Hope Street

Please don't judge this on the first two episodes. It gets much better, and by episode five it tootles along nicely.

The temptation to switch off is almost irresistible at the start when several seasoned actors (who should know better) ham it up and let everyone else down. They eventually calm down and remember to act for modern television rather than an amateur stage. It is interesting to see the dynamic between three key relationships. In each one a strong, nuanced performer is paired with someone doing exaggerated slapstick. Perhaps that's intentional but I'm my opinion it doesn't work well.

Very well done to the crew who must have had great patience to film almost exclusively in sunny weather. Sun, sea and sand make it a show to look forward to.

If you've given up, please tune in and stick with it.

Such a shame that the writers /producers think we are that dense that they have to continually show the location frontage to give us a clue as to where the next scene is staged !?

I lost count of how many times they screened the Police station, Commodore pub front and even interview room 1 , not sure if they have an interview new room 2 yet , not seen tibia don't think ?

The sea front scenes are great, but even they are repeated times over.

I think if I did a stop watch on scenes acted and scenes repeated, the times would not be that far apart from each other , or perhaps a little more acting would grab the minutes !

Like the show, Apart from the above......

This series isn't complex, it isn't high entertainment but it isn't boring or terrible either.

The whole group of quirky characters seem like people you know or have met, and it's easy to care about them. Yes, at times it's a little soapy, but you can't help watching and caring about the outcomes.

All in all, it's very pleasant and a nice hour spent, kind of like Born and Bred.

I've only just started the series. So much seems good, but they could use some subtlety: they have made the dialogue and characters so extreme. I just hope it improves.

The reviewers who suggested waiting were right. It is definitely light, but I do not think the writing or the acting are bad and I will continue to watch. There are times when light sweetness is a necessary respite.

I enjoy watching this show as a break from the hardcore crime I often get caught up in watching. The town is a beautiful spot, shown vividly in the aerials at the start of each program and there is a cast of characters that you might see in any small location where people all know one another. Finn, the head of the local police, is a smart, down to earth guy with an on-again off-again marriage, who struggles with PTSD and the demon whiskey. His mother Concepta is the town busybody who takes on all comers who don't toe the line, as she sees it. Make no mistake, there is crime but it's the crime they can deal with because everyone knows everyone else and it doesn't take long to nab the culprit. After a few viewings, you get to know them all and enjoy watching the cast as much as the stories.