Craith

Frankly, I don't understand why this is getting bad reviews. I too, watch a lot of British drama, and although the pacing is a little slower than most, it's an extremely well-done series. It does start out slowly, but by the third episode I was totally invested in the story and the characters. The photography and set design was superb, as was the setting. But what I found most compeling was how natural and real the actors all seemed. Everyone seemed to fit their roles perfectly and the lead actress who plays the lead detective is a joy to watch.

Don't pass this one by. No, it's not frenetic. But it has a rare depth and realism that makes it even more enjoyable.

Series Two has some excellent cinematography, placing grim housing estates against a timeless Welsh landscape. The use of Gaelic, too, gives the viewer a feeling that they're observing a foreign world (and I'm from the UK!). Series One, however, is burdened with a clichéd script, and is stretched out far too long. Rather than the seductive bleakness of Scandi-Noir, there's an atmosphere of unappealing drearyness. Series Two proceeds the same way (I was prepared to give up!), then makes a remarkable turnaround near the end. The conclusion presents a chillingly accurate depiction of a sociopathic youth. There's also a genuine sense of pathos and tragedy - in the way that deprived neighbourhoods can breed this criminal type, and in the devastating effects of their behaviour on the immediate community.

After all the Scandinavian noir rip offs and serial killer mythology it was nice to see a straight forward rendition of evil. A female detective with no quirks or neuroses, and a monster with a human face. It's not for the shallow hearted. It is necessarily slow, it is 3/4 in Welsh, and it is bleak in it's depiction of rural Wales. But it tells it 's story by blessedly avoiding all the usual serial killer tropes. No rituals, no symbols to be decoded, no need to call the FBI, and no psychological prattle about motive.It's not a whodunnit, or a whydoneit, just a head on depiction of the banality of evil. With a mother from Hades.

We've always struggled in Wales to produce quality drama but I have to say.. This was an impressive effort.. 8 out of 10

1. It was lovely to hear the Welsh language spoken. 2. Wales is beautiful. 3. The show was an interesting unfolding of the story. 4. Some of the episodes were so dark that they were hard to watch.

If you like these things ^, this is the show for you. If you don't like a dark, slow story, then skip it.