I am a huge fan of UK cop shows. Think Midsomer Murders for light hearted stuff at one of the scale to gritty things such as Life on Mars or Spooks at the other.
There is a common theme amongst many of them, in that there seems to be a selection of actors who specialise in this sort of thing. Martin Compston, Rupert Penry-Jones, Steve Pemberton, Adrian Dunbar, Keeley Hawes are ones that spring immediately to mind.
And I like their story lines and having UK heritage (my Dad was from Manchester and my Mum from Cardiff in Wales) means I am able to identify with a lot of the locations. Blimey, Exile with Jim Broadbent and John Simm was shot in the town in Lancashire my dad’s family biz was based, Waterfoot (and a smaller place you’d never find!)
But I have just finished watching a series on Fetch (and if you don’t have a Fetch box I highly recommend it as you get lots of options for TV and movies WAY beyond the ABC – which I still love – and the commercials, and of course Netflix).
It’s called Hinterland, and is on Britbox, about the best part of Fetch from my point of view. And the series is set in Aberystwyth in Wales where as a 7 year old we used to go on holidays.
I won’t give any spoilers, but initially it got my attention due to my Welsh heritage (FYI my REAL name is Dafydd not David as a salute to my Mum’s background), and the storyline is absolutely riveting over 3 series’ with a startling conclusion.
But the real reason I mention it here is that if you have a bent as a camera person, or in lighting, it is an absolute masterclass to those disciplines. Simply stunning and beyond ANYTHING you have possibly ever seen on television, let alone in the movies.
Do yourself a favour and have a look. Trust me on this. It is just something else in both these areas.