Phracture I remember it being one of the best shows of the season when it was released. Now i'm re-watching it via Netflix. The other reviews here don't make sense to me. I do want to see the Britsh version, but I'm glad i didn't see it first. The gist of reviews is that this is a pale comparison, which doesn't mean much.I remember before it premiered, the buzz was mostly questioning whether the US was ready for such an "unpleasant" central character. I found Fitz pleasantly realistic and not nearly so obnoxious as the press indicated. The show has a great deal more depth than much of what's on, plus a large dose of simple everyday realism compared with most current dramas (where's Bochco when he's needed?)Currently there seem to be two schools of drama; both rather irritating: In one, focus on characters is maximized but events are somehow super-heightened as to be unreal. Kind of soaps on steroids that grind you down after a while: i.e. Grey's AnatomyThe other is the gimmick show, started by ER, which focuses so heavily on it's supposedly clever concept, usually some scientific subject usually just off the radar of common folk, the characters are virtually forgotten; mere robots carrying on the activity necessary to illustrate the subject: Any of the CSI's, Criminal Minds, Numbers, Lie To Me, and a few dozen others they've spawned.Cracker was not clichéd. It was character driven without forgetting to have interesting goings on, and didn't try to twist the viewer into knots with every plot turn.Fitz reminds me quite a bit of Dr. House, especially now that show has lost it's sense of humor as well as the cast and formula that made it great. Cracker was never as brilliant as House began, but then there's plenty of room for both sorts. Perhaps the character of Fitz WAS before the time was right.

tsjohn I was a huge fan of this series when it first aired. I recently stumbled onto the DVD Boxed set and just finished up with the final episode last night. I was reminded of just how much I loved this show. Granted, I haven't seen the original British version, but recently found a boxed set and I'm anxiously looking forward to viewing. Of course, I understand the desire for those who have seen both versions to make comparisons. I'm sure i'll be doing the same once I finish watching the British version. But if you just take the American version on it's own merits, it's hard to find another show comparable in quality and sheer grittiness. Pastorelli's Fitz is a deeply flawed human being. Many times his disgust and disdain for others is off-putting and makes one question why we care for him. Just as often though we see the kinks in his armor. His humanity is shielded with walls of self loathing. It's that dichotomy of his inner struggles which what make this such a great show and a breath of fresh air to watch. It's unfortunate that American TV just wasn't ready for the dark realities that this show portrayed. There's nothing better than watching a TV show that dares to be REAL with multi-layered characters. It seems there have been some on here reviewing this show with a black-and-white bias comparison to the original British version. I'm truly looking forward to watching Coltrane's Fitz with an open mind, which is what others here haven't seemed to be able to do with Pastorelli's Fitz.

dtucker86 Robert Pastorelli played one of the most horrible bad guys I have ever seen in Striking Distance. That scene where he terrorized Sarah Jessica Parker in the end gave me chills. This man is a truly fine actor and he did a very good job on this show that was unfairly cancelled. I usually like for the heroes in a film to be 100% likable, but Cracker was a sort of an anti-hero. He was a brilliant psychologist, but a troubled and flawed human being. Robbie Coltrane was awesome in the English version. Pastorelli did a excellent job filling Coltrane's shoes. I also enjoyed R. Lee Ermey in the series. He was in one of my favorite movies, Full Metal Jacket. Everyone has an opinion and I think this show was too quickly cancelled. Its a shame.

Rosie-9 This excruciating remake of the excellent British series is not worth wasting your time on.The police in the original had skepticism coming out of their ears when it came to having a psychologist on the team, exactly as many real police officers would. The American version has them fawning after Fitz at every opportunity, which is not only unrealistic, it also set up little dramatic tension.While the English version has quirky, interesting, believable characters, the American one has typical American pretty people. Particularly disappointing is the lack of characterisation of the police. The original has a range of people we came to know well: Penhaligon, the young officer trying to cope with an inept boss and pathetic "lad" culture. Beck, the old-fashioned copper whose unpleasant exterior barely covers his mental instability. Bilborough, a nice guy, but so soft he has to get Penhaligon to do the talking when visiting people with bad news. What do we get from the American version? A token black character whose name escapes me and a chicky-babe who looks like Pamela Anderson's cousin.The actors who play Fitz and Penhaligon (renamed to something unmemorable) could easily be replaced by wooden blocks and no-one would have noticed the difference. There's no spark between them. You don't care about them and you aren't convinced by them. Same with the Fitz/Judith pairing - he says something soppy and she simpers "sentimentality becomes you, Fitz". The "real" Judith would have laughed or sneered.I could go on, but it just isn't worth the bother. Take from me: if you don't want to see a great show trashed, avoid this load of drivel.