Ridley

I see mixed reviews for this which just shows how many different kinds of people with varying opinions and taste there are. For me, I enjoyed Ridley a lot. It wasn't violent and full of hyped up graphic grossness. It was just a good story that didn't need to rely on a dog and pony show to sell it. For people who like grisly horror, move along, nothing to see here.

I particularly liked the jazz, which was a refreshing change in a British drama, and who knew that Adrian Dunbar could sing. It thought that was cool. I'm usually an armchair sleuth, and figure out whodunit half way, but not in episode one. It kept me guessing right until the end, which I like.

The scenery was a bonus - fog, snow, rain, autumn colors in the woods. I won't watch a detective series unless it takes place somewhere that has some of the features. No city dick shows for me anymore. They're too depressing and ugly. This is a beauty!

... great start to this British police procedural drama in four standalone stories... the first of this four-part mini-series is longer than many movies, yet it plays exceptionally well for its 120 minute length... all the cast is very well selected and to a man (or woman) perform admirably

... Adrian Dunbar has been in several well-known-heralded series: Line of Duty, Broken, Blood, Five Fables.. to name just several in his long illustrious forty-plus-year-career... his work stands on its own merit... another good one, Ridley looks to be a most entertaining addition to his long body of achievements.

I was a little dubious about RIDLEY, the "singing detective," but after watching all of the episodes available so far, I'm now enthusiastic about it. Each episode contains a good mystery, is beautifully filmed, and packs an emotional punch. And yes, Adrian Dunbar sings in each of them. I think a second season is in the works, and I wonder how they can maintain the premise that Alex Ridley is a contractual consultant; he seems to boss the newly promoted DI who used to be his subordinate. That minor quibble aside, this is an excellent series, one that ranks with SHETLAND and VERA in my mind. Highly recommended!

It's OK. That's all it is. There's a laziness about the idea - a former detective called back to investigate. You know when you play a rail shooter? This is drama in that vein. You know exactly what to expect and you get it, but none of it is that good. It's just all middle of the road. Adrian Dunbar is always great and I can't fault any of the cast. It's the by-the-numbers writing and production. It feels like Vera meets Happy Valley in Ireland, except it's not as good as either of those shows. It's safe, safe, safe. Soap opera level crime drama. That's all I have to say but I need to add this up to 600 characters so will waffle on a bit more here.

Adrian Dunbar plays a police consultant who also is part owner of a jazz bar, which unfortunately, he feels compelled to serenade us from through his nose. This show otherwise fits the bill as a good nearly noire detective murder mystery. Ridley always gets his man or woman as the case may be. His costar is a good in her role as the detective chief inspector sidekick and conscience for Ridley. The rest of this review is filler because IMDB never learned about "brevity is the soul of wit", and demands an essay when a sentence will do. Mind you, i don't consider myself the soul of wit, but if forced to keep jabbering on, I may show myself as the soul of nitwit.