Scott & Bailey

If you know Sally Wainwright's writing, this will be familiar stuff. Scott & Bailey follows the various relationships within a police team, focusing on two women, one mature and stable, the other young, talented and often unable to control her personal life. Their boss, another woman (amazingly enough) is tough, sharp and also not without her own personal issues.

It all works remarkably well. The characters ring true, even if they are somewhat exaggerated. The police work takes a back seat a lot of the time, but it's intelligently presented, and more realistic than in most straight cop shows. The perpetrators tend to be mentally challenged individuals, and bringing them to 'justice' is often an unsatisfying business. The acting is superb throughout, which definitely helps.

There are just two flaws worth mentioning. First, there are almost no admirable male characters. Some are major jerks. Several are immature jerks. And one or two are downright evil... and jerks.

Secondly, the view of the police is sanitized entirely beyond belief. This team simply never gets the wrong man, and never fails to zero in almost immediately on the right man - who is generally the obvious candidate. It's just about exactly the view of the police that the police would like you to have, and it simply comes off as too good to be true, given the realistic settings and situations.

It's a slanted view, to be sure, but that's the format. In a less believable show, you'd never question it. Here, the sense of realism is vivid enough that its limits seem a bit jarring. But none of this spoils the fun. Scott & Bailey is a smart, tough and emotionally involving series. Bear in mind that it's basically a very female-oriented soaper, and you'll be thoroughly entertained.

I don't know what others are watching but I'm an actor and I watch a lot of TV and Films (and have been in a lot as well) and this show which my wife and I just finished watching was amazing! Powerful women doing wonderful things without making a big deal out of gender is almost impossible to pull off and almost never happens in American TV. This is what Rizzoli and Isles could have been if they didn't have all the "funny" stuff and if they let their characters be true to themselves. This is what the Closer was at its best but finally I found the writing and the directing and the acting so much better in Scott and Bailey than well any other show of its type on TV on either side of the pond. Get a region free DVD and buy this series and tell me I'm not right. The relationships are sharp (better than Blue Murder which is also a good series) and the stories are valid and dark and the humor works cause it is not forced. The only Detective show I like better at the moment is Luther and it is not quite as good an ensemble show as this one. 10 stars easily

I am thrilled I stumbled upon the first series and episode on PBS! Its heads above any crime drama here in the States. I'm not sure I love it so much because the title characters are women and the boss is also a woman, but it helps! Can't wait until the 3rd series! Hope to see it on my PBS station nit long after it airs in the UK. I've been an avid watcher of shows from Britain. I do not really watch much of shows here. Crime dramas in the US are full of violence, blood and just seem to be going for the shock factor, no substance. Granted Scott and Bailey had their fair share of some blood, but necessary to the plot. Inspector Lewis, Poirot, Wallander, and Morse focus on the process not the gore. I beg of you to allow our PBS channels get the next set of episodes as quickly as possible! Thank you

I was a detective in a Northern force and this show truly captures the atmosphere of the team, the work, the passions, the characters and the full gamut of human life that you are forced to confront. Great to see such real women characters leading the show, all 3 leads are almost too lifelike, these are women I've known. It may still be mostly a mans world, but these women really are out there. Two criticisms, the only flaw in the real life tapestry, the absence of the other kind of policewomen, those that make it hard on this kind..... And why does it have such an unimaginative title, especially when it's really about three women not two! Don't miss the best of British.....

Solid, standard British detective show. Great to see strong female leads in a male dominated field. Amelia Bullmore as DCI Gill Murray is the standout scene stealer. Simply outstanding. The title characters are good, at times over acted. Story lines a bit unbelievable - hard to see why so many men would be obsessed with these two.