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| Douglas Henshall as DI Perez. |
Running Time: 50 minutes. In seasons 1 and 2, each mystery spanned two episodes. The third season consisted of six episodes comprising one case.
Status: To date, four seasons have been broadcast between 2013 and 2016. They are all available on DVD in the U.S.
Production Notes: British author Ann Cleeves has written eight Shetland Island novels since 2006. The first one, Raven Black, won the Gold Dagger award given by the Crime Writers' Association. Reference the TV series, Cleeves said on her web site: "The TV adaptations are very often very different from the books--the scriptwriters cut some characters and add others, cut big chunks of plot and sometimes they even change the murderer! But I'm very relaxed about that. Prose and film are different forms." Cleeves also wrote the Vera Stanhope novels, which were adapted for television as the series Vera, starring Brenda Blethyn.
Our Review: Believable, well-cast characters and strong writing would be enough to warrant an enthusiastic recommendation for Shetland. However, it's the setting that separates this mystery series from many of its rivals. The jagged cliffs, sheep-scattered hills, exquisite stone buildings, and dilapidated crofts offer a glimpse into a different world. However, it's not just the locale. Shetland integrates the culture of northern Scotland, from festivals like Up Helly Aa to tiny islands with only one church. The series' highlight may be the season 2 episode "Raven Black," in which a teenage girl's murder could be related to a case of a missing child that occurred 19 years earlier.
Grade: A.
The episodes about Michael Thompson has a major plot loophole- how did Leane knew Sarwar? There is no explanation to that. It was a great story, but there is this detail that got overlooked, and it was very important. Better care next time, screenwriters!
ReplyDeleteI don't recall that discrepancy, but will look for it next time I watch that episode.
DeleteStephen Walters as Thomas Malone in series 4 is standout award worthy.
DeleteTotally agree. In fact at the point she emailed Sarwar, everyone on Shetland, apart from Asha, thought that he was Michael Maguire and nobody knew he was Michael Thompson, let alone of his link to Arthur McCall or to Sarwar. Great show but this ruined it for me.
Delete'Shetland' is on Netflix in the US and I'm currently happily binge-watching! I think it's a great series. The scenery is definitely a big draw. I'm ready to move to Shetland and marry Jimmy Perez!
ReplyDeleteI too LOVE Shetland and Jimmy Perez! I'm now addicted to British crime shows. After all these years, I finally got Netflix! Also, I'm a bit sheepish on gore, so this was perfect for me.
ReplyDeleteSarwar was Leane's mother's contact with the police in the unit that protects witnesses of crimes. Sarwar gave them a new identity and moved the family to the mainland. Leane's mother couldn't cope with her new environment and she committed suicide. That is why Leane hated Sarwar and tried to kill her.
ReplyDeleteYou're thinking of Asha, who was the witness protection officer. Sarwar (Calvin), on the other hand, was the gangster's lawyer - and it's true there seemed to be no explanation as to how Leanne knew who he was in order to tip him off about who was in protection on the island, which turned out to be a key plot point.
DeleteJust binged Series 3 on Netflix,really very good indeed,but I also could not figure out how Leane knew to email Sawar.(Sawar was the glasgow lawyer not the female W.P.P officer.)
ReplyDeleteI love everything about each series of Shetland, including how the characters grow (Jimmy & Tosh are a delight) and stay the same (Duncan is such a boy!). But special mention to Brian Cox on Raven Black in Series 2. He was magical in his awkward isolation and facing the pain in his past. Just wonderful...
ReplyDeleteIf I hear one more "are you OK" out of the mouths of every actor in this series, I'll puke my guts out! This series is excruciatingly slow. If they'd cut the travelogue views of the island and if Jimmy would learn how to interrogate suspects, this 6 episode slog could become a tight hour show. Unfortunately, it bores the hell out of me!
ReplyDeleteBlah! You should instead watch NCIS or one of those other violent American crime shows where every show ends with a hoot-out, a hostage taking or an explosion.
DeleteI totally agree with Canadian viewer. Shetland is a wonderful contrast to the violence, gore, and gun fights in American police shows. I appreciate Jimmy Perez (Douglas Henshall) as a caring human being. The character showed concern and appropriate support after Tosh was raped in season 3. Don’t change a thing about Jimmy Perez. On second thought, maybe he should have a love ❤️ interest!
DeleteGreat plots, character development, stunning locale, and intricate fascinating plots. Learning so much about Scottish culture. Just finished Season 4 which was a masterpiece!
ReplyDelete