We've watched the seasons that are available on Netflix (three, I think) and thoroughly enjoyed it. We also watched Broadchurch, which has a similar scenic, British, small town vibe, but felt that the character development in Shetland was much better.

 

Having watched (and loved) Broadchurch that strikes me as a big statement I may have to give this a go.

 

We’ve watched all the 4 or 5 seasons of shetland-I think on Britbox-there’s a new one released fall 2021-I don’t think its available on streaming. Overall one of the best Brit series IMO-I much preferred it to Vera.

 

My wife's the big Vera fan, although I don't mind sitting through the remainder of whatever episode she's watching. In terms of the plot development, and examination of human nature, I see the two series on equal footing, but I think one gets to see more of the interior life of Jimmy than one sees of Vera. I mean, she's charming and all - not many homicide investigators say "Luv" - but we tend not to know more about her than we know about Kenny. In that respect, Shetland shares a lot more with Prime Suspect, where Jane Tennyson's interior life is very much on view. My memory of it is foggy, but perhaps Cracker as well.

 

Watched both Broadchurch and Shetland. Thoroughly enjoyed both. Another UK crime drama I enjoyed is Hinterland. It is very dark. It was filmed in Wales. Interestingly it was filmed in both English and Welsh. Only the English version is on on Netflix.

 

Big fan of british police drama here.
Shetland is on my top list of all time. I even paid for Britbox to watch the last season.

I love those slow paced series, scenic views and the quirks of old fashioned ways or rural places.

I watched Broadchurch and Hinterland too. I recommend them if you like those kind of setup!

 

I even paid for Britbox to watch the last season.

Dad has BritBox, but he got it more for the shows he remembers from living there, and the early Brit shows after we first moved here (up to the 90's) usually aired by the Buffalo PBS affiliate "Channel 17".

He doesn't use it for new stuff. I go for a visit and he's in a marathon of something. I like All Creatures, but not 10 episodes in a row? Keeping Up Appearance's, One Foot in the Grave etc get old quick! ha, ha...

 

Great thread.

Father Brown and Dr. Finley as well if you want something easier on the nervous system.

 

It is a good series, as so many British dramas are.

For the record though, the Shetland Islands are not above the tree line.

 

So have they banned trees there? I've yet to see a single one anywhere.

 

If you like the early ones, you may like "No Hiding Place".

 

I've watched them all, great show. Vera is also terrific.

 

Try “Death in Paradise”

 

If you like Shetland, then try Hinterland. Very much like Shetland but in Wales and even darker.

 

I just finished season 6 of Shetland last week, 5 and 6 are on Britbox. Great show

Shetland

Based on the best-selling books by award-winning writer Ann Cleeves, this fan-favorite crime drama follows Detective Jimmy Perez as he investigates crimes within the close-knit island community.

www.britbox.com

For BBC cop show I recommend Happy Valley, I think I watched it on Netflix last year:

Happy Valley | Rotten Tomatoes

Discover reviews, ratings, and trailers for Happy Valley on Rotten Tomatoes. Stay updated with critic and audience scores today!

www.rottentomatoes.com

 

I thought your Don't Look Up recommendation was good.
Shetland, Hinterland, Broadchurch were all good too, we've seen those on PBS or Netflix in the last few years. I didnt know Shetland had more seasons so I'll have to look that up.

On the PBS app, you can now watch all seasons of Endeavor, the prequel show to Inspector Morse.

Looking through Britbox I see maybe I should be going there for more shows.

 

We didn't get very far into Hinterland. It was too dark for us (at least at the time) - I may try to revisit it in happier times.

 

I've watched Shetland, Hinterland and Broadchurch. Enjoyed them all. Definitely a fan of the rural British cop genre.

 

Anyone scrolling through this thread comes away with a good list of things to watch. So now the question I pose to all of you is: What is it about these series that appeals to you?

 

I find American tv/movies horribly overacted, dramatic and unbelievable. Can barely watch any of it anymore. If I do it's movies pre 1980.

By contrast the UK stuff is highly believable, well acted etc. There's also a simple quaintness generally that's refreshing.

 

Or maybe the sheep are just more aggressive or less well-fed there. I never quite understood all those bald hills in the Highlands with a stand of trees sticking out in weird places.

 

I could never get into watching televsion shows for some reason whether british or american although I did see about half an hour of Good Christian Bitches which I thought was one of them real life documentary programs like CBC tries to do but without the guilt ridden diatribe. Seems that show got cancelled asap which is too bad .. lol.

 

I liked that show but there was no way fundamentalist Christians in the US could let it stay on the air.

 

Thanks, mhammer. Had never heard about Shetland, but we watched the first two episodes last night (wow, big New Year's Eve). Very well done. Yes, it has similarities to Broadchurch, but better, I think. Only issue we had was we couldn't understand what they were saying! Had to resort to turning on the English subtitles. That fixed it.

 

Are you going to answer my question?

 

Quality of the script. That applies to both dramas and comedies. Actors can actually act, they're not just hired for their good looks. Police/detective shows tend to revolve around people as opposed to guns. Makes the stories much more interesting and important.

 

The Scottish Highlands are noted for their heather

 

Heather McCartney and Heather Mills. Hmmmm

 

I think it's that they are written and filmed then viewed without commercial breaks. It's not the lack of commercials, but that scenes and dialogues can occur that are uninterrupted.
I concluded this after thinking about which US shows I enjoyed, and it was shows like Madmen or Breaking Bad, which were both made for cable broadcast or streaming viewing. I think comedies, like Schitts Creek or the Office do OK with commercials so it seems I like a mix of US, Canadian and UK comedies.

Of course the views of British country side is a plus, the actors are generally very good too, the writing is believable. Many actors seem to move from show to show, or to live theater in London etc. so the pool of skilled actors there seems almost endless. Eventually, and I think this must be an inside joke in the UK, they show up on Midsomer Murder.

The only CBC,CTV,NBC,CBS,ABC type shows I've liked recently were Elementary and Murdoch, maybe The Blacklist for a while.

 

Excellent points. "Coroner" on CBC is reasonably good.

 

Currently making my way through Doctor Finlay on Acorn.

Very good.

 

The current one or the original from the '60s?

 

Oh, the current one. From the early '90's I guess.

I did notice the earlier series. Doctor Finlay's Casebook I think.

It disturbed me to find out that Ian Bannen was killed in a car crash shortly after finishing the series. He's my favorite character.

 

Don't forget Hetty Wainthropp Investigates.

She's a nice lady.

 

I really like Shetland. Just started it.
@mhammer , good recommendation- you're 1 for 2. Not so bad.