Salamander

Yep, I was pleasantly surprised Graeme.

Certainly didn't have high expectatioour but as you say, so far so good!

I like the main charaCter, he is your typical maverick detective.

It's going along fine IMO, a bit manic after The Bridge.

I think this has an awful lot to live up to after the sheer brilliance of The Bridge, but it's not bad. It's quite old-fashioned in a way, because there is more emphasis on the intricacies of plot development rather than character.

The maverick detective is a well-worn cliche, but as I Chris says above, he's quite likeable. I also think it makes a nice change to watch a maverick cop who's actually happily married!

I thought the opening heist scenes were very well done and I love the guy playing the hulking, dodgy banker Jonkhere (I think the actor is Mike Verdrenghe).

Also it's nice to see a Saturday night BBC4 show shot in bright sunlight, after all that Stygian gloom which was The Bridge's signature look!

"......... the hulking, dodgy banker Jonkhere...."

Or "Thumb-Head' as I have christened him.

G

Anyone watch Line of Duty last night? I mean. Blimey!

And, in a different vein, if anyone didn't catch 'Inside No.9' right afterwards, please watch it on iplayer. Hilarious.

Excellent hour and a half of telly all told.

But yes I thought Salamander was good and will watch the rest

See what you mean...

I don't have a television so the latest detectives are lost on me, but I enjoy some from times past on Youtube and DVD.

Among the best is the French TV productions of Maigret with Bruno Cremer in the starring role.

Makes a great contrast to the equally brilliant Micheal Gambon playing the part. 

I like the Cremer realisation better, though he is not star that Gambon is, for the steady pacing and lack of any flashiness in the productions. These are in French of course, so it is good for me to remember my school French. Surprisingly, I can follow the action without any problem.

Another favourite of mine is Agatha Christie. Marple and Poirot.

In these cases, I like best Joan Hickson and David suchet.

ATB from George

PS: A lovely line in one of the Poirots is given to a delivery boy with a parrot for Poirot.

The Boy says, "I have a parrot for Mister Poy-rot."

Poirot replies, "The pronunciation is, Poaro."

The boy comes back with, "I have a poaro for Mister Poy-rot!"

Anyone seen Hinterland on BBC Wales apparently it's very good available on BBC iPlayer

Catch it now!

Oopps not on iPlayer is on Youtube though!

It's showing promise and I'm enjoying it, but 'The Bridge' is a damn tough act to follow.

My favourite Radio Times TV critic Alison Graham made me chuckle with:-

"Maverick cop Gerardi, who looks like a renegade from a 1960s Charlton Heston biblical epic is on the run as he tries to uncover the truth".

John.

Last two episodes, just started.

Have to say I've really enjoyed it, way more than I thought I would.

Lets see how it all pans out tonight!

This was the best programme I've seen for ages. What will we do on Saturday night now?

Slow burner this one. A good story, it started slowly and almost rushed toward the climax. After being very anti subtitles Salamander and The Bridge subtitles have helped me to get right into the stories.

Following rollmops, Moules its Italian pizza next week. 

Agreed, the final two episodes felt a but rushed, but I quite liked it. Dunno who's going to be in the next series because apart from Gerardi, Vic Adams and Carl Cassimon, they all seem to be dead!

"Line of Duty" is truly exceptional, almost on a par with the Scandis, and probably the finest British TV drama since "State of Play" 10 years ago. If the divine Keely H doesn't get a BAFTA I will listen to nothing but Joe Bonamassa and Van Morrison records for a month!