The Chelsea Detective

Wonderful well rounded characters especially for a first season show. I want more. I certainly hope it's renewed and they keep up the quality writing and acting. I just find it so enjoyable. Not too dark. Quirky & coupled with a good story line. Continuous personal drama but completion of "murder of the week" (so to speak) I really enjoyed this show.

Nothing terribly innovative here. Just another interesting detective procedural. The two leads are fun to watch but, surprisingly, lead fairly normal lives. DI Arnold( Scarborough) is struggling with the breakup of his marriage and DI Shamsie (Henry) just had a baby and is making adjustments. But it's all within a normal range and so the emphasis is on the detecting. Their two costars (played by Bankole and Phelps) are a good addition and create a team of uber-competent policepersons. Adrian Scarborough is a revelation. I'm used to seeing him in comic buffoonish roles. He plays it serious here with his cycling, piano playing, dyslexic detective and does it well. The plots are the usual combo of twisty narratives, people lying to the police (sometimes for absurd reasons..."Why didn't I tell you I was at the victim's house five minutes before he was bludgeoned to death? I didn't think it was relevant.") and interrogations accompanied by legal counsel who remain silent and doodle on yellow pads. It's all been done before but it goes down easy. Good show!

I have watched three episodes so far and I will say that it is growing on me. I like the first one and then the second one I was on the fence but the third one got my interest again. I think I like the characters the best and even though the dialogue in parts is not realistic it is engaging and keeps my interest. I also like the photography and getting to see parts of London. It kind of takes me there. I would say it is a solid show and hopefully it will get better with even more character to development.

Just what I expect from a British detective show. No fancy car chases, no blazing gun fights, just solid police work.

I hope there will be more seasons.

Sometimes I'm not wanting different or radical. Sometimes I want easy and familiar and just watchable. This is it, familiar places with just a touch of humour. Sonita Henry is great and a good foil to Adrian Scarborough who plays the DI with a slight weariness that is subtle and smile worthy to enjoy. The plots are easy and it's a distraction that's not too taxing after a working day.