Hope Street

I enjoy watching this show as a break from the hardcore crime I often get caught up in watching. The town is a beautiful spot, shown vividly in the aerials at the start of each program and there is a cast of characters that you might see in any small location where people all know one another. Finn, the head of the local police, is a smart, down to earth guy with an on-again off-again marriage, who struggles with PTSD and the demon whiskey. His mother Concepta is the town busybody who takes on all comers who don't toe the line, as she sees it. Make no mistake, there is crime but it's the crime they can deal with because everyone knows everyone else and it doesn't take long to nab the culprit. After a few viewings, you get to know them all and enjoy watching the cast as much as the stories.

I enjoyed the first episode. I like the bright filming. So many of today's shows are dark even during the daylight. The sound is good but the Irish accent is difficult to understand a lot of the time. It will be interesting to follow the series and see how the characters develop and to learn the real reason why the new detective has come to town and why the sergeant is so against the new hire. The program has a winner in the setting. The setting is a great change from the usual stuff we see.

I cannot understand why the program is getting such harsh reviews. The story is realistic and the acting seems to be top rate. I do wish though that the director would fill up the teacups. There is nothing worse than actors pretending to drink from empty cups.

Such a shame that the writers /producers think we are that dense that they have to continually show the location frontage to give us a clue as to where the next scene is staged !?

I lost count of how many times they screened the Police station, Commodore pub front and even interview room 1 , not sure if they have an interview new room 2 yet , not seen tibia don't think ?

The sea front scenes are great, but even they are repeated times over.

I think if I did a stop watch on scenes acted and scenes repeated, the times would not be that far apart from each other , or perhaps a little more acting would grab the minutes !

Like the show, Apart from the above......

Like some of the reviewers, I found the first episode cringe-worthy. There were many clangers. It's hard to be objective when watching locally produced TV. Lots of cliches.

However, three episodes in and it's trying to find it's groove.

As Northern Irish, I am happy to see a BBC drama based here and not about orange and green. I think the acting is mostly good. Donaghadee looks great.

I'd add that the show needs to decide what it is. At the moment it's skimming over gritty issues like people trafficking, while creating silly humour between the older characters and a portrayal of a naive constable. Maybe it's identity will evolve over the remaining episodes.

Overall, let's give it some encouragement. Shouldn't we nurture local talent and programmes about our country?

This series isn't complex, it isn't high entertainment but it isn't boring or terrible either.

The whole group of quirky characters seem like people you know or have met, and it's easy to care about them. Yes, at times it's a little soapy, but you can't help watching and caring about the outcomes.

All in all, it's very pleasant and a nice hour spent, kind of like Born and Bred.