Murphy's Law

It shines when it stays local. When it tries to dive into international waters like with the Yakuza or the Russian mob, it fails spectacularly. It's easy enough to skip any episode that's not to your liking without missing much of the throughline. The most difficult suspension of disbelief is accepting Murphy undercover as a lounge singer. He's terrible. The show mostly holds up even almost 20 years after its debut. Worth the 2atch if you're not expecting too much from it.

I wasn't sure whether I would love Murphy's Law, the fact is I do. It is gripping and very well structured, perhaps a little bleak at times, but hey Taggart is bleak as well, well sort of. One thing I like about Murphy's Law is how it is shot. The photography is very well done, and the scenery is atmospheric. The music also adds to the gritty and tense atmosphere that is evident in some episodes. And then all this is coupled with some brilliant writing that is gritty yet intelligent, taut direction and interesting and well structured story lines. But I can't write this review without mentioning James Nesbitt in the title role of Tommy Murphy, a great actor who gives a superb performance throughout, bitter and indifferent, yet we love him for those reasons. Some episodes are indeed stronger than others, but it is like that with almost every show ever in existence. 10/10 for a very gripping detective series, and well worth watching for Nesbitt especially. Bethany Cox

My wife and I just completed this series. We really liked it. It is very tense due to the undercover assignments that Murphy gets: one mistake and he is dead. James Nesbitt is great as Murphy.

Interesting, so 7 as a drama, but maybe a 3 for reality. James Nesbitt is compelling. Murphy is an undercover policeman- gets assignments that take 6 months, always dangerous deep cover. He uses his name, the same, in all his undercover- we;l, if he is recognized, at least he isn't changing names. It's cold and stalk gray, not any nice buildings or locations. BBC England produced for Northern Ireland where it takes place. "Murphy has a dark past and fails a psychiatric assessment...and is given 1 more chance". He'd have to be dark with problesm, to go undercover play a criminal and risk his life daily for years on end. But the crime syndicates, criminal enterprises, can't be that insular, that he wouldn't become known. He can't keep reinventing himself. So any truth would have to be a composite of many UCs.

It is impossible that he would work the same area- city, and that no one from before would recognize him, or not know someone who knew him in one of his other capers. He couldn't work a city, without being known as UC. Or suspected police informant. Or known from some previous incarnation. They all went to jail, why are you out? Sometimes they never know who he is. But he testifies in court. Do they say UC whose ID needs to protect his identity. They dont say. But this strains credulity.

Surely the crime world is not that big, and he would have to be found out after one caper to another. .

He complains in one that he has no one and nothing. Is it possible for anyone to live so long in so many deep covers. No wonder he drinks.

He is a rough guy with a big heart for protecting woman, including fellow officers, a drinker (my Scottish friend says, this is not just a stereotype), scrappy. Who believes in justice and law.

Often I don't like the extraneous family stuff, but he is very touhing with his mother and father.

We enjoyed the story lines for awhile. But the show is so dark (literally and story) you strain to watch the screen. The characters play well together which provides much of the humor too. After Series 1 the change from 90 minutes per episode to 55 minutes. This was absolutely a plus.