What's on the box?

I heard this week that a good friend has recently discovered The West Wing, having started to watch this from the beginning on DVD as relaxation after a heavy week of ministry. I am envious of someone encountering this for the first time! This was one of those significant television experiences, like Thirtysomething or Hill Street Blues in the 80s and NYPD Blue in the 90s:  one of the firmer landmarks for navigating each week.

In the last couple of years, this role has been firmly occupied by each of the three series of The Killing.  This production from Denmark was compelling TV. My wife is well aware of my feelings for leading actress Sofie Grabol, so we only need acknowledge that and swiftly move on.  Swedish police drama series Arne Dahl, airing currently, comes close to the quality of The Killing, with an interesting ensemble cast, some dark crimes (is it always twilight in Scandinavia?) and some understated humour.  We never got into Borgen - was this good? 

The other outstanding piece of drama, this time from the US, remains Justified – now in its 3^rd season on UK screens. In the King household, the week falls into two halves: before and after each week’s episode.  If you had told me 3 years ago that I would be a fan of a cop show set in rural, poor white Kentucky or that I would be into Bluegrass music I would have dismissed the idea. By the time a drama reaches its third series, you have to start to wonder if it will increasingly fall back on to a formula but the writers and cast seem to be doing well so far. Both hero and villains have flaws. The baddies are, at times, breathtakingly stupid but retain enough malign character to be convincing. And the rugged Harlan County in Kentucky is the major non-speaking supporting act.

If you’re inclined to dismiss Bluegrass, as I would have done, check out YouTube tracks of Gangstagrass, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Horse Feathers (thanks to Ethan for putting me on to them) or Brad Paisley’s version of “You’ll never leave Harlan alive” here. Love it or hate it, Bluegrass has more depth than I had given it credit for previously.

The only UK drama we are watching at the moment is Scott & Bailey – strong female leads, good storylines, one lead character deeply flawed and one the steady rock.