The Vice

This was a fantastic series which is sorely missed, I suspect, not just by me, but by millions. Pat Chappell is an unlikely hero, unlovely, crumpled and middle-aged, but with such intensity and charisma that he oozes attractiveness. Ken Stott brought such ferocity to the role and showed himself for the unbelievably superb actor he is. He has a heart as big as a mountain. He cares, he loves the victims of the sordid crimes he has to deal with. If he has a fault, it's that he cares too much. This proves his undoing in the end. He has the habit of becoming personally involved. He is unable to keep his personal and professional life separate.

Aside from Stott, Marc Warren is worthy of attention. He plays Dougie, Chappell's flawed sidekick. Warren shows the vulnerability and pain of his character magnificently.

I usually dislike crime procedural dramas, but "The Vice" stands out with its supreme actors and heartbreaking stories. It depicts a bleak modern world of anonymity and evil; the evil of sexual crime. But it's saved by the dedication and compassion of the officers who try to combat it.

I always think the mark of brilliant fiction is if you can remember it years later. One episode in particular got under my skin - "Sons - Part 2" (S1E4). The ending.is the most heart-rending and desolate piece of TV I have ever seen and stays with me now, nearly 30 years later.

UK cop shows are exemplary at portraying the reality of police work and especially at uncovering the ineptitude and corruption of police officers and detectives. However, this series goes over the top. It's as vile in many episodes as the criminals it contains. Stott, known for his explosive, temperamental acting style, goes WAY over the top here. He screams, yells and berates when he's in a good mood. When he's not, it's almost comical the way he explodes in anger.

This is especially sad considering the plots, direction and writing are all quite fine otherwise. Too bad there aren't more moments of levity or real compassion to overwhelm the tantrums galore.

this is a 30 minute show stretched to 60 using bad editing and holding shots of people thinking for ages....the same problem with 24, i.e. lots of shots of Sutherland walking IN CAR PARKS, going upstairs etc....

lots of tits and ass though as the subject matter is indeed vice in all its manifestations....acting is okay. Writing is okay, but the soundtrack is too schmaltzy for the show... strings and slow piano notes held for a longtime

overall they stretched the budget with tricks that in the end don't work....

Ken Stott as Rebus had his foibles and issues and certainly was convincing as that character, and here he plays basically the same 'type'. This is neither original nor terribly written, but it feels and looks 'tired', as in: we've seen this before. The acting by most who appear is generally top-notch, but the dark and graphic nature of the main theme of 'vice' is just a bit much. Do not watch this before bedtime. I admit that the subject matter and giving so much airtime to deviants and abusers makes me cringe and does not constitute 'entertainment' for me. Although crime and police dramas are often really enthralling and can stretch your imagination at times, this particular series was just a bit too gritty for my tastes. It's not badly made or overly violent, but it totally lacks any light moments or humour. And the relationships all come across as fractured. Not a fun time.

The subject is vice, of course, and this show never misses an opportunity to sin away with gusto. I feel for the actors who have to artificially hump away, leering and licking in close up, but Ken Scott's scenery-chewing is worse than Al Pacino in "Scent of a Woman", and I didn't think it was possible to top that.