Death Valley

Unlike some other reviewers, I am writing this after seeing all if the first series (6 episodes viewed in 2 days).

Yes, to a lot of English viewers this will be different to what they are used to seeing but the complexities of Welsh life is here to see and beautifully crafted by the writer and executed by the recognisable cast.

It's good see the Welsh language featured on prime time tv (there are 3 recognised spoken languages in the UK) and the sides for the shoe has been compared to last year's non-detective detective comedy show Ludwig.

It has to be said that the show does lose its way mid-series but the season finale has the show back on form.

It would be great to see it back (Bach?) but it does need a strong script to do so.

As others here have pointed out, she's a thoroughly off-putting character. And not even in a convincing or consistent way. At the start of episode 1, she's so thrilled to see Timothy Spall, as a TV detective-show star she idolizes, that she acts like a breathless schoolgirl fan (though she's supposed to be a cop). Yet just minutes after pushing her way into his home and chatting with him, she's inexplicably treating him with disdain and is impatient to leave. A couple of scenes later, talking with him in a coffee shop, she begins helping herself to chunks of his brownie... and apparently we're supposed to find this hilarious. I did not. And that's as far as I got.

Whilst investigating a murder DS Janie Mallowan discovers that a mysterious reclusive man living by the scene is none other than John Chapel, better known as 'Caesar' a well known TV detective. After a frosty initial meeting, the pair team up to solve a number of cases.

I can see why reviews have fallen on both sides, I get it, I'd say it's all about expectation, just know what you're getting.

It's light, easy going, slightly silly, family friendly viewing, it's very much in the Sunday teatime group of shows, if you like Father Brown and Mallorca Files, you'll definitely appreciate this.

Wonderful location work, it's lovely to recognise to many of the wonderful Welsh locations.

Gwyneth Kenyon is bags of fun as the brash, outspoken Mallowan, Timothy Spall can simply do no wrong in my eyes, lots of well known faces pop up and it's good to see so much Welsh talent.

If you're wanting something serious, you'll be disappointed, if you want fun, easy viewing, you'll enjoy it. More please.

8/10.

Firstly, this is not unwatchable . It's just not that good. The main problems are the woman detective and her male boss, both unbelievably inept and annoying and both have zero credibility. I know there is a comedic element about the show but there needs to be a shred of credibility as well. I can forgive the plot holes and rushed conclusions but not the idea that these two are supposed to be ranking police officers. Timothy Spall nearly rescues the show but not quite.

If there is to be a series two, some of the flaws need to be ironed out. Some of the Welsh accents need a bit of work from some guest stars as well.

I've been a fan of Timothy Spall since "Secrets and Lies" and I was expecting with his superior acting abilities, that this would be a smart crime drama. Instead this is a bad police comedy, full of too many comedians that aren't funny. The setting is Wales and the locations are all beautiful.

I'd put this in the same category as "McDonald & Dodds", "Sister Boniface Mysteries" and "Death in Paradise", light comedic crime dramas, but they're actually better. The crime stories aren't bad, it's all the pretentious acting and bad comedy we have to put up with until the mystery is solved. If they wanted a funny police drama, the French police series "Panda" is funnier even in translation. After 3 episodes I'm done with it.