Finders Keepers

I note that Fay Ripley is the latest to abandon traditional dialogue for a bastardised American version.

I couldn't believe it when she said "For God's sakes", yes with an 's' on sake. At least the English version means something, the Americanism is nonsensical. Why do we pander to potential American audiences? And what's so great about America that we have to copy everything they do?

Next thing we know she'll be washing diapers under the faucet. Take a look in the 'meer' Fay, you're English.

As for the show itself, once again a thin plot line is padded out to 6? Episodes that could easily have been 4 ............Yawn......... zzzzzz(ok...Felt like 6).

It's a blatant ripoff, and we all know of what, don't we?

Casting is fine (except for Neil Morrissey, as he's always creeped me out), dialogue is fine, cinematography is fine, blah blah.

It's fine, it's just the blatant-ness of the ripped-offed-ness is so up in your face that it utterly detracts from everything else.

Perhaps it would be less problematic if everything wasn't just "fine".

Don't you find that the minimum character count on IMBD reviews these days is utterly ridiculous, and that if you did use an AI app to create one, it'd be less problematic? I didn't use an AI, and I'm struggling, TBF. Oh, wait, passed the limit.

Channel 5 have been banging out a load of 4 part dramas with mixed results. Most have been crime dramas but Finders Keepers is more of a black comedy.

Fay Ripley who seems to be in all these C5 shows stars along side Neil Morrisey who along with his future son in law James Buckley, discover buried Roman artefacts worth a small fortune. The find soon turns out to be a curse leading to theft, murder and bribery.

If you can put the glaring plot holes aside you have a half decent enjoyable four hours of television.

The performances are pretty solid throughout and the aerial shots of Glastonbury are truly stunning. 7/10.

Detectorist Martin Stone takes his son in law to be out on a bonding exercise, the pair stumble upon a hugely valuable find, under UK they can't keep it, but they have other ideas, their efforts to sell it lead to major problems.

I really enjoyed this series, the first two episodes are quite amiable, quite light viewing, the third episode however gives us a massive twist, and changes the whole dynamic of the show, transforming it into a thriller.

There's a bit of everything round on here, some intrigue, some tension and definitely a few moments of humour.

This has really been unfairly maligned, and once again I feel as though some or the reviews are based on ten minutes of so, on the whole this was actually quite a good production.

Neil Morrissey is great as Martin, he leads a very capable cast, Brendan Coyle is very good, but not in it for very long.

Definitely watchable.

7/10.

A fairly promising start makes way for a ludicrous penultimate episode followed by a finale with more holes in the plot than could be reasonably expected from a drama about detectorists.

At best, it's daytime tv fodder but with lots of swearing added to make it seem like it's a show for grown ups.

Was it supposed to be a comedy?

The actors, at least the most recognisable ones, all should know better but seemingly don't care; take the money & run?

One actor in particular should be ashamed of wasting his talent & performing to type as requested by the producers whims. If he's reading this, he'll know what I'm referring to (three languages & all you did was squeak!).

Even the music, apparently from Alabama 3, alternates between sounding like Last of the Summer Wine & a cheap horror movie with an obtrusive harmonica score one moment & a creepy organ the next.

Truly dreadful & a complete waste of time.