Virdee

This had a lot going for it. Especially the location in Bradford and the unusual characters involved.

The acting was pretty good.

But just a few things let it down - I'm not sure if it was the directing or the director of photography but why oh, why focus on a coffee cup in the last scene?

Why oh why leave the door open when you're about to do something nefarious?

And surely everybody has seen silence at the lambs now. And certainly the writers had. So wouldn't it be sensible to come up with something a little bit different?

Or at least introduce some humour around it?

I started liking some of the characters but by the end I was pretty bored with them. Again, too many lingering shots of handsome faces.

And repetitive dialogue.

Nice try - try again please!

Don't judge in the first episode. Keep watching as it does take a little while to get into the characters and the story, then before you know it you are drawn in and you get taken on a great journey. Raw and gritty, the tension builds up nicely and It's full of action and lots of thrills. It also has some very emotional and thought provoking scenes giving a good balance and understanding of the characters. Feel that the main actor grew into his character and he gave a stellar performance. The main actors are cast really well and all the interactions between them set up the foundations of the story line. Absolutely brilliant! Thoroughly enjoyed it and was sat on the end of my seat. Couldn't wait for the weekly watch, but had to binge watch it on iPlayer! Story is very well written and complete and the ending leaves it very nicely set up for the next series and I can't wait!

Excellent BBC drama/crime series. Its different, explosive and the acting is superb, especially from Aysha Kala, playing the wife of Harry Virdee. She plays the role so well, and without giving anything away you really get an insight into their culture as well as playing an innocent part in Harry's busy work life.

I would say expect the unexpected in this series, it really gets you on the edge of your seat once the drama starts unfolding and you get hooked. Its not all drama as you do get to follow the personal lives of the characters as well. I really enjoyed it and I would highly recommend watching the show.

Detective Harry Virdee desperately tries to track down a vicious killer, one with sadistic methods.

First of all, some of these reviews, I have to question if they're based on the whole series, or ten minutes of episode one.

If you're missing Luther, this may just give you your much missed fix, there are certain similarities, it's high octane, action packed, gritty, violent, and we have a charismatic, maverick Cop.

Stick with it is my advice, it's perhaps a little slow to get going, but when it does, it transforms into a gritty, addictive series. Episode 4 sees a big switch up, that's where it really does hit top gear.

Expect plenty of violence, and a couple of grim sequences, I haven't actually seen scenes like this on The BBC since the last run or Luther.

Bradford, The City of Culture plays a huge part, and it looks exactly what it is, a working class, Northern City.

Staz Nair is excellent as Virdee, and if you're a fan of handsome guys, there's no shortage here! At times Aysha Kala really is the star of the show, and Saima is a truly fascinating character, although there's no shortage of those, Harry's father and brother in law, Riaz both play a big part.

I just wish Elizabeth Berrington had played a more active role, such a talented actress, she seems to get better and better.

9/10.

Going through the shows and films that are coming out, I saw this one advertised on the BBC and decided to watch the new crime drama Virdee. I got through the 6 episodes over the last couple of days and here is my review of the show. The premise of the shows sees a police detective attempt to find a killer who is targeting the Asian community while dealing with his own demons.

Main Character Staz Nair plays Harry Virdee and he is fantastic in this show. He absolutely nails it as this hard boiled cop and he was a character that I really wanted to root for. He gives a really strong well rounded performance that fits the overall feeling of the show.

Supporting Characters Vikash Bai plays Riaz Hyatt who is an unlikely ally of Harry and is also involved of the shady parts of Bradford. He is great and I really liked the dynamic between him and Harry and how the show does a great job of building their dynamic and relationship.

Aysha Kala plays Saima Hyatt, who is Harrys wife on the show and she is also great. I really believed in their relationship and the two of them have great interactions and story progression that makes them both strong characters.

The rest of the characters come from either Harrys work or both Harry and Saima's families who don't get along. Everyone does really great jobs in their roles whether they are big parts of the show or small parts. They make this feel like an authentic show that delivers on what it promises.

Story The Story is good. There is a real mystery about who Harry is chasing, mixed with family and personal situations that feel realistic and a bit fresher then expected. However, I didn't find the reveal who was the killer to be that interesting and certain elements of the plot didn't seem that important and like it kind of fizzled out.

Script The script has some smart writing and creates interesting characters to populate this show and aid in these great performances. But sort of linked above, I don't think the shows actual story and structure was great and was the part of the show that could have been improved.

Style The show looks great, it really encapsulates the city of Bradford. The show is violent and moves at a great pace that I kept wanting to watch and became hooked. The action scenes are well filmed and the grit really adds a lot to the show.

Overall Overall, Virdee is a great sleeper hit and a show that should be watched. I had a great time with Virdee and I hope we do get more from this show in the future and I would say, give this show a chance I think people will really enjoy it.

Rating - 8/10.