Good British crime dramas?

  • Thread starter Thread starter JCE
  • 18 comments
  • 18,964 views
JCE

JCE

Messages
6,769
Germany
Little Elm, TX
Messages
JCE3000GT
Anyone have any suggestions for a crime drama for me to watch that was made at least 12 years ago. I'm about to watch Life on Mars--but it only has 2 series worth on content...I'd like to watch something that has a longer run. I was watching BBC America a couple of days ago and saw this good crime drama advert but for the life of me I can't remember the name...

Thoughts?
 
My knowledge of British dramas in general is fairly limited given that most of my stuff that I like to watch consists of Top Gear, My Family, The Office, Hotel Babylon, The Gram Norton Show and Little Britain.

This being said, check out the following:

- Torchwood: Holy f'ing crap is this an awesome show. I missed the first few episodes, but there was a marathon on during the holiday, and I was pulled-in immediately. Excellent writing, pretty good acting, and an interesting premise makes it a show worth watching. If you've got BBC America, I believe its on every Wednesday (or is it Tuesday?).

- MI5: I started getting into this one a few years back, but since then, I haven't seen much of it. I believe its still on A&E here in the US, and the seasons seem to be fairly current. The last episode I saw was about a terrorist blowing up a school (as I recall), seeming to be ripped from the headlines at the time (this was just after the bus/tube bombings). This one, I'd assume, is harder to get into by comparison to Torchwood simply because its been on for so long.

...Yeah, thats about it...
 
I find it ironic that the only reply is from an American about British TV. ;)
 
Yeah I love Spooks, I have them all on DVD.

Life on Mars was good, season 1 was very good, season 2 was okay. They filmed a lot of Life on Mars near where I live, I can identify most of the scenes and have been to them just through day to day stuff put it that way.
 
Let's see... UK crime dramas... The Professionals was cool. I used to 'play' it with my cousin, I was Bodie and he was Doyle. I refused to be Doyle because he had curly hair :D

Doylecowleybodie.jpg

YSSMAN
- Torchwood:
Click to expand...
It's an anagram ;)
 
I watch CSI, CSI New York, Law & Order, L&O SVU, L&O Criminal Intent, The Shield, The Wire, Boomtown etc. I do think the UK makes some great TV shows (especially the Beeb), but i think the US has by far the best crima dramas.
 
Touring Mars
It's an anagram ;)
Click to expand...

It is, and for a very good show as well. I've quite enjoyed the series reboot, they've been interesting to say the least. However, I think most Americans are well-aware of that one...
 
TheCracker
I watch CSI, CSI New York, Law & Order, L&O SVU, L&O Criminal Intent, The Shield, The Wire, Boomtown etc. I do think the UK makes some great TV shows (especially the Beeb), but i think the US has by far the best crima dramas.
Click to expand...

I'm going to disagree here, the US has absolutely rubbish TV with exception to things filmed outside of the US (like stuff from Sci-Fi). The best American crime dramas as in order...NYPD Blue, The Practice, and The Shield. [/end list] Law and Order was ok for about 2-3 years...its too much of the same thing.

In my personal opinion I've enjoyed watching more British TV lately than American TV. Something that isn't really thought of in American TV production is cinematography. Watch shows like TopGear, Life on Mars, Doctor Who, and really just about any of their BBC specials like the ones that James May and Jeremy Clarkson do to name a few. The camera work is just awsome.
 
Well I wouldn't write-off every American TV show, but I certainly can understand your point. I think the difference here is that in the UK (it seems) they can make TV shows that appeal only to a certain group of people. Here in the US, most shows have to have some kind of appealing factor to make it okay for everyone. That could be a good way to explain why shows like Heroes and Lost seemed to lose their sense of purpose as they were forced to marginalize a bit.

If there is something the Brits do right it certainly is fantastic cinematography and brilliant acting. But on many occasions I feel like Americans come off more "creative" in some aspects with terrifically odd storylines, concepts, and usually (with some shows) excellent character development.

Shows like Scrubs is a good example, same with House, 30 Rock, Seinfeld, Frasier, etc...

It all of course depends on what you like in a show. I'd happily rate Scrubs presumably as one of my all-time-favorite TV shows, but when I still actively watch Full House, my TV tastes can be a bit strange...
 
There's not much Aemrican drama that I watch, i suppose beyond 24 and Prison Break, both of which I tihnk have gone downhill a lot since they came out, I don't watch anything beyond the odd drips and draps here and there. Mind you, I'm not a massive TV person anyway, the two highlights of my week are TopGear and Match of the Day.

I really like Spooks, that is fantastic imo and unlick 24 and Prison break, so far hasn't lowered the bar. Life on Mars, as I said before, very well filmed and acted, but the story for the second season wasn't as great as the first. There was never meant to be a season 2, but it's popularity brought it back, so the story didn't quite fit.

I think British dramas are often more subtle than American ones, and I tihnk it's to do with what YSSMAN sao, American programs tryo to cater for everyone, rather than "this is our target audience, everyone else can bog off, we won't cater for them at all".
 
Cracker with Robbie Coltrane.

Frost with Jason David Jason.

Only two crime dramas I've ever watched.
 
Ahh Taggart, that was great. I haven't watched much of it since Taggart inconsiderately died and they had to make the show without him. Still good though. I uesd to watch once called McCallum as well.
 
Bergerac (he did say at least 12 years old)

Columbo (There'sh jush one more kweshton if i may.....)

:irked:👍
 

Latest Posts

Back