Suspects

The first review I read of this show was not positive, and I don't agree. It seems quite authentic to me, and I like the idea that the cast is not exactly scripted. Obviously the actors have to be taught some police lingo, and have probably been coached on how to handle certain types of people. I like the actors, and any hesitations or camera movements don't bother me. I watch primarily British crime and mystery shows (as well as those from Canada, Australia and New Zealand), because those made here aren't nearly as well done or interesting. Crime shows here feature, it seems to me, only beautiful women and handsome men. That's not how life is! Women in their 30's are not likely to be police superintendents. Helen Mirren, a stunning actress, did a fantastic job in the Prime Suspect series. She was shown without a lot of makeup, a bit tired, and it felt so real, not fake. That's how I think of Suspects as well. And many other British crime shows. Keep them coming! I'll give it a 10!

I just find this series dull and repetitive. Constantly in interrogation with the "suspects". I always laugh that the "solicitors" NEVER say a thing... Just sit there and act like they are taking notes. Totally predictiable. Seems like every episode is the same. Dont like the video format either. My girl on the other hand loves that. Just not my thing. Boring.

Makes a nice change from the formulaic US-style crime dramas with their monologues and maverick cops, pieces to camera and complete absence of false starts, hesitations and incompletions.

The performances (I wanted to say 'scripts', but that doesn't really apply here in the usual sense) are well-judged to contain just enough of the jargon and officialese that marks the dialogue out as belonging to the context of police work and makes it feel believable, but not so laden with it that the actors fall into that pat delivery where emotion has to be overplayed to break through the sheen.

Having a degree of improvisation seems to free the performers up to be both emotive and small-scale; understated and authentic.

(Full disclosure: I do fancy Damien Molony)

I absolutely love this show.

The only thing I don't like, is the fact that Channel 5 mess around with the episodes and when they are shown. They commissioned 10 episodes for season 1, so they should have shown them in the order they were made. The 7 other episodes should have made up season 2.

I did however like the change to 2-part stories. Would be better if they did them here and there in the series.

Roll on more episodes!

Any idea when season 4 is being shown?

I can't wait much longer!

This won't be everyone's cup of tea. But it definitely is mine. Never before has there been a more convincing TV show, in terms of its plots, dialogue and characters, and this is largely down to its unscripted format and documentary-style filming. Naturally, there's never going to be award-winning artistic cinematography or Hollywood-esque dramatic lines, but that's what makes this show different. You get utterly transported into the working lives of the three detectives, as if you're a fourth party watching over their shoulder.

With the exception of the first and second episodes of the second series, each episode has its own crime to be solved, meaning that there's no grand story arc to follow, and you can dip in and out of the series; missing an episode is no problem.

It's also a breath of fresh air that there's no personal rubbish with the main characters. Sure, sometimes a case gets a little close to home on the occasion, and DI Martha Bellamy noticeably has pictures of her kids on her desk - little touches of believability like that - but other than that, the focus is on the plot and catching the criminal. As it should be.

As someone who has grown up watching Poirot, Sherlock, and countless other crime-solving dramas, you'd think they'd have had enough making these things, but nevertheless the plots keep coming, and the plot twists in this show are actually unpredictable. You yourself are a detective, trying to thread the clues together alongside Jack, Martha and Charlie, and it's certainly a tense ride.

I feel this show will 'revolutionise crime drama', as The Guardian has said. Although the format is foreign and takes a moment to get used to, it's something I don't regret watching. Well done, Channel 5.