michael-1432 Saw Murder One (Series One) on DVD and was blown away -- by the acting, the plot, the consistency & the overall quality. Could this be the best American drama series ever screened on TV? It has to be a contender. Currently watching Series Two (with Anthony LaPaglia) and think that so far it's also a great show. I like LaPaglia and have nothing against him but it shows a total lack of backbone from the producers that they saw fit to replace Daniel Benzali who was just terrific.I just wish they'd made another series or two -- it is so much more believable than 24 for which, I believe, it paved the way.Come on Mr Bochco, it's not too late to bring the show back to life...

Paul Ian Stark Murder One was a truly innovative idea. A drama series following a trial from start to finish, told from the point of view of all parties involved. Never before had an entire season of a US TV drama followed a single case.This was essential viewing when it was first shown on UK TV by the BBC. It kept your interest throughout and did not belittle/patronise the viewing audience. The unique thing about this was the ease at which it held your interest. Not a moment of screen time was wasted.A highly intelligent show with memorable characters and it really served as a sort of fore-runner to the inferior but still utterly engaging 24.Featuring another standout performance from Daniel Benzali (Hoffman) as well as the excellent Stanley Tucci (Richard Cross), casting was a big part of this projects success.Tucci was able to develop his characters' nasty streak and double dealing nature without deflecting attention from the defendant in the case (Neil Avedon). You really were unsure how far he would be willing to go.Also the plot never becomes overly predictable. There are a few big surprises in the later episodes well worth waiting for.This is one of those shows where I doubt the Network or the Studio really understood what a total gem they had here and the format was altered unsuccessfully for the lack-luster second season (starring Anthony LaPaglia as Wyler).As for year two, without Daniel Benzali or the weekly sequential serial drama format which had worked so well the previous year, the result was an utterly forgettable mess.Check out Murder One Year One on DVD if you want a change from the no-brainers that are broadcast today. It's the show 24 probably wishes it was!! At least comparable to 24 season one in terms of character development and a relentless pace, this is one drama you'll want to watch repeatedly.Highly recommended.

rleather Murder One has to go down as one of the best series on of the 90's. The first series plot has you going one way and another spotting one red herring after another, right up until the last episode.Whilst I do remember the show well, I also remember is had a bit of a Scooby Doo ending to it, not entirely consistent with the previous 22 episodes.According to the press, whilst it was a monster hit in the UK (and other parts of Europe) it died a death in the US. I'm not sure if that's purely academic propaganda, but the suggestion was that US audiences didn't like the idea of having to follow a series rather than encapsulated 60 minute stories. Who knows, all I do know is that the seconds series was a severe disappointment.Clearly taking lead from some pressure state side, the trials became 3 episodes long, with little or no 'main plot'. UK audiences kept trying to piece together a bigger picture, only for there not to be one. As a result, it was widely criticised. Plus, the loss of Teddy Hoffman was a bitter blow. He'd become such a familiar feature of 23 episode run that when he wasn't there, it was never going to be the same.Maybe it suffers a little from the X-Files factor. A second series was a mistake and it should have quit while it was ahead.First series - Outstanding Second series - Fine for a rainy evening

Jon Gregory This is probably the finest TV series I have ever watched. The outstanding cast, and their superb acting was a joy to see. The plot and twists were great, and left me guessing right up until the end. I'm delighted that at long last the series is being released on DVD in September here, and I shall enjoy watching it all again through the autumn (fall!) This is TV as only the Americans can do it. We Brits are great at the period drama stuff (Sense and Sensibility etc), but you guys are the kings when it comes to this particular genre. The second series was good, but never quite recaptured the essence of series one. Does anyone know if they released the soundtrack as a separate entity??Thanks Mr Bochco et al, great stuff!!