The Vice

I have only watched series 2. The plots are interesting enough - but really, they are almost beside the point. Yes, there are social issues, there are personal issues, there is some suspense, some romance and not hard to figure out plot twists. Also there is this big question. What always baffles non-British is why do British police (in TV series) so often go into knowingly risky, if not potentially fatal situations, unarmed and not backed up. It happens time and time again. It happens here. It happens in other British police, crime, legal series.

So, what is it that makes The Vice - so good? What impressed me was the very high quality of the actors. Their ongoing performances are stellar. There is a constant upward moving arc in character development, in their subtleties, and in the connections they make with their audience. Its ensemble casting at its best. Ken Stott is a master in every way. David Harewood and Caroline Catz are equally intriguing in their roles. The secondary characters are invariably terrific. Highly recommended.

Ken Stott as Rebus had his foibles and issues and certainly was convincing as that character, and here he plays basically the same 'type'. This is neither original nor terribly written, but it feels and looks 'tired', as in: we've seen this before. The acting by most who appear is generally top-notch, but the dark and graphic nature of the main theme of 'vice' is just a bit much. Do not watch this before bedtime. I admit that the subject matter and giving so much airtime to deviants and abusers makes me cringe and does not constitute 'entertainment' for me. Although crime and police dramas are often really enthralling and can stretch your imagination at times, this particular series was just a bit too gritty for my tastes. It's not badly made or overly violent, but it totally lacks any light moments or humour. And the relationships all come across as fractured. Not a fun time.

I enjoyed this series and watched all episodes. I was pleased when Kett Stott disappeared as I was getting tired of his character, anger and poor decision making.

Someone who has stayed too long in Vice. Some of the vice officers should have been removed as they were clearly not suited to that unit-Kirsty, Stewart and the other new constable (who likes to sample the prostitutes are clearly not Vice material. Joe is not a great leader and perhaps above his ceiling as an inspector and has difficulty making good decisions. However, the show goes on. Vice is a difficult area for anyone to work in. The acting all around was very good and the situations for the most part were believable. Tim Pigott-Smith is very good in his role but I was amazed that he went from a Sergeant about to retire in two weeks to an Inspector and then a Chief Inspector without writing any of the promotion exams and not retiring.

This is one of the cringiest series I've ever watched. I don't know if it was just the years it was made in or the subject matter but it's really hard to watch. I've never been a fan of old men attempting to seduce MUCH MUCH younger women maybe that's exactly how prostitution game works but even the "good" guys give me a major ick. Maybe it's just me being naive but these police officers in The Vice shouldn't be working in Vice. I would think they'd be transferred to another unit. Chief Inspector Frank Vickers is by far the scummiest excuse for a human being and how the hell is he still in charge of anything by season 5. The trope of making ALL the female characters all stupid and needing rescuing is a trope that needs to die. Only watch this series if you have a strong stomach.

this is a 30 minute show stretched to 60 using bad editing and holding shots of people thinking for ages....the same problem with 24, i.e. lots of shots of Sutherland walking IN CAR PARKS, going upstairs etc....

lots of tits and ass though as the subject matter is indeed vice in all its manifestations....acting is okay. Writing is okay, but the soundtrack is too schmaltzy for the show... strings and slow piano notes held for a longtime

overall they stretched the budget with tricks that in the end don't work....