Prime Suspect

Prime Suspect is not the usual cop formula. It is hands down one of the best shows I've ever seen. The writing is brilliant, the acting is off the charts, the characters are drawn so specifically and with such nuance it's difficult to fathom it's written, acted and edited in the short amount of time that television allows. You have to pay attention, it is so intelligently drawn and detailed. The boys' club mentality surrounding Detective Jane Timoney is so accurately portrayed, it's cringe-worthy, but the male characters are also fleshed out to be likable. All the characters are flawed realistically and have to confront those flaws and past mistakes through their relationships with the other characters. The humor comes out of the sometimes dark reality of life. There are many scenes that are so unbelievably hilarious coming out of the situation, I've had to watch them over and over. I can't say enough about this show. It shouldn't be compared to the British series. It's a different show and it should be. They seem to base it on the same plot lines and dealings with sexism, but it's not a remake and it doesn't make any sense to even compare the two shows. They're both great and both stand on their own merits. It's unbelievably delicious.

First up, I'm a UK Viewer. Secondly, this is an adaption so don't worry about what they'll do with the old material. It's whole new take and Maria Bello excels in the lead role of Jane Timoney, a slight alteration on the name but no-less a strong female lead.

It's a very special cast as well, Kirk Acevedo (Fringe), Brian F. O'Byrne (Mildred Pierce), Aiden Quinn (Legends of the Fall) and many more work wonderfully as an ensemble cast. This challenges a lot of other cop shows out there at the moment, offering something fresh and intriguing.

You may not like everyone to start with but stick with it, surely that's more interesting than liking everyone straight away and agreeing with the quick viewpoints, slick camera work and so forth. In the days of CSI and all those similar, this is refreshing, gritty, real and I really hope the US - or other countries - start to take to more and give it a bigger chance because at least it's taking risks.

It's also quite brutal in places and makes you question all parts of every character. Well worth your time if you want something intelligent and original. Even if it's another part of La Plante's legacy.

Best ensemble of actors ever to grace a cop show. All seasoned and Maria Bello is a terrific hard hitting actress to push forward the idea of a female led cop show, or any drama for that matter.

Maria Bello can do no wrong in my eyes. This is an Uber American take on the Mirren classic that misses the mark a bit in early episodes but comes into its own around epi five. With a stellar cast, energetic rocker soundtrack and great city energy, I think it's a solid show. The tension of being a fast talking badass female in a male dominant mysogynistic station tracks well to those of us who live through it every day. She's gorgeous, smart, unapologetically assertive and sets the world on fire with a single blond hair flip behind her shoulder. I love this show and I'll always support anything Bello does.

I think the new Prime Suspect is watchable and has some believable aspects. Maria Bello is very good in the role -- except for the hat. (I hate the hat. Way too trendy and cliché.) But comparing this series or disliking it because it wasn't like the Helen Mirren gem does a bit of disservice to the new show and to Maria Bello. Let the new one develop it's own way. As police dramas go this one is not bad.. . I've watched many detective & police dramas: Brit, Canadian, American. Outside of Homicide: Life on the Street (and I won't even mention "The Wire") very few American police dramas have any credibility other than just pure entertainment and distraction or just for looking at pretty people with guns. I've seen four episodes of Prime Suspect so far and though I think Jane's detective counterparts are a bit over the top sexist wise since it is 2011 and I think more respect is given to women these days, that's an area that needs to be developed better. It makes the male cops look really stupid. And homicide cops are anything but. There must be more subtle ways of demonstrating sexism. Use irony instead of sarcasm & meatball comments.