55 Degrees North

Given how much crime drama is on TV, I don't know how programs avoid using genre formulae and "cliches" - but this show has a charm of its own. I was pleasantly surprised by it.

The charm is due in large part to Don Gilet, who provides an attractive focal point. Clichés though they are, I like the "chalk and cheese" relationship with the old-timer in uniform; the urbane at-home mentor; and the sexual tension with the lawyer (although I like the flirting with the policewoman better).

Themes of corruption and racism add some edge to the mix.

I've only been through Newcastle a few times - but the night settings not only add to the mood of this show, they also give the city an allure that might not come across so well in daylight.

We've just had the first series here in Australia. I hope it continues.

I didn't even bother to watch this when it first started. Not another cop show, I thought. Just what the world needs. But after my mother said she'd seen it and said it was good, I thought I'd give it a try. Thankfully they don't make such a big deal of the racism issue although you know it is there. And whilst I agree that Nicky Cole is perhaps somewhat too good to be true, he isn't flawless. He makes mistakes and although he means well, he doesn't always manage to do the right thing. The one area where the series does fall down is the development of the Dervla Kerwan character, who is given too little to do. Perhaps the possibility of a relationship between her character and Don Gilet's was too obvious and a cliché as someone has already mentioned. Frankly, they could get rid of her character and it would make no difference to the show at all, so little impact she has made. This is no reflection on Dervla Kerwan, who is a good actress but she should get rid of her agent for making her take the part as it does nothing for her, especially as she is wiped off screen by Emma Cleasby's Sgt Brookes who is a much more vibrant character and is given probably more screen time to boot. Cleasby makes a great impact here and should be promoted to the leading female role next time round as she and Gilet have much better chemistry together.

I know this will sound stupid, but I don't understand who Erol is to Nicky. His brother? His father? Why do they live together with Mattie? I missed the beginning of the series and any explanations they might have given.

I am enjoying the broadcasts of this on the BBC America channel, though with British series I am never sure how much delay there has been since the episodes were shown in the U.K.

The actors are quite good and although the episodes are fairly plot driven, there aren't as many clichés as I might have feared.

Don Gilet brings a real subtlety to the role, and I find his interactions with Dervla Kirwan to be some of the more interesting of the show. George Harris provides a sort of moral weight and depth to the series. I hadn't seen either of these actors before and I am quite impressed.

OK so i read the last post about the series, and while i agree that this program has a lot of clichés in it that doesn't make it a bad program.

Now-a-days too many programs and films give you either an anti hero or a hero who is not clean cut, sometimes its nice to have a hero who does always win in the end.

What i see as the major selling point of the program is the overall story, DS Nicky Cole moves to newcastle after he informs on his senior officer in London on corruption charges, when he arrives (he moved police departments too so now he works in the newcastle police) he find out that his new senior office may have knowen his old one, and he is stuck on the night shift.

Nicky proceeds to solve all the crimes put before him, and get past many of the problems facing him (racisim - although thankfully this is a minor pert in the show, i don't like shows where the colored hero is always either facing large amounts of racist comments and deals with it proving everyone wrong, or where they continually feel the need to prove themselves and ever second line it 'its because i'm black' this show has just about the perfect balance there is tension with some of the newcastle 'locals' but Nicky seems to just take it in his stride, on episode he is very cool with a banana, just watch it and you'll see what i mean) such as tension with other officers and locals and never being given the chance to get moved to the day shift.

As this is only a 6 part story continuity is hard as they are trying to put a lot of story is to a short time, you have all the 'daily' stories, the over all 'big' storyline, the little tangets with the other characters and such like.

all in all i recommend you watch this, you may like it you may not, but at the end of the day its all about what you like isn't it!!

The series doesn't just focus on police work but real life situations. I love the way that all the actors seem to have the 'right' kind of chemistry, especially between Nicky Cole and Claire Maxwell. It has a lot of humour but is quite dramatic too. I think that the second series is even better than the first because all the characters have evolved and you feel you can understand them better. I think that the plot is well thought out and has a good balance between Nicky and Claire's home and work lives. I enjoy the scenes with Mattie and Errol (Nicky's family)because they give background to the programme and help you understand why they are who they are. I would give this 5 stars out of 5 because it really is unmissable.