Ridley

It's OK. That's all it is. There's a laziness about the idea - a former detective called back to investigate. You know when you play a rail shooter? This is drama in that vein. You know exactly what to expect and you get it, but none of it is that good. It's just all middle of the road. Adrian Dunbar is always great and I can't fault any of the cast. It's the by-the-numbers writing and production. It feels like Vera meets Happy Valley in Ireland, except it's not as good as either of those shows. It's safe, safe, safe. Soap opera level crime drama. That's all I have to say but I need to add this up to 600 characters so will waffle on a bit more here.

I was a little dubious about RIDLEY, the "singing detective," but after watching all of the episodes available so far, I'm now enthusiastic about it. Each episode contains a good mystery, is beautifully filmed, and packs an emotional punch. And yes, Adrian Dunbar sings in each of them. I think a second season is in the works, and I wonder how they can maintain the premise that Alex Ridley is a contractual consultant; he seems to boss the newly promoted DI who used to be his subordinate. That minor quibble aside, this is an excellent series, one that ranks with SHETLAND and VERA in my mind. Highly recommended!

... great start to this British police procedural drama in four standalone stories... the first of this four-part mini-series is longer than many movies, yet it plays exceptionally well for its 120 minute length... all the cast is very well selected and to a man (or woman) perform admirably

... Adrian Dunbar has been in several well-known-heralded series: Line of Duty, Broken, Blood, Five Fables.. to name just several in his long illustrious forty-plus-year-career... his work stands on its own merit... another good one, Ridley looks to be a most entertaining addition to his long body of achievements.

Adrian Dunbar plays a police consultant who also is part owner of a jazz bar, which unfortunately, he feels compelled to serenade us from through his nose. This show otherwise fits the bill as a good nearly noire detective murder mystery. Ridley always gets his man or woman as the case may be. His costar is a good in her role as the detective chief inspector sidekick and conscience for Ridley. The rest of this review is filler because IMDB never learned about "brevity is the soul of wit", and demands an essay when a sentence will do. Mind you, i don't consider myself the soul of wit, but if forced to keep jabbering on, I may show myself as the soul of nitwit.

It's a smallish point, and I've only watched episodes 1 and 2, but Adrian singing, really, come on. It really niggled me to the point where I got up and made a cup of tea. I like Adrian Dunbar as an actor, and that's how I like to see him. Rant over.

It's a good TV police drama, and apart from the singing, well worth watching. Good plot(s), excellent cast, convincing acting and very down to earth - perhaps too close to home for some maybe. So it's a bit sad to think that - at least story 1, is how the UK is these days.

I enjoyed series 1 (except for the singing) and I'm sure I will enjoy the rest of series 2.