Red Rock

I will keep watching despite my huge irritation regarding McGonigle getting away so long with his heinous behavior on this show. Even I would know how to use my smart phone to record conversations and video of important liaisons depicted in this series. It's completely unbelievable that a cop would be too incompetent in this day and age to take proactive steps after being almost beaten to death. Come on!

The good news is that this series does feature good acting, and lotsa cliff hangers, just as any self-respecting soap opera should. The bad news is that, much like "The Bridge" did to El Paso, Texas, USA, "Red Rock" shows (imho) Ireland and the Irish people in a very unflattering light. Gawd, these people are stupid and most of them are cowards, as well! I can't believe how many of them choose to do the wrong thing, over and over! And, then they compound their errors with even more errors!

I never thought I'd see any show where a Junkie shows more clarity of thought and courage than other, supposedly clean and normal people! Conor, a heroin junkie, is the only one who dares to face the thoroughly despicable Brian McGonigle in his own lair, and speak out against him.

We can't stop watching, but we are continuously amazed, mystified, and confused by the idiocy of the many characters! Watch at your own risk.

I couldn't get enough of this show the first two seasons. There were likeable as well as unlikable characters. In season 3 the only characters who dominate the storyline are the unlikeables. Spending time with Keith or Bridget Kiely is not fun or enjoyable. Gone are the two Hennessy sons as well as Claire and instead we're stuck with their mother Patricia. I could give more examples but for me I like to spend my time with people I like. Season 3 doesn't provide that for me. It's kind of a miserable experience watching it. Lowering my rating from a nine to a seven because I did like the first two seasons a lot.

I *hate* soap operas. I hate daytime drama. I wouldn't be caught dead watching an American soap opera and had I known Red Rock was a daytime drama, I would never, ever have even downloaded the first episode.

Let me say, I'm truly grateful I didn't know, because this is a great show. It's a lot more NCIS than it is Days of Our Lives.

I've given up watching anything American other than sci-fi shows, and have been scraping the depths of my Amazon Prime account for great international shows. Red Rock is definitely, wonderfully binge-able watching. The characters are flawed and real. The relationships are complex, and nobody is television "perfect." No blonde bombshells with vapid, overworked makeup, here. The cast seems to have been chosen because they have their own faces, and because they can...gasp...actually act. Villains you love to hate, lovers you love to love..Shakespearean tragedies...Red Rock has them all.

Episodes are like chips, you can't eat just one. Only 25 minutes long, I'll watch one episode and find myself, hours later, on episode 25. It's not deep or intellectual, but Red Rock will keep you entertained for hours and hours. I highly recommend it.

Why do I watch Red Rock? Why do I look forward to the next episode? Well, this show is crisply paced and it's fairly well acted. Ultimately, I have to like (at least one of) the characters, and I have to root for someone. Here, Red Rock is solid. From Garda Cleere to Det. Tyrell to Supt. McKay, Red Rock features regular folks -- they all have issues, just like I do -- whom I'd want as neighbors here in New England, folks I'd be honored to sit down and share a pint with in Ireland.

Of course, there's evil in Red Rock, and the police, plus some of the other townspeople, do battle in back alleys and hallways, on street corners and mobile phones, sometimes with criminals and sometimes with each other.

It's the details -- looks of anguish or triumph, phrases packed with anger or angst, with big, broad troubles like murder and pedophilia sharing the canvas -- that make this drama pop. For a soap opera, it surely seems real to me, so I care.

Well done. There's room for growth to be sure, but I want to see more. (nearly 8 out of 10)