DCI Banks

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!

The Brits have always known how to create a realistic depiction of daily activities of a police district, without constant shootings and chases, with officers rather "ordinary and boring" than driving luxury cars and wearing fashion clothing... Although there are dozens of frosts-morses-lewises out there, there is always room for more - and DCI Banks is another good result, pleasant to follow also then when the course of criminal activities or solution is not totally to your liking.

Alan Banks is certainly the very leading character, but he is not a lonely wolf, but a team players (with some reservations), depending on his colleagues' judgments and opinions - thus different from Frost or the Swedish Wallander, for example. I have not read any of Peter Robinson's novels, but I find Stephen Tompkinson a talented performer here - particularly bearing in mind that he has had more comedy roles to play... The female detectives, however, tend to remain somewhat sketchy, despite having different looks, approaches and background.

Anyway, a good series recommended to all fond of similar creations, without too much oppressiveness and violence. You might want to watch the episodes in sequence and without episode splitting, otherwise some nuances and events related to the characters' private life may remain misty.

Having read the other reviews here I was quite surprised about the negative ones, and the "too predictable" complaints. I find the cast to be really enjoyable to watch, and the stories are interesting and well written. Sure the chief is a little glum here and there, but overall he seems like a relatively happy fellow, even with the reasonable hope of a love interest. There is a minimum of forensic or medical nonsense that makes it hard for someone who knows a little bit about such things to watch without squirming. The interaction with the new DI in the most recent season is fun, and the character actors are very familiar to those of use who watch a lot of BBC. So for open minded viewers my recommendation is to not be put off by the negative comments.

I'm not quite sure why this isn't rated higher. Though the acting is quite good, the real treasure here are the stories. They take you through the investigations bit by bit, not revealing too much, just like a good novel (of which there are a plethora by the author, Peter Robinson). Frequently there is a twist at the end, always a plus. The characters interact quite well, and as you get to know them, there are even the bits of the subtle humor the English are known for. The visuals are wonderful, showing the charming English countryside and the grittiness of the cities. Perhaps the director would be better served by revealing more of the history of the characters. Having not read any of the numerous novels in the series (though I plan to), I'm unsure what additional material is omitted in the TV versions. It's a shame IMDb features such a scathing review in such prominence (honestly, I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer's complaints - they seem petty). I think this is a very good addition for Masterpiece Theater, always known for quality productions. I sincerely hope the producers will make more.

"DCI Banks" was a good series that deserved more than its five-year run and its sixteen major plots (much as "Scott & Bailey" did). The main character was capable of emotionally-driven decisions, but most of the police work was solid, the plots were interesting, and the relationships among characters made them all more than cardboard cut-outs (the top four or five). It was easily a better series than "Midsomer Murders," say.