Law & Order: UK

I will always have a fondness for the US Law & Order shows, and at first I was not sure whether I would like Law & Order:UK. I thought it wouldn't be paced well and wouldn't adapt easily either, a concern I see is shared by other reviewers. So it was a surprise when it worked superbly. It is grittier than the US series and some of it is even more compelling.

At the start there were some slight problems in the dialogue and acting, with some of the writing a tad lumpy and the characters not as well explored as they are now which affected some of the support acting as was to be expected, but it has gotten much better over time. The writing is intelligent and thought-provoking now, and I love the acting of Bradley Walsh, Jamie Bamber and Harriet Walter. The support characters aren't explored as well as the leads, but are acted very well and they and their stories maintain interest.

The pacing is quite good as well, it goes at a moderate pace without feeling too quick or slow. And the story lines are just great too, they are compelling and induce thought and I loved the format of half- police investigation and half-trial and that both parts of each episode are written excellently with the courtroom scenes marginally better in terms of acting.

The camera-work is what makes the show grittier than its US counterpart, while the lighting and locations have great, atmospheric shades to them and the music never feels over-bearing and the main theme is very memorable. Overall, this is a gritty, compelling and great series. 10/10 Bethany Cox

We have become huge fans of L&O UK through DVD--we have seen 8 episodes so far and we're very eager for additional seasons to be released in the NTSC format (right now, subsequent seasons are only on PAL). Even though I live in NYC, the outer boroughs are often treated as second class citizens by our cable companies and we do not have access to BBC America, where the series is shown stateside. The rapport and dialogue between the detectives is realistic and entertaining, and it has been a treat to watch the British court system at work (we had to look up the rules/options re: wigs/robes) and are curious that some statements permitted by the attorneys would surely have earned sustained objections in our courts (of course, this is also TV's stretch) The gritty camera-work and neighborhood locations are effective, the adaptations of US episodes have worked beautifully and the acting across the board has been fine. More DVD's please!

For Law and Order addicts, you will recognize many of the storylines from the US edition. Still fun to watch...

My concern prior to watching this was that the pace and the story wouldn't adapt well to the UK style - The Bill is quite plodding and small scale, but I was pleasantly surprised that, whilst intimate, L&OUK was paced superbly and kept me gripped 'til the end.

The only real gripe is that the DAHDAH's aren't used much....and that titles at each end seem out of keeping with the show: I suppose I'm used to the US version after so many years...

On the Law side Jamie Bamber, using his native accent, was fracking good, but Bradley Walsh was the absolute surprise hit for me: he's an ex-professional footballer (soccer star) who is known as a bit of a naff comic and when he's acted before you see BW not the character - not in this though...

The Order side familiar actors are again viewed as the characters rather than 'oooh he/she was in...' I think this is testament to a great, tight script More of the same please!

The UK version of L&O was great. It was a bit more gritty in London than NYC. Walsh was excellent. I mean you feel as if Ronnie is indeed a DC.

Not sure why some reviews say the writing was not good; there were some excellent episodes like I Predict a Riot, which is as good or better than the original.

I don't care if it is itv or sky or c4 or the BBC but please bring back this show. D Wolf crime drama in London is a perfect concept.