Review: Inspector George Gently: Gently Liberates (S8 E1/2), Sunday 21st May, BBC1

(C) Company Pictures – Photographer: Mark Mainz

I do like Inspector George Gently. I know others who think it’s as dull as dishwater, but I’ve always enjoyed the way it has tackled social issues and documented life in the northeast of England in the 1960s; a region that was both geographically and culturally a long way from Swinging London. Instead, Inspector George Gently has always set its detective stories around working people and their communities. Over the past decade, we’ve seen stories set in factories, working men’s club, rubble-strewn cityscapes, nicotine-stained hostess clubs, northern soul clubs and even holiday camps. But always at its heart of George Gently is the relationship between Gently himself (Martin Shaw) and his partner, John Bacchus (the always-watchable and versatile Lee Ingleby), one of the more successful copper partnerships on British television during the past decade. It was great to see them back for two final stories.

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Review: Three Girls (S1 E3/3), Thursday 18th May, BBC1

(C) BBC – Photographer: Sophie Mutevelian

I had to drive down to Bristol to CrimeFest on Thursday night, so I missed the final episode of Three Girls in real time. So, yes, this review is a bit late, but I felt I needed to post something about it because it affected me so much on an emotional level. I try and be as objective as I can when I review tings for this site because I take pleasure in looking at themes and structure and all that mularky. But sometimes the objectivity has to give way to pure emotional reaction, which is what Three Girls provoked.

The 10 Best Crime Dramas This Week (Monday 22nd – Sunday 28th May)

Lots of things happening this week. Namely Twin Peaks, my own personal excitement-stoker. I just hope it’s good. Elsewhere, there’s a new revenge thriller on BBC2 (Paula), and a few series finales: Grantchester, Hinterland, Grantchester and Elementary. Enjoy!