Episode #4.1

So great to have Shetland back, after months of searching and nagging the BBC it's back. Sometimes after a strong series and a break a show can be a little flat, no such problem here, the opening episode sets the tone for another cracking series. It has the usual slick production values, glorious scenery, superb acting, and of course the wonderful Douglas Henshall. Stephen Walters was excellent as Thomas Malone.

I must say, i had big hopes for season 4. Season 3 is with out a doubt my favorite. so i was afraid that this would be a step down. But i was wrong. This is reley good! i belive that the first episode sets the tone for the rest of the season. I can't wait to see the next one.

After getting on the first two short series with only two episodes and loving them but then just getting through series three, series 4 didn't work from the first ten minutes. Also jumping to Perez and his family made no sense. Not sure if I'll watch another 6 episode series again. Not sure the quality can stretch that far. The shorter the better.

Long-awaited Season 4 has arrived, and it is every bit as good as the first three.

Back in the 1980s, I heard a young actor being interviewed about his new hit movie. He was asked his opinion on a current political situation. I have never forgotten his answer: "I'm an actor. I know as much as you do about what is going on, and I don't understand why my being a celebrity makes anyone think my opinion has more weight or importance than anyone else's." It was a brilliant deflection, and allowed me to continue to enjoy this actor's work in the decades that have followed, without the taint of always remembering when he shot his mouth off about something he had no expertise about.

I will never understand why people whose careers depend on popular acceptance want to insult and alienate half their potential audience, but they keep on doing it. It's an unforced error and they do not make themselves look more intelligent; quite the opposite. And that is why, although everything about Season 4 is as excellent as the others, I am enjoying it less.