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Waking the Dead from BBC, pre-dates both CSI and Cold Case Files from CBS. Each episode is actually 2 full hours long, (broadcast in the UK in 1 hr. segments on back to back nights). Waking the Dead has all the bells and whistles of modern science used in crime solving and the convenience of a leisurely pace to solve the crime. The writers manage to bring urgency to solving each crime with a link to the present. Each episode is presented in interspersed flashbacks to the actual murder and the circumstances leading up to it as the modern investigating team lead by Detective Superintendent Peter Boyd,(Trevor Eve), solve the crime in the present. The nearer to the solution these usually b/w flashbacks are, the more brutal they become as they near the climax. This has been a major criticism of a minority of viewers who find the violence disturbing. The Cold Case Unit consists of Boyd, a Psychological profiler - Dr. Grace Foley, (Sue Johnston), 2 detectives played by Wil Johnson and Claire Goose, and a Forensic pathologist and scientist - Frankie Wharton played by Holly Aird. (The Swiss Army Knife approach to science on the show is another point of contention with some viewers as Frankie, (and her successors), all seem to be MacGyver-like in their knowledge of basic science). The essential crime solving is done as a team effort around a large Plexiglas board where all the known facts of the case are displayed graphically to discover the relationships between the facts, suspects and victims. All members of the team participate in brainstorming sessions to get each case started. The most flawed character of the bunch is Boyd. He is notoriously insubordinate, brilliant, vain and at times, intemperate with his team. His son who went missing years in the past, is always weighing on his thoughts. Dr. Foley, is at times his resident shrink, and it does get tedious. Grace Foley, as a character seems to have no flaws, other than being, at times a good substitute for valium once she begins her profiling by providing information completely non-germane to the investigators. It took a while for the writers to realize that an 'entity' such as the CCU could not last with the dynamics that they attempted to write into it for the sake of conflict. All of the early episodes had team members openly questioning Boyd's professionalism and expertise. Eventually Boyd was written as more of a "tough love" boss, while the team consists of independently thinking members, yet everyone knows who's the boss. Having given the shortcomings, the overall excellent acting, directing and production values of the show set it head and shoulders above anything else of it's ilk. The general plots are ingenious in their twists and turns, even if the details sometimes come up short. Keeping in mind that every 2 episodes are actually a 2 hr. movie, (1 hr. 57 mins.), it's a small miracle, of the quality product produced at the end. BBC-America has attempted to cut the show up for commercial broadcast, (with dismal results I've heard), and only the first 2 of the 7 complete seasons are available on DVD, here is the USA. Watching them, uncut is the ONLY way to enjoy this great UK export. I must confess that another thing that I truly enjoy about the Brit exports, is that the actors look like REAL people - and not refugees from an "Anorexics or US" meeting, or rejects from the underwear modeling department for the Sears and Roebuck catalog, with blow dried hair.Read full review
I'm a fan of the ever-changing story lines. This holds my attention and keeps me entertained. Watching this series makes me want to book a flight to the U.K.! Never a dull moment.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Can't watch it. The DVD's won't play. They start, stop, jump large sections and eventually freezes. I don't find any scratches on the disks and I have tried several DVD players. All of them were unable to play the disks. I can only assume the disks are defective.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
good stories and acting...if you liked series 1, you will enjoy this even more!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New