hughdavey
I like Brit and Australian crime shows as they're usually much better than American fare. I had high hopes for this one but I just can't suspend my disbelief long enough to enjoy it. Rachael seems somewhat unbalanced and, in my opinion, not fit for police duty. The male characters are written as low-lives or idiots, with their catting around, lying and just plain abuse of women. The main female characters have their affairs too, but they're sympathetic figures and therefore not really cheating.
It's like an old afternoon soap opera with a crime or 2 thrown in. It should appeal to the 'Men Are Scum Wing' of radical feminism.
reggie-at-random
Series 1-3 repeatedly delivers unique and intriguing plots in a very realistic fashion. Balancing the domestic with the professional challenges for each partner. Series 4 seems to prove that the character Rachel can never keep her personal life clear of her job which is a bit tiresome. Even so, it's a good series and reveals some interesting insights into other issues of family relationships that are switched about and from a female perspective. Overall, it beats the violent smash, shoot and blow up copper routines so beloved by all the male dominated production teams. This series at least gives you something to think about.
grainstorms
At a time when it seems that every TV detective program offers over- the-top-heroics, impossibly good-looking characters, exaggerated Sherlock Holmesian deductions, and smug repartee, this British production comes as a wonderful surprise -- a superbly acted cop show, portraying tough, wise investigators picking through the detritus and debris of human life and trying to keep it all together until the end of their shift. Although the show is named for the two partners, the dynamic detective duo who have been essential to all cop shows since "Dragnet," it's really a three-person team, since Detective Constables Scott & Bailey are shepherded by a been-there, done-that boss who keeps them from straying too far from the flock.As a bonus, their patch is grand, gritty and grimy Manchester, where you have to strain sometimes to understand the dialect, but it's worth the work for the condensed wit and wisdom you mine. You won't be satisfied with watching a single episode, but try to view no more than three at a single sitting, so you'll have something to look forward to next time.Oh, by the way: the three alpha cops here are all female, so let's call it Womanchester.
pquig50
This series looks very appealing,in the tradition of Cagney and Lacey. Unfortunately, I can't understand much of what the characters are saying. I tried to guess by just watching the scenes and trying to infer from what I see but I've given up on understanding what's going on.It is partly the English accents but I don't have a problem,for the most part, understanding Downton or Doc Martin or,actually any of the other English programs.I will tune in now and then to see if I fare better. It's a shame to miss what looks like a good series. At times, the characters seem to be mumbling and slurring words.