Vienna Blood

I really enjoyed the first episode of this new BBC1 one detective series. Bringing a young doctor who has studied Freud to help the detective solve a bizarre string of murders makes for an exciting beginning! I didn't know any of the actors but the wonderful cast and settings around Vienna circa 1900 made for an excellent production. Can't wait to see the rest of this compelling series.

Sure, this one has a lot of thanks to do to Sherlock Holmes, but that is also in the book series, that this series is based on. Good atmosphere, stunning environments. If you love periodic detective dramas, this one could also be for you.

Not for the unsophisticated block-buster fans or the action movie addicts. This superb, refreshingly different, historical who-done-it series takes a little bit of work to fully enjoy. It's not popcorn and candy cuisine, and it requires a degree of digesting.

It is quietly funny in places and very disturbing in others, the crumbling Empire and undertones of Nazism and not so much the gore are what I found to be the bits that left an aftertaste .

The main characters are very accessible. believable and quietly colourful. The casting, acting, directing, styling, cinematography, and for the most part the story lines were of a very high quality.

I am hooked, please sir can I have some more?

ADDENDUM: On reading some of the critical reviews, I felt I should add a further note to my very brief review in order to help place the series in a little sharper relief. One of the complaints I read was that the story lines were rather too simple, another complained that the series was slow moving.

The prime value for me in this excellent series is in enjoying the texture of the work. It is best not to view and to try to apprehend a grand master painting in the same way as one might set about enjoying a Mickey Mouse cartoon.

I loved the care taken with settings, camera angles, lighting, the colour balance etc. I loved the way both the visuals and story details were gradually unfolded and the characters allowed to evolve. My wish was rather to have some more time to explore the places, the times, and to get to know a little more of the intriguing characters.

Caveat emptor - If you want candy floss - look elsewhere.

I have been hugely impressed by Vienna Murders, three episodes of absorbing, exciting, and hugely enjoyable drama.

This show was bound to draw comparisons with Sherlock, given the associations that's understandable, but that is no bad thing, Sherlock in its heyday was thrilling viewing, this had the same vibe.

Think Murder Rooms crossed with Sherlock to get an idea of the tone. The actual crimes are very dark and macabre, the crime fighting duo are superb, the pair play off one another incredibly well, and are well supported by all.

Production values are superb, it has a lavish, big budget feel, the first episode in particular looks incredible.

I loved all three, but perhaps favoured the second one, it was a wonderful story, but the other two were excellent also.

A shame we only had three, but I understand why, it's obvious that these cost a lot to make, and took a long time. Well worth it though, I just hope we get some more in the future.

Gripping and utterly entertaining. 9/10

I loved the setting in Vienna which highlighted the beautiful architecture which was a setting that held and supported the characters incredibly well. Each episode was a slow burner composed of many layers which, little by little, kept the viewer captivated and drawn deeper into each episode as it unfolded. I loved each of the three storylines and really warmed to the two main characters.

I sincerely hope that there will be further episodes?