Inspector George Gently

Martin Shaw plays an out of sync copper. He want answers, he wants justice, he wants someone caught but he will play by the rules. He gets paired with a younger partner, John Bacchcus played by Lee Ingleby, who is more interested in getting results than following the rules but "understands" he might learn something from his unwanted mentor George Gently. OK the characters last names may be a bit too much symbolic but their working relationship is well worth watching and the writing is quit good. Getting through the accents might be a push for some but after a few episodes you get the cadence. A good series. And I like the Bacchus character, who doesn't like a flawed character especially one who is a quick study.

I love British drama and police series are my favorite. This doesn't disappoint! Martin Shaw is fantastic as the slightly out of synch but always compassionate lead along with his side kick, Lee Inglebee as the incorrigible John Bachus. I only started watching this show from the beginning a few days ago but am now up to the 3rd season and will binge whenever I can to watch the entire series. It's filmed so beautifully and although I find the "hip" music of the 60s is, as was always the case back then, silly and out of touch, I simply turn down the sound when they get into car chases or whatever. Music of the 60's for some reason, was never used in movies and TV in the 60's, something I never understood then and now even less. I will continue to watch this to the end and will miss it when it's over. I am pretty housebound with an elderly father right now so finding something really excellent and entertaining like this to watch makes life a bit easier. Really excellent!

It's an outstanding Police series set in the northeast in the mid 60's when murderers are still sent to the gallows. Martin Shaw plays Detective Chief Inspector George Gently and Ex Metropolitan Police officer and Lee Ingleby plays a cocky young Detective Sergeant Bacchus. Bacchus is occasionally described as a nasty piece of work and he often is. He's George's bulldog and George is not afraid to set him lose. In 60's terms, George would not be classed as corrupt but he's not adverse to giving a bit of a slap when necessary. He's keen to get the right person locked up. Martin Shaw is worlds away from the smug hypocritical Judge Deed and all the better for it. From my own experience I can say that the series is quite realistic and I have no hesitation in recommending it. I look forward to further episodes

/refers to seasons 1-7/ Yes, like most British crime series, Inspector George Gently is not just solving crimes, it gives a broad overview of vices and virtues, ups and downs around the place the events take place. True, the stuff and solutions are not of equal interest and wittiness, but they seem realistic, not artificially constructed. Unlike some other series, as for private moments, the one in question focuses on the ones of George Gently and John Bacchus (performed masterfully by Martin Shaw and Lee Ingleby, respectively), providing additional background for their thoughts and deeds, but still not filling the screen-time in vain. The only "minus" from me goes to the fact that the main characters remain rather static, their principle do not "open" even after decisive changes in the society; on the other hand, however, it was pleasant to follow the environment characteristic to that era, yet constant smoking jangled my nerves quite a lot :) Thus, a meaty creation, to be recommended to watch in sequence, but not mandatory - there are enough references to necessary moments happened before. I took my time to watch all seasons, and I am contented, although each episode is around 1.5 hours...

This is a high quality, well written series which contains excellent acting and believable plots (well, more believable than "Midsomer Murders" for example). The episodes can be viewed as standard "whodunnits" but also spectacularly reveal the massive changes in law, attitudes and culture in the UK over the past 45 years or so.

My only gripe is that, despite the great attention that is paid to period detail, the writers always make the mistake (not restricted to this series) of scripting the words "against you" in the caution used by a police officer when making an arrest. The UK police caution in such circumstances before 1995 was: "You are not obliged to say anything unless you wish to do so but anything you do say may be given in evidence." The words "used against you" were only ever used in USA. To have used these words in UK could have prejudiced the case.