DCI Banks

The Brits have always known how to create a realistic depiction of daily activities of a police district, without constant shootings and chases, with officers rather "ordinary and boring" than driving luxury cars and wearing fashion clothing... Although there are dozens of frosts-morses-lewises out there, there is always room for more - and DCI Banks is another good result, pleasant to follow also then when the course of criminal activities or solution is not totally to your liking.

Alan Banks is certainly the very leading character, but he is not a lonely wolf, but a team players (with some reservations), depending on his colleagues' judgments and opinions - thus different from Frost or the Swedish Wallander, for example. I have not read any of Peter Robinson's novels, but I find Stephen Tompkinson a talented performer here - particularly bearing in mind that he has had more comedy roles to play... The female detectives, however, tend to remain somewhat sketchy, despite having different looks, approaches and background.

Anyway, a good series recommended to all fond of similar creations, without too much oppressiveness and violence. You might want to watch the episodes in sequence and without episode splitting, otherwise some nuances and events related to the characters' private life may remain misty.

As usual, British shows get the lower end of the scale especially in this genre. This is very suspenseful, real & compelling.

It is well worth your time.

Excellent English crime drama- I am no fan of Caroline Catz, but she does not manage to drag this down with her constant over-acting - Tomkinson and the rest of the cast provide the necessary gravitas, very subtle humour and at times, despair. At the end of each episode, I am left wanting more - always a good sign! Almost up to the gripping drama standard of "Prime Suspect", which also starred Tomkinson in the last episode, I think.

I can't wait to read the books now, even though DCI Banks will forever be S. Tomkinson in my mind now. Hope they show the entire range of episodes here in New Zealand!

Having read the other reviews here I was quite surprised about the negative ones, and the "too predictable" complaints. I find the cast to be really enjoyable to watch, and the stories are interesting and well written. Sure the chief is a little glum here and there, but overall he seems like a relatively happy fellow, even with the reasonable hope of a love interest. There is a minimum of forensic or medical nonsense that makes it hard for someone who knows a little bit about such things to watch without squirming. The interaction with the new DI in the most recent season is fun, and the character actors are very familiar to those of use who watch a lot of BBC. So for open minded viewers my recommendation is to not be put off by the negative comments.

Watched the first episode won't watch another. DCI Bank's emotional expressions were frequently inappropriate, immature for a DCI for sure and downright ridiculous at times. I mean the last scene of the first episode was eye rolling. Then you have the Catz character. One minute

DCI Banks and her are meeting and the next they're drinking and conversing like old lovers. The plot was uneven, all over the place. I can't take this show seriously after that mess. No flow, no depth or believability with characters. Focused on irrelevant aspects and ignored proper tension building and story flow. Probably one of the most disjointed detective shows I've ever seen.