone for decades.

Lucy Mangan of The Guardian opined that the “world-building is meticulous” and “the story is equally thrilling” …

For the second season, Rotten Tomatoes reported a 96% approval rating with an average rating of 7.85/10, based on 42 critic reviews. 

Season 3 is filming. And the final season 4 already written.

These are the 2 seasons following the departure of Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Perez.

Good. Bye.

Perez was depressing for this viewer.

Ashley Jensen as DI Ruth Calder was a far more interesting and entertaining replacement.

Steven Robertson as DC Sandy Wilson is impressive. Such a nuanced performance. A good man who cares deeply about his family, friends and neighbours.  A totally sincere and dedicated co-worker. The ultimate team player.

I really like Alison O’Donnell as DS (later DI) Alison “Tosh” McIntosh. As does everyone.

Finally in charge of  Lerwick Police Station. Good on ‘er.

The entire cast is great, of course. This is one of the best shows on British TV.

Season 8

A fast paced murder mystery that had me making notes to keep track of all the characters.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Season 9

DI Ruth Calder decides to stay. That’s good.

Season 9 is very good, of course. But I liked it less than season 8.

The resolution was not all that convincing.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I streamed season 3 of Shetland because I’d seen a few pundits saying it was best of the 9 seasons, so far.

Shetland is critically acclaimed for good reason. The acting and writing is superb.

But it is hard to watch, at times.

For example, the rape aftermath depicted in season 3 even disturbed Ann Cleeves, the author of the books on which this TV drama is based.

DI Jimmy Perez faces a gripping new single mystery.

When a young man disappears on the overnight ferry to Shetland, the team embark on a challenging case that leads them from the suspicious close-knit communities of the remote Shetland Islands to Perez’s old stomping grounds in Glasgow.

As they start to unpick this increasingly complex conspiracy, Perez is aided by, and becomes romantically involved with, enigmatic police official Asha.

But he is unprepared for the ruthlessness of his adversaries, who are willing to take an appalling step to protect their interests: one that will have a devastating effect on them all.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Entertaining. Quirky characters. Some funny dialogue.

Black Doves is a British spy thriller television— absurd black comedy.

Though popular, there’s much to criticize.

I ASSuME the blatant inexplicable scenes are deliberate. The hitman hanging around the murder scene, unworried by CCTV, for example.

So … let’s forget about lack of reality in many scenes.

I can’t admire the writing, either. It’s not particularly smart.

It’s always disappointing to see writers rely on flashbacks to be sure even the dumbest viewers can follow.

Certainly Slow Horses and The Diplomat are far superior.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I finally watched Shetland (2013), the critically acclaimed Scottish crime drama.

Good. Not great.

The first series consists of two episodes, based on the novel Red Bones by Ann Cleeves.

It’s difficult to find anything to complain about. This is serious, well produced television.

Perhaps a little too dire. Not enough levity.

I do like Alison O’Donnell as DS Alison “Tosh” McIntosh. She’s down to earth compared with deadly serious Steven Robertson as DC Sandy Wilson.

Of course I enjoy the remote islands location. And the annual Viking festival.

BUT season 1 was too complicated for me. And the REVEAL was not at all fascinating.

I assume subsequent series are better. Some say season 3 was best of all.

 Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I visited St. Andrews, Scotland summer 2024 — and was keen to watch this drama after finding the body was found in the famed cathedral grounds.

What grabbed me first was the unlikely detective, Lauren Lyle as DS Karen Pirie.

So young and seemingly naive.

Karen Pirie is a British crime drama television series based on the Inspector Karen Pirie series of novels by Val McDermid. 

…  a young detective-sergeant, Karen Pirie, is put in charge of what appears to be a twenty-five year-old cold case. An influential podcast series focuses on the case, the unsolved murder of a barmaid, and Pirie is tasked with rexamining it.

Pay attention. The plot is quite complicated with a number of side stories.

The ending has been criticized. Fairly.

The other character I quite liked was Chris Jenks as DC Jason (Mint) Murray. Pirie’s assistant.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.