Maggie Blackbird

I won’t mention the golf tournaments I record, because I think a lot of readers aren’t too interested in watching men hit little white balls off the grass LOL.  I will talk about TV shows that have captured my attention in hopes I can entice you to become a viewer.  Sound fair?

For this post I’ll focus on British shows.  I really enjoy what they produce, from Poirot to Jekyll and Hyde.  Both aren’t current programs, though, and this is what my post is about.  I’m a sucker for period pieces and murder mysteries, which is why I’m drawn to the literary works of Maureen Jennings and James Runcie.

Grantchester:  Set in the 1950s, James Norton (Happy Valley) stars as the handsome, jazz-loving vicar Sidney Chambers, with Robson Green as his law-enforcement ally, Inspector Geordie Keating, in Grantchester, a mystery series based on the acclaimed novels by James Runcie. Although Sidney lives the life of a clergyman, sometimes he can’t help but fall into more worldly habits as he solves murders in the bucolic village of Grantchester, tirelessly searching for justice, spiritual fulfillment, love, and a really hip jazz club.

This show airs on ITV in Britain and PBS in North America.  Living in Canada, I tune into PBS’ Masterpiece Mystery.  Each episode contains a mystery with a continuing sub-plot about the characters, ranging from Sydney’s love life to Keating’s domestic problems.  My favourite character is gentle, bookish Leonard, the parish’s curate who longs for an intimate relationship with another man.

The episodes are deep and full of drama.  There is also a touch of humour.  The series has already begun to air the third season in Britain.  As for us folks across the pond, we have to wait for the spring.  I’m keeping an eye out since season two ended on quite the cliff-hanger.

The first two seasons are available on DVD.

Sherlock:  The world’s only consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch, Star Trek Into Darkness, Dr. Strange), teams up with his long-suffering, faithful friend, Dr. John Watson (The Hobbit, Fargo), to solve a dizzying array of crimes and battle diabolical villains with his signature deductive reasoning and his stunning lack of social grace. Co-created by Steven Moffat (Doctor Who, Coupling) and Mark Gatiss (Doctor Who, The League of Gentlemen), Sherlock also stars Amanda Abbington (Mr. Selfridge), Rupert Graves (A Room with a View), and Andrew Scott (Spectre). 

My husband suggested I watch this when it aired on PBS’ Masterpiece Mystery.  It was the A Study in Pink episode.  I was skeptical because the series took place in modern times, but when Sherlock appeared on the screen, I became hooked.  Who was the man who kidnapped Dr. Watson?  The texts.  The chemistry between Watson/Holmes (wow what a bromance), Molly the pathologist who pined for Sherlock.  Mrs. Hudson whose husband was a drug dealer LOL.  And of course the case itself.

Right then I ordered all of the DVDs because I was watching a re-run.  I’d yet to view the third season.  I wasn’t disappointed.  Benedict and Martin were born to play the roles of Holmes and Watson.

I’ve finished watching the fourth season.  My fingers are crossed there will be a fifth.

Seasons 1-4 are available on DVD, and the special that took place in Victorian London called the Abominable Bride.

What about you?  What are your favourite British TV shows?  Please share.

For my next post, I’ll focus on Canadian TV.