Rebus

My Review- Rebus Streaming on SBS on Demand

My Rating 810

I hope there will be a second series of Rebus as I really enjoyed the first series which is based on Ian Rankin's best selling novels concerning Detective sergeant later Inspector Rebus described as a hardboiled Edinburgh cop.

I liked this tough but vulnerable character played by Richard Rankin who regrets the recent breakup of his family and the resulting divorce from his ex wife Rhona .

Now Mrs Rhona Moncrieffe they maintain a good even affectionate relationship together as John Rebus is a good father to their daughter Samantha.

However Rebus is constantly reminded of his failures and inadequacies by the wealthy success and vastly improved lifestyle of Rhona and his young daughter Samantha provided by Rhona's new husband Locke played Nick Rhys.

The action of the story increases dramatically when John Rebus is drawn into Edinburgh's criminal underbelly when investigating what appears to be a fued between two rival families that are suspected to be involved in drug and human trafficking.

Rebus also has a difficult relationship with his brother Michael a returned soldier who like his brother saw service in Afghanistan .

Michael and his family appear to be going through difficult financial woes and like many returned veterans feel ignored and neglected. Michael seeks a way out of his financial problems that brings him into a dangerous conflict with his brother John.

I enjoyed the different story threads and characters in Rebus performed by an excellent ensemble cast that includes Amy Manson as Rhona , Brian Ferguson who plays Michael Rebus and Stuart Bowman plays Ger Cafferty a dangerous Edinburgh gangster who has violent history with John Rebus.

I recommend this 6 part series well written and adapted to television by Gregory Burke and skilfully directed by Niall MacCormick and Fiona Walton it left me wanting more .

I recommend subtitles as the Edinburgh accents at times are a little difficult to understand.

I find it rather funny that All these reviewers are complaining that Ian Rankin won't like what's been done to his creation and they are obviously oblivious to the fact that he fully supports this reimagining of a younger Rebus set in the present day. I think Richard Rankin does a great job as Rebus and I can't wait for 2nd series. The supporting actors are growing on me . This Rebus is a bit more violent than I really remember and I personally could Do with a bit less of gratuitous violence but all in all It's a winner . Good writing , good acting, not much to dislike here. I can see this series doing well .

Whenever I see the word "gritty" describing a TV series or a movie, it reminds me of a slick Hollywood PR type promoting something. I've seen parts of the first two "Rebus" series, but I never read the books. It's set in beautiful Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. In a number of shots you can see Edinburgh Castle in the distance, once the home of Scottish kings and queens.

I didn't care for the storyline, it's another police procedural which is really a family drama. Writers are obsessed with stories of drugs, when drugs are really a small percentage of all crime. It's another cliched drug and organized crime story. With a better script I'd watch a second series. I like the cast, especially Richard Rankin as John Rebus and Brian Ferguson as Michael Rebus.

"Vera" and "Grace" are much better UK police dramas.

Troubled cop Rebus battles crime on Glasgow's streets, and battles his own personal demons, the drink and his fractious relations with his family.

I think The BBC has a winner here, it's a cracking series, hopefully one that will go on for years to come. A lot more violent than anything that's been on mainstream TV for a long time, incredibly gritty.

Nicely made, but definitely has a a raw feel to it, that's part of the appeal.

We've all had our favourite, for some it was John Hannah, for some including me it was Ken Stott, Richard Rankin was first choice casting, he's absolutely brilliant.

I liked the dynamic between Rebus and Siobhan, they're not exactly bosom pals, there's definitely a degree of friction, which grows as the series develops.

I was a little mixed about episode one, but by the second I was hooked, I could easily have binge watched the whole lot in one go.

More please BBC.

8/10.

Those who have read Ian Rankin's originals, and seen the earlier TV series based upon them, may be somewhat disconcerted by this revival. It is well done - although the conclusion of the 6-part series suggests more has to come.

The originals were set in their time; the technology of our era now moves on differently. The revival reflects this, it's not an attempt to dive back into the past - and perhaps that's commendable.

But I'm concerned about why the producers felt the need to provide us with this - unless it's simply a blatant attempt to capitalize on a successful formula with the attendant risk of alienating those who revere the original. I'd like to believe otherwise!