Blue Lights is really good, and as you say the characters are more complex than in the usual procedurals. But it’s important to note that it is not Irish. It is British, made by the BBC, and set in Northern Ireland (Belfast specifically). This isn’t just a quibble, the fact that this is a post-Troubles environment and the police are agents of the British state is critical to the show.
Spinoff!
You’re right, of course. I tend to shorthand things at times. Should have said “a police procedural involving cops in Ireland”.
This was a great one for showing the differences between a say England/Scottish police system and the N. Irish one (and even more so to an American one). There are certain actions the police can take, especially in a stop and search situation, that are jaw-dropping but in context of the Troubles, you can see how that evolved. I’m a UK police procedural junkie and this is in my top 5, especially the first season.
I’ve given up on 9-1-1. The Bobby & Athena honeymoon on a cruise ship plot should have been great, but was just mehhhh. Subsequent plot arcs – Eddie meets a woman who’s a doppelganger for his dead wife, Hen and her partner foster a new kid, Bobby meets somebody from his old life, etc. – it just seems like the same old slog, over and over. The disaster porn is just not worth it anymore.
A friend recently turned me onto a Netflix series , Vincenzo. It’s a South Korean drama, 20 episodes. The title character is a South Korean who was adopted by an Italian family, and after his adopted parents are killed he is adopted by the head of a Mafia family. At the beginning of the series he is consiglieri to his adoptive father, who has just died. His older stepbrother (the blood son of the Don) is jealous of him because he was their father’s obvious favorite, so he flees to Korea before he can be killed. There things get complicated, and he uses the skills he’s developed to fight an evil corporation and help the residents of a building which (unknown to them) has a massive stash of gold bars in a vault under the basement.
Despite myself I got hooked by the (sometimes wacky) characters, the intricate plots, and and the personal relationships that develop. At one point while I was watching it I turned to my friend and said "Please tell me that she (one of the evil corporation leaders) gets hers by the end. (She did.)
Still no I’m afraid. Northern Ireland and Ireland are distinct entities. Ireland is a sovereign state; Northern Ireland is part of the UK, and not part of Ireland.
This distinction matters within the show but also is kind of a big deal in real life, hence my tedious pedantry.
Yeah, even from GB it’s another world. The biggest shock being seeing ordinary police routinely armed.
What are your other favorites in the genre?
It’s okay, mate. I lived in Europe for seven years and never could get it right, so need my hand slapped with a ruler.
Bones David Boreanaz, Emily Deschanel
I’ve seen a few episodes channel-hopping.
It’s on Peacock now and I’m working my way through season 1. Pilot was very awkward and slow. It’s getting better as the characters settle into their roles.
David Boreanaz is having a remarkable career. Starting on Buffy Vampire S then Angel and now Seal Team.
bones was good.
i watched the daryl dixon walking dead thing. it was okay. it does make me cranky when casting doesn’t adhere to basic genetic science. sure, there are outliers in the genetic world, however, i’m sure there are actors that would make much more genetic sense.
don’t get me started on the eye colour bouncing around in harry potter. if actor a can’t wear contacts, then cast actor l and yl to a’s eye color. (soooo cranky)
it made me cranky in downton abbey and it made me cranky here.
i liked most of bones … it slipped after they were married tho and the family background thing was drawn out …
My #1 favorite is Happy Valley. I’ve also enjoyed Shetland, Scott & Bailey, DI Ray, Hinterland and Line of Duty. I didn’t like Unforgotten at first but warmed up to it, especially the character of Sunny. I’m sure there are others, I think maybe I’ve seen almost all that are available in the U.S.
Thanks! I’ll check them out. I’ve watched Happy Valley.
I enjoyed New Tricks until the cast changed.
I really liked Annika (Nicola Walker is awesome sauce), but apparently there aren’t any more seasons after the first two.
How about French police shows? Some I’ve watched and enjoyed are Astrid, Balthazar, and Candice Renoir.
Indeed. They had a good thing going for a while, but eventually if the theme is that your cast is old, they’re going to age out.
Didn’t like any of the replacements much.
Was watching Murdoch Mysteries a couple of nights ago and the replacement New Dogs boss (Tamsin Outhwaite) showed up, she was better in a different kind of role.
I’m going to check these out.
The first two seasons of Happy Valley were incredible… on the short list of best shows I’ve ever seen. I thought the third season was a bit of a letdown, but still excellent.
Just finished Season 3 of The Bear. Summary review: Nothing happens with lots of shouting.