Gently and the New Age

As a huge fan of detective/crime/mystery series, there is the admission that it took me a while to start watching 'Inspector George Gently', worrying as to whether it would appeal to me for "can't put my finger on it" reasons other than being young at the time and not being as knowledgeable of the period. Getting into the show eight years ago and continuing to watch it without fail, it turned out to be simply wonderful and actually became a favourite.

After a very solid, if still settling, start in "Gently Go Man", it felt like 'Inspector George Gently' started to hit its stride with "The Burning Man" and that continued with "Bomber's Moon". The show hit a high point with "Gently with the Innocents", but what should have been the best 'Inspector George Gently' episode, being the final one, sadly was the weakest to me. There is a lot here however that is particularly good about 'Inspector George Gently' and it shows that it is not at all hard to see why the show appeals to many.

"Gently and the New Age" shows 'Inspector George Gently' still delivering on a consistent level, but at the same time for a series finale it didn't feel completely satisfying. It doesn't quite have the emotional impact of other episodes that tackled daring themes, yet there is the tension and tautness are there. Like Rachel a good deal and her chemistry with Bacchus adds hugely to the episode.

Would have loved much more of Gently and Bacchus together though, for such a fascinating duo and one of the biggest driving forces of the show there wasn't enough of it.

Some things disappointingly don't add up in plausibility, including a big revelation concerning a major character that is brought up too suddenly and not developed enough. While very sad, the ending lacks the shock factor which would have been there if it wasn't so derivative and not as foreseeable.

Furthermore, "Gently and the New Age", like the rest of the show, looks great, often beautiful. It is strikingly filmed and the scenery and period detail are atmospheric, handsome and evocative, a lot of work and care went into re-creating the period and it definitely shows loud and clear. The music is stirring and haunting, dynamic with what's going on and never intrusive.

The writing has a lot of thought-provoking intelligence and balances subtle humour and drama very well and executing both individually just as well. The direction is alert and accommodating and the story is easy to follow and absorbing with a good deal of suspense. "Gently and the New Age", and 'Inspector Gently' in general, is very interesting for how British law was like in the 60s and how much it's changed and come on compared to now.

Acting is very good as usual, with Martin Shaw, Lee Ingleby and Lisa McGrillis being brilliant.

In summary, very good but was expecting more. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I have loved this series. Love it's characters, stories, setting in both time and location.

That is why this last episode was so disappointing. In fairness, a finale to any series is tricky, especially a great series like this one was.

However, this episode strayed far afield from the rest of the series to the point it was unrecognizable.

Finally, if you watch entertainment in the UK long enough, you understand who it is that controls the narrative. This means you already know who will be portrayed as the villains in any movie, show, series, commercial, etc. It is sooo boringly threadbare, predictable, and over the top, it has become cringeworthy.

If you know what I am talking about, no explanation is necessary. If you don't know by now, no explanation is possible.

This unfortunate, clichéd storyline took away from the lifeblood of the series & seemed a hodgepodge of an ending to a truly great series.

We have reached the end of the line with George Gently. Approaching retirement, Gently is approached by the head of the anti corruption unit to examine an unsolved case of a young woman who was murdered four years earlier in County Durham.

Up and coming local Labour MP, Michael Clements is somehow being put in the frame for the murder as he knew the dead woman and he is also causing waves with his third way rhetoric. Even the establishment seems to be wary of him and Gently becomes aware of this as one of the security services henchman might had been involved in the death of his own wife.

Bacchus and his new assistant Rachel Coles investigate the killing of a scab worker crossing a picket line. What might be a death caused by a violent striker turns out to be more sinister again with government agents being involved.

A striking look at 1970s industrial relations and the sinister side of the security services, the type which tried to nobble Prime Minister Harold Wilson a few years later.

It might not be a satisfactory ending but I think there was little else where Gently could go. At least we also get to see a more mature Bacchus who finally has some of Gently's wisdom rub off on him.

Having been a fan of this series throughout its run, the finish was a disappointment. But not one without tears. However, what it begs is the potential for a Bacchus & Coles 'next generation' series akin to Inspector Lewis on the heels of Inspector Morse. Lee Ingleby and Lisa McGrillis have a solid chemistry, one that is refreshingly free of the archetypal sexual tension between male and female leads in a cop drama.

I've been a fan of this series since the beginning, even read several of the books, but I had only recently caught the final episode because shows like this tend to not have a satisfying ending. Oh glorious ignorance, how I wish I could still claim thee in this instance. While not a terrible episode, it definitely didn't live up to pretty much any others from the rest of the show.

After almost a decade, Gently is suddenly struck with grief over the loss of his wife. It's no surprise that he misses her, but it seemed completely out of character for him (or most adults for that matter) to become a blubbering mess about it after so long. Then there's the plot... and I use the term loosely. There are more Gently books by Alan Hunter than episodes made, and they went with a hackneyed government conspiracy story to end this series? Since they seemed forget he has MS, why not tailor a story where he relies on Bacchus and Coles to solve the case because he becomes symptomatic? That may be too difficult for these discount writers, but why wouldn't the 'antagonists' simply go after the MP who's causing them grief directly instead of using Gently to discredit him? Governments make deals with other governments all the time, so it's not something people need to get murdered over, making this story even more contrived so they could have their beloved dramatic... and unresolved, ending.

As I said earlier however, this isn't a terrible episode. The cinematography was excellent. I liked the score, even though it gave me a Tron: Legacy vibe. Bacchus and Coles were working well together finally, and there was a very touching scene with the three of them in the woods where Gently asks John about his 'going away do.' Overall though, I think Gently, and everyone else involved, deserved better. That's not to mean it should've been a happy ending mind you; there's nothing wrong with killing your title character off if done right (Morse fits that bill I think), this just wasn't it. With only two episodes this season/series, they may as well just not bothered and left us with 7 good years.