TV Shows
I’m not a fan of a book being made into
a movie or tv show, because I always think they didn’t get it right. Below is a
list of some of my favorite mystery shows. If they’re based on novels, I’ll
admit I haven’t read them—I didn’t want to have to compare them to the books.
Below, I’ve given my opinions and views. I’ve
listed shows I really enjoyed, though there are probably a lot of shows I can’t
include (not because I didn’t like them, but because I didn’t watch them. After
all, there’s only so much time in a day).
Leverage—This show has a
five person team. The players: Leader Nate Ford-former insurance investigator,
Sophie Devereaux-grifter, Alec Hardison-hacker, Eliott Spencer-retrieval
specialist & martial artist, and Parker-thief. The team comes together and they
take clients who have nowhere else to go for justice.
The shows are elaborate
cons and truly delightful to watch as the con unfolds. Subplots include Nate’s
struggle with alcohol, his relationship with Sophie, and Hardison and Parker’s
budding romance. Humor and intrigue are always on display in each episode.
This is a newer version of Mission
Impossible.
Midsomer Murders—this show is based
on Caroline Graham’s Chief Inspector Barnaby book series. Its longevity shows
how popular the program has become—2019 marked its 20th season. It’s
a police drama with humor (sometimes dark) that is set within small English
country villages in the fictional county of Midsomer. Due to its lengthy run,
characters have been replaced; there have been several Detective Sergeants to
assist Barnaby (who has also been replaced since the actor retired in 2011).
One of the features of the show is that several murders usually occur in each
episode.
Part of the charm of this show
is the setting—the quintessential rural village of a simpler time, which is
rapidly disappearing.
Murdoch Mysteries—This show is based
on characters from author Maureen Jennings’ novels. The spotlight is on
Detective William Murdoch. He’s a Toronto detective around the turn of the
twentieth century. His sidekick is Constable George Crabtree (inexperienced,
yet eager and loyal) who sometimes steals the show with his heartfelt attitude.
Inspector Brackenreid (blunt and skeptical) is in charge of the precinct.
In
the beginning of the series, the medical examiner is Dr. Julia Ogden, but later
she’s replaced by Dr. Emily Grace. Dr. Ogden does remain as a character since
there’s a running romance between her and Murdoch although Murdoch is unable to
express his feelings.
The clever aspect of the show is following Murdoch’s
crime solving techniques. He solves many of his cases by using methods that
were unusual for the time, such as finger marks (fingerprints), blood testing,
surveillance and trace evidence. Crabtree and Brackenreid are usually in awe at
his ingenuity.
Only problem I have with
this series is the awkward, unresolved, tiring romantic subplot between Ogden
& Murdoch—enough already!
Eureka—A town of
scientific geniuses who all work at an advanced research facility. Global
Dynamics is responsible for major technological breakthroughs. The town’s very
existence and its location is a closely guarded secret. When a faulty
experiment disables the local sheriff, Deputy United States Marshall Jack
Carter (who is travelling through on his way to California) becomes the new
sheriff.
Each episode features an accidental mishap or criminal misuse of
technology. Sheriff Carter is just an average Joe with practical insight and
fierce loyalty to his new home. In a town full of geniuses, the sheriff is the
person who always comes up with a solution to the problem using simple ideas
and common sense.
Dr. Allison Blake starts out as the liaison between
Global Dynamics and the U.S. government and is Carter’s romantic interest. Zoe
Carter is Jack’s rebellious teenage daughter who’s a genius in her own right
but also possesses street smarts. My favorite character is Deputy Sheriff Jo
Lupo who’s a former U.S. Army Ranger with a love of firearms. The show is fun
and clever.
My only complaint is the
direction it took after Jack and Allison travelled back to 1940 and then
returned to the present time to find their world changed. I liked the format of
the pre-1940 espisodes and didn’t care for the changes that occurred.
Miss Fisher’s Murder
Mysteries—Based on author Kerry Greenwood’s historical mystery novels. The
protagonist is Phryne Fisher, a glamorous private detective and the series is
set in 1920s Melbourne, Australia. Phryne’s personal life is different for the
era—she’s a feminist who chooses to remain unmarried, but has lots of lovers. The
plots are intriguing, but I’m drawn to the show for the stunning period costumes.
Interesting note: each episode had a
budget of one million dollars.
Psych—This is a comedic
detective show. Shawn Spencer is a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara
Police Department. His extraordinary powers of observation coupled with an
eidetic memory convinces the cops that he’s a psychic. Childhood friend, Burton
“Gus” Guster is a serious man who is Shawn’s reluctant partner in the scam.
They are often teamed up with Detectives Carlton Lassiter and Juliet O’Hara
(Shawn’s love interest).
Although Chief Vick and O’Hara believe in Shawn’s
psychic abilities, Lassiter doubts Shawn’s gift and is irritated by his
childish antics. Rounding out the cast is the coroner, Woody (who is nuttier
than the proverbial fruitcake) and Shawn’s dad, Henry Spencer, a former police
officer himself who knows Shawn’s a fraud. The show is full of high-jinks and
almost slap-stick humor.
In my opinion,
the best character is Henry Spencer—a no-nonsense kind of guy who is
exasperated with his son, but supports his deceitful lie.
Death In Paradise—Set on the island
of Saint Marie (filmed on Guadeloupe), this show is a throwback to the ‘gather
the suspects at the end and denounce the killer’ scenario. It has charming
scenery and cycles through a cast of cops. I’m not current in watching, but as
of the season I’m on, there’s only 2 original cast members left (Dwayne & the
Commissioner). The lead detective has never been an islander.
The first
detective inspector was Richard Poole, a transplanted London cop who wanted to
go home. His quirk was that he always wore suits (even though the island
climate was scorching) and never got into the island way of life.
After a
surprising season premiere, the next detective inspector was Humphrey Goodman,
another transplanted London cop. But he quickly became accustomed to island
life. His quirk was that he was a bit of a klutz which led to some funny
moments. During his first appearance, Humphrey was about to explain the case,
when the other cops insisted he had to gather the suspects in one place for the
reveal since that is what Poole always did.
The island cops followed a case to
London. Humphrey decided to stay there with his girlfriend and London cop
(Irish born) Jack Mooney flew back with the gang to become the next detective
inspector. He doesn’t really have any quirks, just a normal guy happy to be on
the island. It’s a fun, though formulaic, mystery series with great Caribbean
scenery.
Castle—This show had a
great concept—a best-selling mystery novelist, Richard Castle shadows a
homicide cop, Kate Beckett to gain color for his new series. Castle—bored with
the main character in his successful books—meets Beckett when he is questioned
about a copy-cat murder that is closely based on one of his books and decides
to write about a female cop. While Castle is rather childish, Beckett’s aloof and
professional.
They investigate and solve unique murders throughout New York. Of
course, opposites attract, so there is the love interest angle going on
throughout the shows. It’s humorous—mostly due to Castle’s antics—and exciting
due to the unusual methods of murder. Javier Esposito and Kevin Ryan are two
detectives who assist with the cases. Also present are Martha Rogers—Castle’s
mom who’s an actress—and Alexis Castle, his teenage daughter.
The funniest dynamic was between Castle and
Alexis. Their roles are reversed. She’s very mature and responsible for her age
and acts like the adult, while her dad is totally childlike and irresponsible.
Problem
for me—the love angle got old really fast…he likes her, she doesn’t like
him/she likes him, he doesn’t like her… Repeat… Repeat… Repeat… Aaargh!!!
Columbo—“Just one more
thing…” Rumpled Detective Columbo—classic homicide cop everybody knows and
loves. Each episode started with the set up. We watched as the killer planned
and executed a complicated murder plot… Built up an elaborate alibi…Had
everything covered...Was sure he’d gotten away with murder.
Columbo’s role was
to figure out how to prove his case. (Somehow, he always pinpointed the
murderer right away)!
The best
part—unlike most mystery shows, it was ok to fall asleep halfway through because
the next morning you didn’t have to wonder who the killer was!!
Mission Impossible—Great con jobs. The
team was always sent in by our government to take care of a (usually
international) problem. They would pull off elaborate scams and win the day. I
loved the intricate schemes the crew would come up with to resolve the issue.
Occasionally, the episode would be about a con gone wrong and the rest of the
gang would work out a rescue plan for their captured colleague.
This was
kind of a precursor to Leverage. I watched the first Mission Impossible movie
starring Tom Cruise, but I got infuriated when they made Jim Phelps the bad guy
so I never watched any of the other movies!
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