Art Detectives

If you are expecting yet another serial-killer-of-women script, this isn't it. Not really a "cozy" mystery series either. Closer to Morse in tone, lots of twists, a corpse may appear briefly, and virtually no sex-with-co-workers soap opera side stories. All in 45 minute, non-serial episodes. Straight-ahead British-style crime drama. Highly recommended.

Granted this review is based on the first three episodes, so it could change, but I have to respectfully disagree with Avidviewer-02847 and edyoung-90901.

I found the first three episodes to be intelligent, crisp, deft and witty. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I would encourage others to take a stab at the series.

As long as it is primarily case driven and avoids the temptation to indulge in tick-box family drama, I have high hopes for this. The three episodes thus far have been set in Yorkshire (Portraits and the National Gallery), Gloucester (A Viking dig and artifacts), Cornwall (a listed estate and rock memorabilia).

For those who like comparisons, I would say it's an amalgam of Lovejoy, Dalgliesh and Chelsea Detective. Like Dalgliesh, Art Detectives is also shot in Northern Ireland. What an amazing canvas from which to work.

As the Storyline says, "In the Metropolitan Police's smallest department, the Heritage Crime Unit, an art-loving detective tackles cases connected to the world of art, antiques, collectibles and cultural heritage."

DI Palmer is the head of the Heritage Crime Unit: in point of fact at the beginning of the series he IS the whole of the Heritage Crime Unit. In the first episode, which takes place in Yorkshire, he is paired with DS Malik, a female DS, who is assigned to help Palmer by the regional DI.

DI Palmer reminds me of Bertie Carvel's Dalgliesh, but with a sense of humor to go with gravitas. This is not meant to take anything away from Bertie Carvel's superb portrayal of Dalgliesh -- I am just saying Carvel's is serious, and rightly so, a different variety of the mystery genre. There may also be a bit of Max from Chelsea Detective. Palmer clearly knows his onions, and can notch up the intensity when the case demands it. He is also able to spot talent, separate the genuine from the ersatz (in people as well). He also is willing to listen to input, knows how to be polite, and how to handle hostile forces.

DS Malik reminds me of a combination of Layla Walsh (Chelsea Detective) and Kate Miskin (Dalgliesh). She is keen to learn and has a nascent instinct. It will be fun to watch her grow.

Each episode clearly states why the Heritage Crime Unit are being sent to the case instead of "major crimes or the murder squad." Not sure how edyoung-90901 missed that. Again it is also very clear why in the third episode they were going to commandeer the row boat.

So don't be put off by the other lukewarm reviews. If you like art and mystery, give this a try.

Art Detectives arrives as another glossy British crime procedural, and over six episodes it proves to be... fine. Not groundbreaking, not unwatchable - just fine. It's a series that sets its bar at "competent Sunday night drama" and never really tries to vault higher.

Stephen Moyer, a familiar face to many, does much of the heavy lifting. His DI Palmer has flashes of wit and weariness, and while the scripts don't give him enough depth, he brings enough gravitas to make the role stick. Opposite him, Nina Singh's DS Malik feels like a missed opportunity. She's capable, likeable, but too often relegated to the background when she could have brought sharper edges or stronger emotional stakes.

The episodic cases range from mildly intriguing to borderline silly. None are terrible, but few linger once the credits roll. Direction is steady, pacing rarely drags, and production polish makes it an easy watch. Yet there's a lack of ambition here: no attempt to reinvent the genre, nor to provide the kind of grit or risk that makes a crime drama truly stand out.

By Ep 6, the verdict is clear: this is comfort viewing. It's pleasant enough to pass the time, competently acted, and never offensive to the genre. But for anyone hoping for the next Unforgotten or Happy Valley, this simply isn't it.

A 6.5/10 feels generous but fair... Art Detectives is solid, safe, and entirely average.

It starts a bit slow, but in these crazy times, I'm enjoying this. Liking the fact that there is none of the annoying infighting and yelling with a superior and/or inferior officer(s), it's just the two detectives working and getting along. Except for an extreme asshole of a father, there are no annoying teenage kids, alcoholism, divorces, just a weekly murder related to art.

There is a sweet ongoing romance between the main detective and a colleague which is refreshing given their maturity. And cute that the younger partner can tease him about it.

I was worried that this might be a rip off of the French show, The Art of Murder, a show where a police detective and art historian team up to solve crimes in Paris. The on and off relationship between the two of them and the fact that the detective, from Paris, knows nothing about art and hates it is annoying.

So, Just pour yourself a cup of tea, relax and enjoy this show.

Good, cerebral 'who done it' without all the distractions of back stories and action sequences.

The storylines are interesting and believable, the viewer is kept guessing without unnecessary attempts at humor or gratuitous violence.

My fingers are crossed that Acorn orders/produces a second season.

Enjoyable!