Cleddau

Like many BBC productions ir started strongly, slowed over the next few episodes and descended into predictsble garbage. Every few minutes I'm describing what's gou g to happen next, and I'm right. It's a boilerplate script cobbled together from every low level cop drama that the BBC has access to. I really wanted it to be good but I'm sorely disappointed. The romantic machinations are so obvious they're laughable. What a waste of licence money. After the first episode i struggled to keep going. Episode six was so corny I've taken a break and can't decide whether to bother with the rest. Porr show BBC.

This six part Welsh drama is set in the town of Pembroke Dock. When a nurse is found murdered in Cleddau Woods police are reminded of a similar case that occurred some time ago. Since a man is already in gaol for the previous killing it looks as if there is a copycat at work... or they got the wrong man before. DS Rick Sheldon is leading the case but when links to the old case are found DI Ffion Lloyd, who also worked that case, is called in from Cardiff. This leads to some tension as they had been involved with each other before he left her for the woman who is now his wife.

I thought this was a solid addition to the 'Cambri-Noir' genre; I'm certainly glad my newspaper recommended it as I doubt I would have seen it otherwise. The case is interesting as are the main characters. There are a good selection of suspects which should keep the viewer guessing. The relationship issues are perhaps unnecessary but don't detract from the story too much. Pembrokeshire may be an attractive part of these islands but the way this is shot manages to create an ominous feel. The cast does a fine job bringing the characters to life; most obviously Elen Rhys and Richard Harrington who play DI Lloyd and DS Sheldon respectively. As the story approaches its conclusion there are some nice twists and turns. By the end the case may be wrapped up but it feels like we might not have seen the last of these characters. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to viewers who enjoyed shows like 'Hinterland' from a few years ago which also starred Richard Harrington.

These comments are based on watching the series in Welsh with English subtitles as shown on S4C. I believe an English version titled 'The One That Got Away' will air later, presumably on BBC4 if it follows the pattern set by 'Hinterland'.

Brits are pros at this - well-executed police procedurals. You can rely on them to have solid plotting and carefully planned dramatic arcs, capable actors, and three-dimensional characters with realistically grounded problems.

I enjoyed that the pacing wasn't rushed - however, the series could've been an hour shorter. (It annoys me that it appears "compulsory" nowadays to have at least 6 episodes for one story.) There were some unnecessary coincidences, and to be fair, all and all the series wasn't really that groundbreaking.

However, it was still a good binge with lovely Welsh scenery to boot.

This is what you would expect from the BBC and others.

Usual array of suspects and diversions. Worth watching and probably not for watching in a binge, as you want time to digest.

The usual use of the weather to set scenes and move the plot on.

There is good complexity of character development and the dialogue is believable.

I do wonder if there is always doubt about those higher up,.

And of course the bloke with the glasses is a bit mysterious.

I do wish they made them call "Taser, taser , taser" when they use them, but you can't have everything.

Can you?

And no CGI or AI.

Nice.

And satisfying at the end.

The community of Pembroke Dock is rocked, when Abbi Rayner, a nurse is killed, twelve years after Paul Harvey was convicted for killing two other nurses, DI Ffion Lloyd is drafted in the head the case, along with DS Rick Sheldon, the pair know eachother well.

It's a very good, Welsh drama, there was enough here to make me want to binge watch it in two sittings, if you're a fan of Hinterland and Hidden, you'll enjoy this.

It's a typically murky storyline, with plenty of suspects, the obligatory friction between the two central characters, and there's the dysfunctional family.

I wasn't crazy initially about Rick and Ffion knowing one another, I felt that idea has been overdone, but it worked well in the end.

Episode three was the big turning point for me, I thought it was terrific, really had me on the edge of my seat.

You'll recognise so many faces, including Richard Harrington and Elen Rhys, but if you've enjoyed the aforementioned dramas, you'll recognise plenty more.

The acting is first rate, the whole cast perform so well, I'd have to make a special mention for Matthew Aubrey though, I thought he was terrific as Mel Owen.

7/10.