Dalziel and Pascoe

'Dalziel and Pascoe' is one of the greatest television programmes of all time. Based on the books by Reginald Hill, the show follows the work of Superintendent Andy Dalziel (Warren Clarke) and DI Peter Pascoe(Colin Buchanan), as they investigate and solve murders. Despite their obvious differences in personality and outlook, Dalziel and Pascoe soon become an effective partnership, and good friends. The show has certainly evolved over the many years it's been on our screens, with most of the early episodes being close adaptations of the books, whereas recently the writers have thought up original, and often superior story lines for the show. What really sets this series apart from other modern detective dramas is its gritty realism and complex plotting. With every episode of 'Dalziel and Pascoe' you are guaranteed an unpredictable and intelligent mystery, played out by excellent actors in atmospheric and realistic locations.

Something happened to those fabulous British crime and cop shows. Most of them finished and other than repeats, nothing much has taken their place.

I'm talking about the movie length series where we had coppers that no matter how tough the exterior, underneath was a genuine understanding of the human condition. There was usually just one murder to investigate, but they were always realistic investigations.

I don't count the Miss Marple's or things like "Midsomer Murders" with their endless novelty murders, and not "Death in Paradise", which depends a lot on the exotic location, an eccentric British detective and Josephine Jobert in shorts.

The ones I am talking about started out based on novels. "Morse" morphed into "Lewis" and now "Endeavour", but we also had "Wallander", then a throwback to another era with "Inspector George Gently". However we still have "Vera".

"Dalziel and Pascoe" belongs with this group. In a way it was one of the most complex. The best series are buddy movies. More effective than the lone hero, I am surprised more shows don't use the format. In a way Andy Dalziel (Warren Clarke) and Peter Pascoe (Colin Buchanan) are almost like brothers. Peter is more refined than Andy who can be rude and crude, and they often fall out usually with disapproval written across both their faces, but these guys are there for each other when it counts. Their relationship, almost co-dependence, even outlasts Peter's marriage.

Some of the stories are better than others, but the writers have nailed what makes these characters so appealing. It's their empathy, and their exposure of hypocrisy in high places. Humour was definitely a strong point.

Nearly all those series ended for various reasons and it wasn't necessarily low ratings. Sometimes the stars had had enough, and sometimes it was through whim. Occasionally a series "jumped the shark". You can usually tell when that happens; one story gets stretched across a whole season. "Hinterland" did this and is now gone. "Shetland" is doing it; a series that was slow, is now slower. "Dalziel and Pascoe" didn't do that; it actually left us hanging. But of course Warren Clarke is now gone.

There are few heirs to those shows. "Manhunt" with Martin Clunes, but episodes are few and far between. "Endeavour" and Vera plough on, but I can't help feeling an era has ended.

Finally got around to watching the first 7 seasons on Britbox here in the US. Love the cast and hope that the channel will have all the seasons at some point as I hated to let go of the characters. My only complaint was to do with the editing, which seemed to stick scenes together in an unrelated manner that was very confusing at times. The endings of a few of the episodes were also not very defined as there did not seem to be a proper explanation given throughout each episode as how it all fitted together! Left me wondering what the point of the story was. Even with its not so positive points, it's a great series to watch, especially if you know the Yorkshire area well.

We are in the middle of season 7 at the moment in Sweden, and I've been watching it since season 4. And I must say that I've liked what I've seen so far. Every summer they show Midsomer Murders on Swedish television, and I USED to enjoy that show until I found this masterpiece. Here the characters and environments are more realistic, the plots are more complex and interesting, and the endings are not alway crystal clear, which, for the thriller-interested viewer, is quite satisfying. The ongoing Dalziel-Pascoe relationship is probably the best in its genre, and Dalziel's one-liners sometimes make you laugh your head off! I hope they will continue to show Dalziel and Pascoe in Sweden, although I don't think it's well known here. It's as good as Frost, and much better than the latest seasons of Midsomer Murders. UK can certainly make my evenings a lot more fun.

There are many strong contenders (in particular "Frost" and "Foyle's War"), but having seen many British crime shows, I think this has to be the best overall. A wonderful cast (including the minor parts), realistic plots, magnificent and varied settings, and moments of deep drama and feeling, often tragic, even epic. And there's the humour, while Dalziel is a one-off, sublimely played by Clarke. I am watching the entire series for the second time and enjoying it even more than the first. A sublime TV achievement.