robert ridley

This used to be a serious detective drama that was quite believable and we always enjoyed it - particularly the characters. The latest series - especially the last episode Terminus - was quite simply the most unfathomable load of unbelievable rubbish we have ever had the misfortune to sit through.

The special effects were excellent - particularly for the 90s - but the storyline is the biggest load of far-fetched, contrived and laughably unbelievable garbage I have ever had the misfortune to sit through.

Excellent series - the two lead characters were a perfect foil for each other and the stories were excellent. Second series please!

Was looking forward to watching this but was very disappointed. Just all too glib - all the lead characters trying to be cool and hip and coming out with clever one-liners. Totally unrealistic and actually irritating to watch - in much the same way as ‘Hustle’ was, also starring Marc Warren. Then, mixed in with that, the occasional bit of sickening violence which is gratuitous and unnecessary. I accept that Van Der Valk himself is supposed to be a moody and at times difficult character (as a lot of detectives seem to be these days) but in this re-make he just comes across as arrogant and immensely unlikeable. One episode was enough for me.

I’m quite a fan of Ricky Gervais. I’ve loved many of his previous shows – and I know this show is getting a lot of great reviews because of its mixture of comedy and poignancy. However, we find it extremely difficult to watch because of the truly appalling language throughout. We have all become used to the F word being used in TV programmes nowadays – and I can live with that when it is in context. But the C word? Used so flippantly and casually as though it is part of normal conversation? I’m no prude, but I just find that unacceptable. I’m a normal bloke, I go out drinking with the lads and quite often there is bad language – we all swear a bit – but no one I know uses the C word so casually, or even in anger for that matter. I mean, in the first episode he calls a boy aged about 10 “a little ginger c**t”. There just isn’t any need for it – it doesn’t add to the comedy value, seems to be being done just for effect, and rather ruins the whole thing for me. Why try and normalise language like that when, frankly, it isn’t really normal?