Blackshore

There are so many things wrong with this production. Clichés galore - incompetent local cops, local tycoon who's bribed everybody in town, clinically depressed, mood big city cop forced to return to her home town as a punishment, etc. Unnatural dialogue, uninteresting personal back-story, loads of over- and underacting at am-dram-level, washed-out colours (not even black & white, more grey & grey) what seems almost like fog in every indoor scene, no contrast low resolution images often out of focus, mumbling all around - the list goes on. If I were forced to say something positive about this doom-and-gloom-fest, it would be that it's not quite as bad as Kin or North Sea Connection. Which isn't saying much.

This is an enjoyable series that's definitely worth watching. Lisa Dwan delivers a great performance and looks fantastic in the show, and the general cast are very good too. Murder mystery & history in rural Ireland. Feels pretty authentic and whilst the plot is quite similar to others, it keeps one interested. If you're looking for a crime drama to watch on a winters evening then this does the trick. The theme music is a great bonus - must check out the artist. Major gripe is the choice of young girl to play Fi in the flashbacks. Looks nothing like a young Fi (Lisa). Apart from that - it's good.

If you like Shetland or Scandi Noirs- This is the perfect follow up; Gripping from beginning to end, bingeworthy with plenty of cliffhangers and : A brilliant lead! Rough around the egdes with a past as any proper Detective or DI and then some, they couldn't have found a better actress for this character: Lisa Dwan lives and breathes female Garda Fi" who seems tough as nails, too tough for Dublin even, razor sharp wit and plenty of dark ghosts from the past- but as the story evolves we gte to learn teh reasons for this and a more vulnerable side- Love and trust, for her family, for those around her, that got blown by a shitgun twenty years ago and now unravle to eveal further plots nobody would have thought of.. she portrays such a vast range of emotions with so much rawness and passion and authenticity, that it's hard to believe she is somebody else outside of this. Brilliant actress! The chemistry and development between the lead Guarda (DI) and her rural sidekick are fascinating too. The suitably haunting sensitive gothic folk ditty for the intro: "We the Drowned " by Lisa Hannigan sets the mood for a murder chase that spans 20 years and generations in an Ireland far from American Leprechaun phantasies: Beautiful landscape and the lake as another protagonist under heavy grey skies, cover up the intrinsic network of a too- small community, where everybody is tied to everybody and an unspoken law of "Omerta" to rival the Sicilians- complete with Whiskey Lord who pulls the strings invisibly in a network of debt and guilt.. I hope we will see more of this !

This is really watchable and easy to get in to. Lisa Dwan is very watchable and carries off her role with enough panache to keep you interested.

The supporting cast are all pretty good and do their best with the convoluted plot line. The plot is full of twists and turns but ultimately feels like it's trying too hard to fill out each of the red herring plot deviations.

The last episode feels like it's been written by someone different to the first 5 episodes. It's all Over the place and quite a clumsy unbelievable ending to what had been a satisfying series up until then. I'd still rate it overall as a watchable 7!!

I've watched 5 out of 6 parts here and I'm really enjoying it. Nothing revolutionary it must be said but very solid throughout and I think Lisa Dwan is really on point as tough, ambitious, no nonsense DI Fia Lucey. The entire series is built around her character and she carries it off with aplomb. Looking forward to part 6. Perhaps the plot is a bit needlessly complex and it's hard to imagine a typical sleepy Irish town with so much happening beneath the surface. Still it has plenty of interesting characters on view and the finger of suspicion is shifting in many directions throughout. Bottom line, very decent series.