Inspector Lynley

Great stories, good acting and compelling but somehow I am so down after watching these.

It's a very good series, one that seemed to run for longer than it's twenty three episode run.

Based on the novels of Elizabeth George, the Series saw Highly educated, suave Inspector Lynley solve crimes alongside his colleague DS Havers, a little more down to Earth. Known for being hard to work with, Havers would form an unlikely, strong bond with Lynley.

I like the earlier episodes best, they feel more raw somehow, the later series are still good, but feel a bit too polished.

The acting was always great, I loved both Small and Parker, there were many strong guest performances throughout, Sophie Ward in particular.

It ran its course, and ended on a strong episode, it's not up there with Morse, Endeavour and Vera I would say, but it's not far off. 8/10.

My review is based Season 1 - 4.

We really enjoyed the first two seasons, Season 3 Lynley became increasingly annoying and by Season 4 he was completely unlikable. Even though the character had a privileged upbringing he wasn't an arrogant so-and-so the first season but was by the end of the 4th.

The character was painfully rude to colleagues, especially Barbara. She had to take the brunt of his sulking and arrogant behavior all the while doing the real police work. I don't expect the main character to be without flaws but I do want to root for them, I stopped caring about him mid-way through the series. Too bad the show wasn't The Inspector Havers Mysteries, she was marvelous.

I like the stories and the contradiction in characters with Lynley and Havers. It would happen and it gives a broad view of the crimes and their details rather than having two people from the same background. They have their problems but work together well in solving the mysteries. Sharon Small is a favorite of mine anyway but I like Nathaniel a lot too. I recognize the Jensen Interceptor in the first lot but what is the red car he drives later on. The "Helen" character is a dead loss and superfluous in the extreme. She gets In the way and contributes zilch. I like the series a lot, the stories are complex and different. A few of the episodes are exceptional.

I have really enjoyed this series. I have not read any of the books so I cannot comment on how true it is to them and really do not care. As a stand alone series I love all of the characters and I especially think Nathaniel Parker is a beautiful man and he and Sharon Small have an excellent chemistry. It is a dark show and the characters are neither perfect nor brilliant and they solve crime the old fashioned way. In other words, it is very non-Hollywood. I don't know how indicative they are of how crimes are investigated in Britain but I assure you CSI isn't even remotely close to how things are done in the US. I also like that the characters are not in their 20's and are mature, seasoned people. This is the only series that I have actually purchased. I cannot praise this show enough. I did not give it 10 stars simply because I know it isn't perfect.