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!

aceellaway2010 I only recently discovered this little unsung gem on PBS. I am English and am always attracted by British shows. This is a truly excellent series, the stories are always different and well thought out. The 90 minute time allows for more developments than those of 60 minutes shows which often lack details of characters and plot. It's interesting the way the 60's setting allows prejudices at that time to pop up and impact the stories. As a Gay man one scripting nugget I truly appreciated was when the younger detective voiced his homophobic opinions, Gently mildly pointed out that electroshock treatment could be considered, when the younger guy responded with that "it doesn't work, their still queer" Gently reproved with the witty response "I meant for you.'I have happily endorsed this show to many people, well worth anybody's time.

msellis5 I love British detective shows, and I get that most of them are dark, but this one is a black hole: it sucks any humanity into nonexistence. There is not one likable character:Bacchus is a jerk who goes into every situation with his mind made up. a terrible quality for a good detective. He bullies other cops and treats women like objects. I know understand the impetus for the 1960's women's movement. Inspector Gently isn't gentle, he's simply passive: he watches Bacchus' bullying and lecherous behavior and says next to nothing. I feel sorry for the 30 something actresses who are supposed to look into his 50 something world weary eyes and melt. i hope they get hazard pay.

ianlouisiana Transferring from the Met to escape the endemic corruption amongst CID officers,George Gently(Mr M.Shaw)gruff but compassionate is saddled with DC Bacchus(Mr L.Ingleby),later promoted to DS,mainly,it must be said on Gently's back,who is,frankly,everything Gently left the Met to escape from."Handy",i.e.not averse to giving a suspect the odd smack, not totally committed to the "innocent until proved guilty"mantra,and very,very ambitious,to the point of joining the Brotherhood to further his career(and that's not even even considering the fact that he impregnates the Chief Constable's daughter). After a p*ssing contest lasting several episodes an exasperated Gently finally forces Bacchus into the boxing ring and knocks seven bells out of him,thus earning his respect and not,as you might imagine,his eternal enmity. Mr Shaw,often remembered solely for his bad hair days in "The Professionals has matured over the years into a fine expressive and sensitive actor from "Judge John Deed" to "The Scarlet Pimpernel",his splendid voice has given gravitas to some scripts of variable merit. As Gently he retains the vestiges of a London accent that has had the rough edges knocked off it as he climbed the Met's ranks. Only the occasional lost aspirate or glottal stop cunningly inserted are giveaways that he is not the classic middle class senior detective of the era. Mr Ingleby,full of energy and aggression,keen to make a name for himself and climb the slippery pole,is just right as the junior detective as chancer:one eye open to give his guv'nor a good impression. The latest series started Sunday night with a rare excursion into the pop culture of the mid 1960s. A schoolgirl is found murdered and Gently's investigations gradually unravel the secret lives of a group of pupils and teachers. There was a brilliant,rather moving performance from Mr N.Morrisey - not,I must admit,a favourite of mine - as the Jimmy Saville figure hosting a T-T.T.V. pop show, gradually accepting that he is getting too old for the job and preparing to move reluctantly on. D.S.Bacchus is clearly going to be eternally "on a promise" and Gently even more brooding than before. The over - riding impression left by his series is one of quality,high production values,stunning settings and fine supporting performances throughout. Compared to other TV Cop Shows this is indeed,High Art.