mdbauer-98178 This show has to be, without a doubt, one of the best crime/drama shows ever written and portrayed by a cast of fantastic actors. It's set in the 60s. Even the filming gives it the vintage feel as they tackle crime(s) and some of the same social issues we experienced here in the United States during the same era. Even more, it is set in the days before DNA was even a forethought. They had to solve the crimes with intellect and reasoning. The show is set with an older, seasoned cop teamed with a younger, gung ho cop who is not afraid to take shortcuts as he learns the ropes of how crimes are really solved. There are times when you will love the younger cop and times you will want to give him a backhand. As with most British crime shows, their ability to keep you in the dark as to who the killer is is quite amazing. You can't go wrong with this show.

dal_asher I love British drama and police series are my favorite. This doesn't disappoint! Martin Shaw is fantastic as the slightly out of synch but always compassionate lead along with his side kick, Lee Inglebee as the incorrigible John Bachus. I only started watching this show from the beginning a few days ago but am now up to the 3rd season and will binge whenever I can to watch the entire series. It's filmed so beautifully and although I find the "hip" music of the 60s is, as was always the case back then, silly and out of touch, I simply turn down the sound when they get into car chases or whatever. Music of the 60's for some reason, was never used in movies and TV in the 60's, something I never understood then and now even less. I will continue to watch this to the end and will miss it when it's over. I am pretty housebound with an elderly father right now so finding something really excellent and entertaining like this to watch makes life a bit easier. Really excellent!

fung0 There are two massive reasons to like and admire this series.1. The characters. The solid, thoughtful Inspector Gently is perfectly matched against his hot-headed subordinate Bacchus. I love both these personalities, and the way their peculiar, very 1960s outlooks interlock. Bacchus in particular is a really great creation, because he's likable in spite of his obvious faults.2. The fact that it's ABOUT something. These are not just mindless whodunit puzzles. Each episode of the show has a strong point to make. In fact, multiple points. About how attitudes have evolved, during and since the 1960s. About human nature. About the law, and policing. This is a show that works as a police procedural, but also works extremely well as drama.Apart from those two strengths, the show has atmosphere, a unique style, great dialog, and seething emotional confrontations. It's thoughtful, yet never slow. In fact, it's good on every conceivable level, including many that are rarely present in mere TV entertainment.In short, this is one of the best cop shows ever to come out of the UK. Or anywhere else, for that matter.

kayaker36 Inspector George Gently is a clever, astute cop but he spends less time fighting crime in bleak Durham County in the north of England than battling racism, sexism, corruption and general narrow- mindedness, much of which is to be found within the police department! When the coppers aren't taking a "backhander" (a bribe), they're busy harassing or beating up some hapless Arab, Black or Paki. Set in the year 1964, these rambling, overlong episodes reveal such a profoundly anti- police attitude that, as one reviewer noted of the American film **Serpico**, you have to wonder why the title character went into police work at all.On the plus side, Inspector Gently is well played by sixty-something Martin Shaw as the veteran detective who has seen too much and experienced personal tragedy. He and young Detective Sergeant Bacchus, who married the boss' daughter and feels guilty about it, make a well-balanced team with the younger man properly in awe of his superior's integrity, wisdom and powers of observation.