Britbox and Acorn are loaded with odd couple detective series. Quirky/normal; rebel/by-the-book; amateur/professional; old/young, etc. Maybe it all started with the mercurial Holmes and the prosaic Watson. Anglophiles like me will suspend disbelief and go along with most of these tropes. Usually the writing, acting and production qualities are better than a lot of domestic fare.
This time it's a nerdy museum curator-type who wears duffle coats and happens to be one of those Detective Inspectors that seem to be ubiquitous in British law enforcement. He is the sole member of the Heritage Crime department the remit of which includes not just what would be considered "art crimes" but, apparently, any misdeed that might have a picture, statue, song or whatever involved, including good old drawing room-style murders.
In a fairly standard plot device, he pairs up with a young female Police Constable who knows nothing about art but is intuitive and insightful. She becomes a Detective Constable and the department doubles in size.
Like the American NCIS franchise which began as a unit that investigates USN or USMC incidents but degenerated into taking over any crime where the victim had USAA auto insurance, this show jumps right into ignoring whatever mandate the department is supposed to have. Since murders are the funnest crimes to solve our intrepid detecting odd couple jump right in and take charge without a thought of calling in major crimes or the murder squad.
The characters are pleasant enough, if a bit over-written and over-acted. (The DI in his duffle coat almost falls into the river after the DC, who is an expert swimmer and certified sailor suggests they commandeer a rowboat for some forgettable reason.) And the scenery is nice. But the stories are weak. I've watched three episodes and can't remember whodunnit in any of them. I'll keep watching, because I'm one of those Anglophiles. But my expectations have been seriously lowered.
