User reviews

Low Winter Sun, on paper, has a lot going for it. Mark Strong & Lennie James lead a strong cast of great actors you'd recognize but not know by name. The cinematography matches the grittiness of our locations. The theme from the pilot is super thick. It's "A" grade material on paper.

So if that's all there, why am I left with C+ results?

First off, Low Winter Sun, I don't think really knows what show it wants to be. It kicks off with the murder by a policeman by two other detectives. From there, we learn it was a revenge plot. Cool. The internal affairs is investigating. Great. Then... we don't EVER stay focused on that, we constantly veer to side stories that are so loosely connected to the main story that it gets VERY frustrating. Especially when it burns so slowly.

Breaking Bad, The Wire, The Sopranos, The Shield, Damages etc. These shows ALWAYS linked things back, not only to the main story, but our main CHARACTERS. I know these are some of the best shows ever written, but when you throw your hat into the "crime drama" ring, you face off with these shows.

Low Winter Sun doesn't throw an punches that haven't already been thrown and it doesn't do it as well. Too Bad.

This is without a doubt 1 of the best dramas of 2013. A compelling story spread out over 10 episodes, with complex characters, a solid storyline and a satisfying ending.

What to me stands out the most about this show is the story. This is not some cheesy drama with bits and pieces stitched together or some crap show where they started off with a good story and then scrambled to fill the pages. There is no scene that doesn't really add up, or make sense in the larger story; There is no little annoying episodic arc story that only lasts a few episodes and doesn't fit in to the greater arc of things; there is no moment where you feel that a character has acted out of turn, said or done something you know that they wouldn't. All those things that make you feel like you're watching some hammy, episodic, so- called-drama which has no substance and will probably carry on for years without going anyway. No, this show is not like that, this for a change, is a good show.

To go along with that, the acting and directing is fantastic. Lennie James is brilliant as Joe Getties, 1 of the most interesting characters to come on TV in the past few years.

Sadly I don't think this show will get picked up for another season, as it always is, very few people appreciate a good thing. Honestly though, I don't mind, it's better to go out on top rather than have multiple season of crap. The show doesn't end in a cliffhanger, or have any loose ends, so even if it does get canceled, this season will still be satisfying to watch.

In short, you'll like this if you like good, fast passed, well told, well acted, drama.

(Season 1 review)

This is a very well done show not like most of the crap that is on TV nowadays. I think what I liked best is they didn't overplay the story. When I was watching it I really enjoyed it but they didn't hype up the cliff hangers so I wouldn't wake up the next day thinking I have to watch the next show, and sometimes would forget for a day or two. When I did remember I was always happy that I had something so good to watch and would watch 2 or 3 after my wife had gone to bed. It is hard to explain or understand because usually shows that are this good I binge through in 2 or 3 days, but I think it is from not using cliff hanging tricks to bring you back each episode. It is like they knew we are good we don't have to do that and because almost all other shows use those tricks when they aren't used it stands out. Reminded me a little of Fred Zinnemann's style especially his "Day of the Jackal", not the same but in that direction.

If you like smoldering, drama's this is your show. Its gripping, full of suspense, and the characters are gonna grow on you, as is the story line. I've seen negative remarks about this show. These types are usually the ones with the attention span of a gnat. There are a lot of shows on now days that don't blow you away the first episode, but always leave you wanting more. This is one of those shows, Breaking Bad is a prime example of that. Look how slow that show started and where it is now. I'm not saying this show is that good, but we will need a new show after the next few weeks, because BB is gonna be over. This show has the potential to be that fill in, at least it does for me..My advice is watch it and get into it..I am glad I did...Enjoy

If you are looking for an edgy and gritty amc show on the level of the walking dead or breaking bad you will be sadly disappointed. Given there has only been 1 episode to date, I've decided to write this review because I'm not really sure I will keep watching this show further. Nothing about this series screams original or interesting in any way shape or form.

While some of the acting and writing seemed fairly well done, other parts of it seem over board, forced, and not well thought out. For example, how did the guy on the security video get back into the house with no keys, as his keys didn't arrive till after he got in. These guys are suppose to be the "best" at knowing these details but really struggled to put it to reality in the script. When you are looking at holes like this, and know that IA is looking at them it just draws red flags of poorly written out. The black lady detective already questioning things and trying to put the pieces together because something seems "off" and this forced want to be tension going on in the bar together combine for a an almost stale show as I really didn't care, aka gave me no reason to be interested in it, about anything that was going on there.

One of the leads Mark Strong didn't come off to me as a very strong actor, in some sense he was over shadowed by Lennie James. However James character is a bit over dramatized. He honestly looks guilty through out the show in the cop scenes and in the office. Hawkins didn't really impress me either, however that could be more due to the script then her acting. I think the most realistic part of the show was the cops standing around doing nothing for a good bit.

With the amount of quality shows on TV today and original concepts, returning to this show will be difficult. I predict this show will end up like many of the AMC we tried really hard but the writing/idea just wasn't there flops. I think a few years ago they tried with hell on wheels and well, this is about the same quality. The production quality is there but the rest is not.

AMC is still my 2nd favorite network to watch for their quality of shows but knowing that breaking bad is ending has them reaching. This show is a result of that. I believe that AMC does a much better job with original series especially ones they create. This was brought over from the BBC and probably should have stayed thee.

Why was this cancelled!!!! So many really bad series lately, ya finally get a really good one, and it's cancelled! Either ya love it, or ya hate it. We loved it!

I am sad to say, I am on the fence with this one. Overall, the acting and directing are well done. I love the gritty edginess. However, so far the story line seems too predictable and somewhat cookie cutter. Unless there are some ingenious plot twists in the 3rd episode, I'm not overly impressed. All of this saddens me because I have long been a huge fan of Mark Strong (he'll always be Mr. Knightly to me) who always does a fantastic job with any role I've had the pleasure of watching him play. I hope the show continues for his sake. I like him in this role. Since there is nothing else of interest on cable at this time, I'll continue to watch. For now.

With Breaking Bad ending, I wouldn't really know what other series to watch anymore in that genre area. But when I heard about Low Winter Sun, I was relieved because its exactly what I'm looking for.

If you're like me and you like those anti-hero suspense type series, you wont be let down. Its one of those shows where you're never really sure about the characters. It's the show where it gets so suspenseful that you fall right out of your seat.

Of course I doubt this show will overcome the greatness of Breaking Bad (just like I doubt any show ever will) but this one might just satisfy me enough even with a predecessor like Breaking Bad. I also think that's why the critics are being so critically hard on this show, its because it's got such an amazing show ending, so people don't give it a chance. Heck, people were even complaining Breaking Bad was too slow of a show after the first 2 episodes and that's only because Mad Men was at such a good stage.

Anyway, in conclusion, this show looks great and I really hope for people to realize its greatness and give it a chance

There have been some solid American remakes of UK TV shows: All in the Family to Life on Mars. But there's also shows like "Coupling" too. This series seems to fit somewhere in the middle.

On the plus side, the acting isn't bad. The storyline has its multiple levels: it doesn't dumb itself down for the audience. And Detroit is an excellent choice of settings for this US remake.

On the negatives: my kingdom for a steady-cam. Are directors so infantile as to still believe the tired trope from Hill Street Blues that the more amateurish the guy holding the camera, the more it's supposed to feel like a documentary. Fail #1.

Fail #2: good directors make you care about the characters involved and some of the storyline before the blood and guts come out and create a visceral reaction. Unfortunately, this show opted straight for the violence as a cloying attempt to capture you're interest immediately -- except that it's performed on characters you know nothing about and have zero investment with. Maybe if I was 7 years old, but not as an adult.

Fail #3: the best dark shows often have comedic elements -- even if it's dark comedy -- to lighten up the pace. But this show is written with no redeeming moments -- no mood lighteners, no dark humor, no cracks. As such, it's a bit like listening to a 60-minute bass solo. Maybe you love bass, but it loses it's strength if that's all you get all the time. Darkness just has more impact when you get a reminder of the light once in a while. There is no light in this show.

Fail #4: Closing scenes where the actors emote to the soundtrack. Cheesy to the extreme.

Low Winter Sun is truly different than other cop dramas - it is more realistic in the way that the characters interact. Also, the story is very heavy and fast- paced. They don't deal with too many 'side-issues' and dwell about 70-80% on the main storyline in each episode.

(It always annoys me in a story-heavy series when they introduce completely inane side stories to delay telling you about what you really want to know.)

I absolutely love this series and my only problem is there was only 10 episodes! However, I can see what an intense challenge it would be to create 22 or 24 episodes of this caliber. I really and sincerely hope they keep it up.

Let me just say... I've watched this show now twice, something I rarely do. I am disappointed that this has not been picked up for a second season. This show is "awesome"! One of the best TV shows of his genre I've 'ever' watched!

Low Winter Sun's premiere was so intriguing. Shady cops who go too far like the premise of 'To Live and Die In LA'...kind of.

It is 'To Live and Die In Detroit'...I like it so far.

Lenny James may be nominated and maybe even WIN an Emmy for best supporting actor.

Awesome. I love to listen to him. Oh...and Gayle from Breaking Bad played by David Costable is on there too...he is in the Internal Affairs division on Low Winter Sun. I mean...it is dark and evil...so NOT for everyone, but I like what I have seen so far, but only one episode.

I have grown to trust AMC and their programming. Love Breaking Bad...LOVED Rubicon...love Mad Men and based upon those shows...I am more apt to check out new shows. Cannot say that about any other channel, so thank you AMC...again. Giving this show the green light was a good idea.

This pilot was amazing! Brought on by great writing with confusion, which leads to curiosity and intrigue to the viewer. I read the previous negative reviews and I account that to people who cannot think outside the box. This show is amazing with fantastic actors who are very believable. I like how this show starts out dark and we as viewers have no idea if the characters are 'good guys' or bad guys'. The plot changes with an inner story of another killing from thieves stealing from drug dealers who are mentioning the name of a bad cop found dead in his car. I don't want to give the story line(s) away but I really want everyone who liked The Sopranos and The Wire to watch this!!!

This show is great. Now on to what needs to be said...

Hey, morons!

You people that rated this show low...you got what you wanted. This show was cancelled. And now we have nothing but marvel and Disney shows. Do you feel good about yourselves? Honestly, you're probably pretty proud. After all, you are in your parents basement and eating tons of ramen and nachos.

Here's what's fun...the state of TV and movies now. All you fan boys hate literally everything. So keep it up. I'm really excited to watch nothing but Falcon and the Winter Soldier Season 4.

Seriously though, watch this show. It's was good TV used to be.

I mean the show, not the so-called story. I haven't seen the original Brit version of this series so I can't compare the 2 but just knowing the original was far shorter puts me in favor of that one.

I can't think of any aspect of this LWS worth praising except the cinematography and how could you go wrong with ruined Detroit? But the casting was atrocious & the acting (where there was any) consequently all over the map. The white hoods looked like college students, the black hoods looked like central casting.

Mark Strong seemed to be so wrapped up in holding in his Brit inflections that everything else got withheld as well. I found myself longing for some Victor Mature or Robert Mitchum grimacing & hamming. Those guys could have played Agnew in their sleep. Lennie James, OTOH, seemed to be auditioning for a modern version of The Tempest. Interesting but distracting.

What else? The plot was choppy & predictable & highly dissatisfying. Odd that AMC should have run this after Breaking Bad. Maybe they should have called it Breaking Worse.

I have waited to watch the last episode of Season 1 only to allow myself to really make up my mind about the show.

The first episode really captured me and left me wanting more of this and as i expected so did the episode 2 and on and on.

The cast is just great, they were new to me (except for Lennie James that i saw him in couple episodes of The Walking Dead) so i kinda knew that he's going to be very good, but also the others turned out to be at the same level.

The plot is good and the script too, but there were a few errors, not in the production it self but in police and investigation technicalities that i am not going to talk about.

To sum this all up i liked the show, it kept me on TV and i started liking Sundays, i will be waiting for this to return and based on this season my expectations are that the 2nd season is going to be greater than first one.

I watched this because I thought Talking Bad was on right after Breaking Bad. A bit of Bait and Switch on AMC's part but I digress. Low Winter Sun Stars a few actors I was familiar with so I gave it a chance. Very dark looking so much so I am remembering it in black and white. I liked the acting but the storyline seems old, overdone and trying too hard to be gripping. Showing it right after the Breaking Bad for any show would be a challenge. I have to say it was passable at best. This show should have had more originality. Cop who is out for revenge? Been there done that. The cast deserved a 7 but story a 3. Not one I will be bothering with again. Using PVR to record Breaking Bad and Talking Bad but skipping Low Winter Sun.

I thought the actors were a good group and did well with their characters. The storyline seems a bit exaggerated. . . if this was anything remotely close to accurate, then I would join the Defund the Police movement. It can't possibly this bad, but it sure looks like Detroit is that bad - do people still live there, or survive there? I don't know how one would follow up this season, trying to out do the outrageous corruption of the first season. Best that it was not renewed as it gave politicos enough ideas to expand their repertoire.

This was one of the darkest, best acted dramas I've ever seen. I was surprised that it only lasted one season. It's a shame that it didn't find its audience before being canceled. It's excellent. Mark Strong and the entire cast gave chilling performances all the way around.

I'd have to put this series right up there with one of the better seasons of The Wire. Compelling performances by a great cast led by Mark Strong and Lennie James. Production values are first-rate, creating a blighted Detroit that is rich with rot and atmosphere, almost a character unto itself.

By the way, anyone who bails on a series after viewing only one of ten episodes is unworthy of reviewing it. You've made your judgment already, but you are not qualified to evaluate or rate a series you never even watched. Sorry it didn't meet the expectations you envisioned; perhaps you should write that screenplay yourself and allow others willing to put more effort into it to enjoy a well-written series.

AMC took the interesting (but not unique) tack of previewing the first episode of this drama at twenty-one movie theatres around the US followed by the livestream of a Q&A with most of the actors and the showrunner. I went in without reading anything beyond the info that it was a US remake of a two-part UK series.

Without spoiling, the episode was intriguing and very well-written, and the plot was quite different to anything I've seen currently on US TV. The acting was top-notch - and the idea of bringing over two of the leads from the original series to recreate their roles very likely made it even better than it might have been otherwise.

Rather than starting with a "whodunnit" at all, this is more of a "how will they get away with it." Yes, that idea's been done before. But the overall storyline is, again, quite different.

My one big complaint about this series - which has a nicely diverse cast of men - is the women. All ranges of male ages can be found in this show. Indeed, there's a very large male cast.

Women? Not so much. In fact, there were only four women total with screen time in this first episode - and one of those only in flashbacks. The three women in the present were all younger - the oldest might be in her early 30s. The people running this show have no love for mature women. Even the secretary to the lieutenant seems to be no more than her mid-twenties - hardly a standard in the working world.

Oh, and only one female detective was visible for the entirety of the episode. Really? In this century they couldn't justify more women than that in an entire police department?

FYI - don't be fooled by the multiple female actor names in the IMDb listing. I saw none of them and can only assume they were either extras or have very small roles in upcoming episodes. (Even if they were all in attendance, again, the age range seems to be between 22 and 33. Not exactly what one would see in the real world.)

Considering the female population that they could be engaging, AMC would do well to address this egregious "oversight" and add at least a modicum of more mature women to the cast.

For now, I'm going to give more of this series a pass until they have more of a reality check on the missing 50% of the country.

I've been wanting to watch this because Mark strong and Lenny James are two of my favorite actors next to Bonner, Rhys and Graham. I'm reading there's a UK ( British version)??? Why are 2 leads using American accents?! Are they in the UK one? I'm confused. Cuz I'm not liking either in this as Americans. I've never seen Lenny even play one. So far I'm not liking it really ( except that James Ransone happens to be in it. I'm going to search for the UK one.