Mad Dogs

The highlights of this show are undoubtedly the quality of the acting and the scenery. In the midst of watching Mad Dogs I was of the opinion that it was never trying to be a serious drama, or even a black comedy...more of a middle-aged male romp with great interplay between the protagonists. No matter how bad the situation we found our dysfunctional 4 working their way into, the viewer is drawn into the hope of a light at the end of the tunnel

Or at least that was the case until they decided to add on the two episodes for the fourth series...anyone who is either just about to embark on viewing this, or is already part way through...go no further than series 3...in fact I'd stop at the end of series 1, make up your own ending and save the disappointment!

It would be nice if they turned this into a full TV series because each episode leaves you wanting more. I wish American TV would start making shows of this caliber. Instead they give us the same boring dribble over and over again. US television will take a successful series and clone it 4 or 5 times and the only thing they change is the city in which it takes place (ex. CSI, CSI Miami, CSI NY, CSI Los Vegas, Law & Order, Law & Order SVU, Law & Order LA, Law & Order Criminal Intent, etc etc.). UK TV actually respects their audience enough to give them characters with depth, writing that embraces new ideas, and a genuine attempt to engage and capture the viewers attention with intelligent stories and unpredictable plot twists. They seem to understand that you don't need big explosions, car chase scenes, and unrealistic gun battles to have a successful show or movie. When the story is well written and you cast great actors that know what they're doing, all of that big budget fluff stuff isn't necessary. I have only seen the the first 3 episodes so far, and I can't wait to watch the last installment.

Bottom line, this mini-series get's two thumbs up from me. If you're not pulled into this show after the first episode, then something is wrong with you. I'm so glad I ignored the 1st guys review that was posted on this page. He said it was boring, nothing happens, and it was a waste of time. ***PLEASE DON'T LET THAT 1 REVIEW DISCOURAGE YOU FROM WATCHING THIS SERIES***!!! You'll thank me later... trust me.

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I watch a lot of English police and crime series, and this one is quality, but certainly not one of the best. I'm surprised that it's from 2011, it seems much more recent.

I liked it, it is a black comedy and I think it is a pantomime about crime and mafia series. My review is based on the 1st and 2nd season.

The episodes are short, and although at first I was frustrated by the level of testosterone, the truth is that I couldn't stop it, due to all those continuous and unexpected twists and turns that addictively ask to see more.

The actors are really good, as are some of the dialogues and the creativity of the story, although it is also somewhat tiring to see this group of men arguing about their problems and increasingly distrusting each other while they have other much bigger problems. The humor is good, but it's not something to burst into laughter, but rather bland.

The photography in the Balearic Islands and the landscapes are wonderful, which gives the series a bitter tone almost like the series Death in Paradise, which by the way I like a lot! By the way I am not comparing anything, because they are two very different series.

Judge for yourself, it's refreshing, disturbing and different.

Heartily concur with the review submitted by DemonSpencer. Can't wait for a new series.

The Majorcan settings were gorgeous,the acting superb and the tension palpable throughout. What a pleasure to watch a production that only relied on superb acting, good direction, clear well articulated dialogue and brilliant lighting without any (noticable) Special Effects. The characters were recognisable as fallible human beings doing their individual best to deal with a bizarre situation so that by the end, one felt one knew them, warts and all.

I am sick to death of hyped up films where the whole affair looks as if it were shot in sepia and the dialogue is almost incomprehensible, overlayed with inappropriate music and with no real narrative and where, at the end, one is left to wonder why anyone bothered to make make it in the first place. Conversely, I am equally sick of films where it only seems that the only object is to outdo the previous "car flying through the air and exploding in flames as it collides with an aircraft coming in to land on a speedboat full of criminals etc ad nauseam."

I have to admit, I was impressed with the first series of Mad Dogs. I thought that the acting was top notch, especially John Simm as 'Baxter', which in part was down to the great writing associated with each character's development throughout the series. There was enough twists, turns and dark humour through the series that kept me entertained and wanting to watch the next series.

However, with the second series I always felt that there was several times I would find myself sitting waiting for something interesting to happen, and when it does, it feels almost like an anti-climax. Through each fifteen minute part of an episode it always felt like something would happen that keeps you interested just before the ad breaks, and when it came back on, nothing really happened like was made out previously, and the next ten minutes would be filler until the next big shock.

I'm not sure, but the second series just didn't grab my attention like the first, and I felt that Mad Dogs should have ended this time round, instead of 'To be continued'. I just feel that the story has been played out, and is not as fresh and different like the first. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but not to the point I would say I loved it.