Franklie We are huge fans of British detective shows and this one is borderline good/bad. It's a bit soppy with characters whose actions are nowhere near as intelligent as they should be. It's laughably over-dramatic. Some of the most interesting characters disappear. Helen's relationship w her "happy" family doesn't make sense. There are gratuitous boob scenes that don't fit the environment. Some of the characters are so annoying, we just don't care about them. The vocab could use more clever and less crude. ... We'll keep watching though.

Lushlindy I really enjoy DCI Banks having read quite a few of the novels. Peter Robinson is a Canadian though he divides his time between Toronto and Yorkshire. For people who think Thompkinson is miscast I would say that there is nothing in concrete that an actor has to be exactly as described in a book. I think he's great in the role. I have only two quibbles about the series. I wish Banks and Cabbott would either get it on or leave it alone. All they ever do is sexually dither with each other and it's getting boring at this point because it has been going on for so long. No one ever mentions their age difference of course. I mean he must be nearly old enough to be her Dad but in television land that gets swept aside.Secondly I don't think Caroline Catz adds much to the program. All I can see is Doc Martin standing there with Portwen in the distance. I'm afraid Caroline has been typecast past a point. For some reason they have also decided to make her look old and harsh with that vampire lipstick and all black clothing.

kristina Excellent English crime drama- I am no fan of Caroline Catz, but she does not manage to drag this down with her constant over-acting - Tomkinson and the rest of the cast provide the necessary gravitas, very subtle humour and at times, despair. At the end of each episode, I am left wanting more - always a good sign! Almost up to the gripping drama standard of "Prime Suspect", which also starred Tomkinson in the last episode, I think.I can't wait to read the books now, even though DCI Banks will forever be S. Tomkinson in my mind now. Hope they show the entire range of episodes here in New Zealand!

Oneillmike I have seen the last 4 episodes and have been greatly disappointed. This is a good cast but I have not been entertained. DCI Banks is wandering around with the longest of long faces in a mid life crisis unsure whether he really even knows what he is doing anymore. Caroline Catz is acting like a 15 year old in her first day at a new school. This part of the story, Catz's problems fitting in , was over laboured. The plot has moved very slowly and unevenly. All very downbeat and depressing. But maybe that's just Yorkshire ? The action scenes were poorly done and in my opinion not really necessary in a police detective story if the plot is good. So nothing original on offer and not even on a par with the competition. Opportunity missed I would say.