There is something appealing about the English Detective scene. No matter how gruesome and inhumane the heinous act, the English Detective brings procedure, order, wit, insight to bear. Order fighting disorder. Disorder is the human condition. Order is the British response to it.
The genre of English Detective fiction is sort of irresistible and can easily become a staple consumption. Especially the TV productions of the these, so easily available for continous, if not binge watching via Netflix.
I am indeed on the lookout for the next English detective to follow. But over the past couple of years, here are five that I have watched - all episodes, all seasons! Not included here are Sherlock Holmes and any of the Agatha Christie novels. Although, might I just throw in that the plot resolutions and plot twist in the Ten Little Indians (the novel's title was - And there were none) has been the best and remains the best in this genre for me.
If you have suggestions please let me know. Inspector Morse or Poet Detective Adam Dagleish are certainly on the radar.
Midsomer Murders
This is an incredibly long running series. For a small set of villages of Midsomer, quite a few multiple murders take place here. The poor detective solves them all, but he cannot keep up with this murderous population.
Picturesque. No diversity to speak of in this population. People circa 1900 living circa 2010!
The episode with the cricket tournament was the most tangy to watch. Nothing like English village cricket (oh! the murderous lot ...)
You keep watching because there is an endless trooping of interesting guests. A little bit of pretension to art and music. The formula is rock solid - and it is quite easy to zoom through this series.
George Gently
This show is set in the 1960s. So the period details and cultural details (just before the Beatles take off) is well done. The junior sargeant who plays Inspector Gently's sidekick is a bit of a poodle. But there is good humor that comes out of their interactions.
The standout episode in this series is the one that involves an Arab being suspected of a murder. The cultural commentary from 50 years ago still holds up today. The plot resolution and plot twists are quite amazing.
Not just that, perhaps the only detective story that leaves a lump in your throat - which is saying a lot for this genre!
Foyle's War
This show is set in the 1940s during and right after WWII. Again, only as British TV can do, the period details, the cultural references, the acting are all impeccable.
The plot device here (and the title - Foyle's War) is that Inspector Foyle is trying to keep law and order in his town, inspite of law and order suffering as a whole because of the destructive force of the war.
The bombs are falling on the town, what is a little burglary?
And Foyle's answer is, the reason the British are fighting the war is to make respect for the law inviolate. Hence the burglar is going to jail (or the corrupt official - take your pick of bad guy or gal) even if bombs are falling.
This is not an English Detective. It is not set in England. But is on the list because it is British TV and has Kenneth Branagh in the lead.
This is the ever popular Scandinavian detective fiction. Bleak, dark, depressing, silent. These are the words that come to mind thinking of the Scandinavian landscape.
While the superficial impression of Kenneth Branagh is a) he does Shakespeare and b) is acting is over the top - in reality, there is no question that he is a true acting star. Not just a star - but one who is a star because he can act.
And Branagh sinks his teeth deep into the bleak, dark, depressing, silent, withdrawn character of Inspector Wallander. It is his acting chops that make this series gripping to watch. Everything about Wallander screams a person you would not want to spend an evening with, for the fear of turning comatose.
But that is the very reason why he makes the character so compelling.
The show is less about amazing detective work and more about Wallander rising above his social ineptitude with his doggedness and commitment to his craft.
The genre of English Detective fiction is sort of irresistible and can easily become a staple consumption. Especially the TV productions of the these, so easily available for continous, if not binge watching via Netflix.
I am indeed on the lookout for the next English detective to follow. But over the past couple of years, here are five that I have watched - all episodes, all seasons! Not included here are Sherlock Holmes and any of the Agatha Christie novels. Although, might I just throw in that the plot resolutions and plot twist in the Ten Little Indians (the novel's title was - And there were none) has been the best and remains the best in this genre for me.
If you have suggestions please let me know. Inspector Morse or Poet Detective Adam Dagleish are certainly on the radar.
Midsomer Murders
 |
| Oh! The murderous lot... |
Picturesque. No diversity to speak of in this population. People circa 1900 living circa 2010!
The episode with the cricket tournament was the most tangy to watch. Nothing like English village cricket (oh! the murderous lot ...)
You keep watching because there is an endless trooping of interesting guests. A little bit of pretension to art and music. The formula is rock solid - and it is quite easy to zoom through this series.
George Gently
 |
| Don't challenge the old detective - even to box! |
The standout episode in this series is the one that involves an Arab being suspected of a murder. The cultural commentary from 50 years ago still holds up today. The plot resolution and plot twists are quite amazing.
Not just that, perhaps the only detective story that leaves a lump in your throat - which is saying a lot for this genre!
Foyle's War
 |
| Watch the bombs, I'm taking you to jail! |
The plot device here (and the title - Foyle's War) is that Inspector Foyle is trying to keep law and order in his town, inspite of law and order suffering as a whole because of the destructive force of the war.
The bombs are falling on the town, what is a little burglary?
And Foyle's answer is, the reason the British are fighting the war is to make respect for the law inviolate. Hence the burglar is going to jail (or the corrupt official - take your pick of bad guy or gal) even if bombs are falling.
Wallander
 |
| I'm not ok, you're not ok |
This is the ever popular Scandinavian detective fiction. Bleak, dark, depressing, silent. These are the words that come to mind thinking of the Scandinavian landscape.
While the superficial impression of Kenneth Branagh is a) he does Shakespeare and b) is acting is over the top - in reality, there is no question that he is a true acting star. Not just a star - but one who is a star because he can act.
And Branagh sinks his teeth deep into the bleak, dark, depressing, silent, withdrawn character of Inspector Wallander. It is his acting chops that make this series gripping to watch. Everything about Wallander screams a person you would not want to spend an evening with, for the fear of turning comatose.
But that is the very reason why he makes the character so compelling.
The show is less about amazing detective work and more about Wallander rising above his social ineptitude with his doggedness and commitment to his craft.
Prime Suspect
 |
| We know it's you |
I have written earlier about this series. But even in comparison to this list of 5 'English Detective' series, Prime Suspect stands out as bravura and breaking-out beyond its genre. The mystery is not whodunit - but rather, how is the bloke going to be made to pay? And how is Inspector Tennyson going to fight the male dominated police force at the same time to succeed in this effort. Tough contest between Kenneth Branagh and Helen Mirren - but in my judgement, Helen Mirren wins by a narrow margin.
So, unless your feedback directs me else where first, I might be jumping onto the Adam Dagleish series (although our son is pushing me to try out the new Sherlock Holmes series).
3 comments:
My vote goes to Foyles War, though I haven't seen Prime Suspect ... but I will once we return from Denver. The genre is captivating.
I have not watched but heard of the Last Detective.
And with a little "roaming" license you can watch Poirot - Agatha Christie.
Nicely done.
I don’t have any detective fiction to offer. But if you’re looking for full-on Britishness of a light, satirical nature (a tongue firmly in the cheek of that stiff upper lip), you might try this guy: Book Review: The Overlook Collector's Editions of P.G. Wodehouse .
As the reviewer says in closing, “After all, to open almost any of Wodehouse's books is to open a door into endless summer.”
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