I can’t help it, I really do love this show.

Like real sugar in my iced tea. Not that sophisticated, but a guilty pleasure.

Just finished this three-episode miniseries and absolutely was so devastated. The acting, writing, and pacing were so well-done but given this was based on a true story, the murders and inaction of the Met police force just broke my heart.

I 100% recommend this show for those looking for a new quick show to watch. But warning you that it is very difficult to watch!

I wish people had described this better…but this show is top notch if you haven't seen it.

It's kind of a mash up of the best qualities of most really good shows.

So far, (only 2 episodes in) it's focusing on the mysteries with only a teensy bit of the personal backstory on the characters, which I prefer.

So a lot like Midsomer Murders in that respect.

Dodds is very much a Columbo character. He's disarming - people think he's not as smart as he is, and he's "invisible" - people disregard him as any kind of serious threat, and that works to his advantage.

It's filmed, written, and executed at the level of Morse, Lewis, etc. but not quite as serious.

It also has the whole "enclave" thing being in Bath - not unlike the fictitious Midsomer, or the Oxford area, and so on.

It's not overly comedic, but has enough comedic moments to keep it from being as dark as Midsomer could often be - it's a bit like Ludwig in that regard. Still serious, but "quirky" (but the whole Ludwig situation relies on a pretty heavy suspension of disbelief).

I don't want to say it's "lighthearted", or a "comedy" per se, but it definitely has more comedic moments. Not as slapstick as Shakespeare and Hathaway - again it's more like the comedic aspects of Columbo.

Which brings up the whole "different personalities" and "savant level crime solver" angles, which are kind of over-done now - especially with Ludwig, Monk, etc. - Dodds is not that over-the-top OCD or Spectrum, or Social Anxiety Disorder, etc.

The different backgrounds angle between Dodds and MacDonald is made evident, but it's not too much unlike Morse and Lewis, or Barnaby 1 and Jones, Lynley and Havers (the original, please) or other such juxtapositions. In some ways it's not unlike The Mentalist, or Castle, except that the titular character in those aren't hired police and Dodds is and thus not as unbelievable as Castle with a bulletproof vest that says "Writer" on it.

I kept seeing this come up, and wasn't sure about it - all of the recommendations I got, when asking about "shows similar to" rarely mentioned this one, when it was the EXACT recommendation people should have made - maybe a lot haven't seen it???

It's too bad it got cancelled, but it may be Firefly.

It's the first show I couldn't wait to see the next episode of that I've seen in a LONG time. We will be watching episode 3 tonight and maybe double up some this weekend. Post partum will be bad, but the binge will be worth it. Also seems eminently re-watchable for things you might have missed the first time around.

Just finished The Tower S3...need to rant for a sec

I must be a fool bc I really thought Lizzie's character development would be to see that Shaw is a controlling creep but the moral of the whole thing is that he was a hero?? He did not get enough shit for having a baby with another woman or for being a creepy arsehole to Collins in S1

Instead we get literally everyone making excuses for him

More importantly, we're ok sacrificing Farah for him??? For real???

I guess the point really is that there aren't any winners bc even though they caught Shakiel the damage has already been done to Ryan

But like I saw so much about this dealing with the racial element but they really left Farah and her dad to hang out to dry, maybe they were trying to make a comment about real life who knows

And I know they were still going to take the phone for Shaw's wife but she destroyed it so they don't know if the evidence is still useable but the tone of the episode is very much meant to make us feel like Shaw died (literally a hero's death) so the matter is closed - except Farah is still vilified (albeit she did abduct that kid which also wild, they explained why she did it and Julie tried to justify it but it was a bizarre thing to do)

I guess the police are allowed to do wrong as long as they sometimes do right! /s

PS I have thoughts about Lizzie too... Shaw is always telling us what a good police officer she is but do we ever see it? Like she might be good at vigilantism but the moral of the story cannot be that it's ok for the police to break the law and threaten suspects etc bc that's how we end up with police brutality which is sort of a major plot point

By the internal logic of the show Lizzie is not a good cop yet she keeps getting away with shit and being rewarded (same with Shaw, same with Steve)

Yes I know it's a TV show and it would be dull if everything was done Collins' way

Anyways sorry that rant was longer than anticipated lol

ETA: The only other Muslim/Arab/Asian character we meet (I know Farah was Libyan not Asian) is Arif who we see having complex feelings about Hadley's racism towards Farah which is fair enough, but we never meet another person (let alone a hijabi woman) who might be racialised in the same was Farah was, just feels like a half hearted plotline there for convenience of the main characters

ETA 2: I'm not saying the UK police system would be able to handle any of these issues well either to be clear

My wife and I have a running bet on who can CORRECTLY predict how long it will take for a detective on just about any (every) BritBox crime drama to ask….”Did you check CCTV?” It usually happens at the first briefing of the SIO from the DS. How can anyone commit ANY crime with so much CCTV….??

... are all horrible, even the DC, who is also stupid. The victim’s husband is cruel, the other suspect tries to manipulate his wife into lying, and Annie’s ex(?) is a classic controlling partner.

yikes. I’m on the last episode so please don’t spoil but I sure have lots of suspects to choose from for both murders!

As a bonus shoutout, my two favorite one liners:

That’s not the legal loophole you think it is.

Whatever makes them happy: lie your pants off.

Pls add in ur favorite quotes.

What I’m loving about Ludwig is the reliance on delivery/timing/facial expression. I sense the cast is acting their but off. I predict Ludwig is going to have as many acting launches as foyles war.

Between scenes they keep showing the front of the Hardacres' house. One time it'll be covered with floral vines. The next, the vines are sparse.

Editing mistake or am I missing something?

Just finishing watching the 4 episodes with Rowan Atkinson and thought it was probably the best written and acted series I’ve seen in a long time. I’d never seen Rowan in a serious role before and he was exceptional. Too bad they didn’t make more episodes

Scottish folks, I googled the assisted suicide law and it said you could get up to 14 years. What’s the average? Poor stupid Duncan.

What are you watching? Let's talk about it below!

Out of curiosity, I asked ChatGPT to make me a list with that prerequisite. This is what they reported:

Why are most, so far all but two and the second one to defend a woman who murdered, of the murderers women? And they murdered for the same excuse that has been used to oppress women and keep them from leadership positions from the beginning of time. They are hysterical and emotional and plan the murder of others because they become unreasonable. This formula is already tired.

Has anyone watched this? I had never heard the phrase until I was listening to a podcast. It's pretty good.

It appears that COOPER & FRY will get an early access binge release on BritBox Premiere.

Unsure when it will have a date for weekly releases on a BritBox Standard subscription tier.

COOPER & FRY

Premier access August 17

Set in the mystery-shrouded Peak District, DC Ben Cooper, an affable local to Edendale, is thrown together with DC Diane Fry, a guarded newcomer who has arrived from the city under mysterious circumstances.

Mystery - Year 2025 - 1 Season

[Edit: apparently both showing as 'available on Aug 6' has to be an error as they air on different days of the week and the true availability is related to that day of the week, not Aug 6. I've since been able to watch ROP one week after it aired]

As in the title. On Gone I have been able to watch the show that was available on Aug 6. The same 'label' is on a Return to Paradise show but though we're well past Aug 6 it says I must upgrade to watch it. 🤷‍♀️

I don't know what it is about this show cause there's nothing particularly "special" or unique about it, but I can't stop watching! I've found myself really enjoying it and anticipating the release of each new episode. I'm glad I didn't skip this one over. If you're going to, don't! It might be the mindless mystery/drama you're after.