The Chelsea Detective

Just what I expect from a British detective show. No fancy car chases, no blazing gun fights, just solid police work.

I hope there will be more seasons.

Sometimes I'm not wanting different or radical. Sometimes I want easy and familiar and just watchable. This is it, familiar places with just a touch of humour. Sonita Henry is great and a good foil to Adrian Scarborough who plays the DI with a slight weariness that is subtle and smile worthy to enjoy. The plots are easy and it's a distraction that's not too taxing after a working day.

The bad review bears all the hallmarks of someone who read the synopsis and cast list but didn't actually watch the program and therefore doesn't understand it. OK, it's not the deepest, most thought-provoking programme you'll ever see, but having watched the first I'm looking forward to watching the rest of the series to see how the characters develop, particularly the complex relationship between the protagonist and his estranged partner. The crime-solving is an added bonus!

I have watched three episodes so far and I will say that it is growing on me. I like the first one and then the second one I was on the fence but the third one got my interest again. I think I like the characters the best and even though the dialogue in parts is not realistic it is engaging and keeps my interest. I also like the photography and getting to see parts of London. It kind of takes me there. I would say it is a solid show and hopefully it will get better with even more character to development.

Nothing terribly innovative here. Just another interesting detective procedural. The two leads are fun to watch but, surprisingly, lead fairly normal lives. DI Arnold( Scarborough) is struggling with the breakup of his marriage and DI Shamsie (Henry) just had a baby and is making adjustments. But it's all within a normal range and so the emphasis is on the detecting. Their two costars (played by Bankole and Phelps) are a good addition and create a team of uber-competent policepersons. Adrian Scarborough is a revelation. I'm used to seeing him in comic buffoonish roles. He plays it serious here with his cycling, piano playing, dyslexic detective and does it well. The plots are the usual combo of twisty narratives, people lying to the police (sometimes for absurd reasons..."Why didn't I tell you I was at the victim's house five minutes before he was bludgeoned to death? I didn't think it was relevant.") and interrogations accompanied by legal counsel who remain silent and doodle on yellow pads. It's all been done before but it goes down easy. Good show!