Hinterland

Hinderland is brilliant- many American murder shows pale in comparison. But you have to like beautiful moody landscapes that mirror the people in them. Too many American shows are all about sex,shooting and cute chummy buddy scenes and pretty tourist places. If you don't want to think or be engaged you won't like it. But I find the series viscerally moving and thought provoking-so I love it and can't wait for the next one. The layers of personal history the series unravel and peel back, reveal truths about humanity we sometimes like to forget. The series does not trivialize the flaws and broken parts of the characters, rather the story line uncovers where things went wrong in the first place. True to life, it shows you how easy it can be to go off the rails.

I just binge-watched the first season of the show. Not because it was gripping, or exceptional. Mostly because the episodes (mind you, all have proper movie length) have a drilling undertone to them,that grows on you like the moss on those Welsh rocks you see all over the place.

The set-up is, I would guess, the new neo-noir (at least I would place them there). It kinda sombre, somewhat depressing, especially when you look at the bleak landscape and the crap weather. And it seems all the 'movies' take place in autumn or even winter. The Welsh title is "Y gwyll", the dusk. So, even the colours are kinda dim and gone. That is a real plus.

What really bugs me (and at the same time kept me watching it) are the hints given concerning the characters, both the protagonists, as well as the antagonists, but mostly the protagonists. Little will be told about their motives or the background, and much (much TOO much) will be left to the imagination. However, the characters that suppose to drive the show are, as is the land around them, somewhat bleak and dull, too. Tom Mathias strikes me as a fully-functional, yet utterly depressed. In terms of acting all characters look very real, it's almost like talking to you neighbour.

The movies lack action and purely draw their power from the fact that all involved are somewhat 'broken'. So, if it's some gloomy and depressing real-life crime-drama you want, watch this. And since it's winter in the northern hemisphere, they fit in quite nicely. It's like listening to Norwegian Black Metal, whilst driving through the snowy and desolate peaks of northern Scandinavia. Then you know how this music came about or what kind of mood it is supposed transport. The movies work employing the same tactic, IMO.

One big plus is the slow pace, paired up with nice suspense. Something most movies (or shows) seek to avoid by bright colours, action and flashy detectives. All in all it kind of reminds me of a rural, Welsh/British "True Detective". And the use of Welsh yields some credibility. I am hoping for a second season, and I hope for some more insight into the minds of the protagonists. I'd also like to see some more character development (towards bad or good, I do not care).

(S2 update)

So I finished the second series and I am rather taken with it. The character development is still rather slow, but there is enough to work with in order to get a good read on the characters. Also, I am rather surprised that there is so much crime in such a small community. By now the population of the region it is set in should have dropped significantly ;) We're talking some 70k in the region surrounding Aberystwyth. The filming and directing has improved slightly, IMO. There are, however, some plot strands that feel a bit 'forced'. But it's not terribly bad or outlandish. Especially the tie-ins with older cases. I would have expected something like that much earlier (and on a greater scale) considering the small community (see above). All in all a good and worthy continuation of the series- still dark and depressing. And I've found myself enjoying the Welsh parts; a very interesting language.

(S3 update)

The good news is that the pace of the series has not been changed. Pretty much everything that made it great is still there. The writers did a really good job of both coming up with new cases, as well as weaving those past cases and some new plot twists into the overall arc. I also liked the steady, yet moderate, progression of the character development. It might be just me, but I would say that overall acting has slightly improved - maybe because the supporting roles were fleshed out a bit, not sure though and it just might be a gut feeling. The landscape is still dreary, desolate and depressing - like most people who inhabit it. I really like this about Hinterland!

I have actually increased my rating after season 3 and I hope that I will be able to see more of this. Bravo, BBC Cymru!

I cannot help but love this series.

It is taciturn and bleak - and must have been derived from Scandi-noir. There are some duff episodes, but it continues to redeem itself. Patently, they never film in summer - I cannot imagine that Aberystwyth labours under a perpetual gloom - but like 'The Killing' it always seems brooding and gloomy.

I would like it to be a little more shocking in effect, but suspect it has to be aimed at a mainstream audience so can't tread that path.

It could be more expansive in the intricacies of the plot, and build the relationships of the protagonists - the latter appear to be much the same as episode one regardless of the passage of time.

Whatever, I really, really like it.

I am in Wales, so get this as standard. It is too good to be shown in Wales only and on i-player. Hinterland is one of the best dramas to come out of the BBC for many years. If you love the wave of scandi dramas you will absolutely love Hinterland, filmed in the same way, it is naturally dark and moody, with gritty story lines, and a level of acting that will surprise you and make you want to come back for more. Richard Harrington is massively charismatic as lead character DCI Mathias, and the supporting cast are always equally as good. A word on the filming, it is top notch, beautifully done, but then they were never going to fail with the glorious mid Wales setting.

Well I have to say that the title of the show did not initially grab me and I was guilty of thinking it may be a bit parochial and low key, as compared to some of the blockbuster series around these days but I am glad to admit that I misjudged that badly. Its really captivating to watch as the stories have a real edge to them and the plots are quite involved, as real life can be. I am a big fan of the new run of Swedish and Danish crime films, and this certainly matches them in terms of character development, intrigue and a haunting background that keeps the viewer glued to the screen. I also like the way the first two episodes involve murders with a murky history, similar to the style employed in the award winning Girl with a Dragon Tattoo. It also had a building story presence reminiscent of the excellent Broadchurch series, so I am now a big convert of what they have achieved with this....excellent drama, so please keep the stories going. Watch and you shouldn't be disappointed