Poorly and after something to watch that’s gritty and going to pull me in!

[Allromanticsmeetthesamefate]

If you like historic British crime dramatisations or gritty policing investigations (particularly from the 80’s & 90’s) old Crime Watch UK runs and odd crime documentary that shows the layers of different demographics and decades what could you suggest for me.

Feeling so sorry for myself as have a pretty awful chest infection and just want to switch off to something from my favourite (niche!) genre but just can’t find anything that I haven’t seen before.

Examples of which, Man hunt, The Red Riding Trilogy, I Fought the Law, The long shadow, Until I kill You..

My own two crime ish things I could watch over and over (though probably not quite your criteria) are The Fall (Gillian Anderson to me will always bring 90s vibe 👽) and Top of the Lake crime drama nz, just so so good).

get well soon

I didn’t discount it for being polished, but because I don’t like Spy/MI5 based TV, just not my bag.

I have heard that it’s very good for those who do enjoy that kind of entertainment series and often recommend off it’s popularity.

Old Prime Suspect is brilliant. Based in early 90s.

There was a series on BBC3 called Bodies. Very gritty. Keith Allen plays a vile man, but oddly appealing. Not crime based but medical and fairly shocking. Loved that recently. Reckon it was early noughties.

@aLogLady i thought top of the lake was dreadful - Holly Hunter wandering around like she was on mushrooms or something, the scenery was beautiful but I couldn’t like it at all. I watched two episodes though

Loved both of these.

I NEVER watch a TV series more than once (bar Cracker which I binge watched for a 2nd time a few years ago!) but I have watched the Fall 3 times, a lot to do with JD but the suspense and investigative scenes between him and GA are just superb!

Recently, I’ve enjoyed Kin.

I also enjoyed Irvine Welsh’s “Crime” with Dougray Scott but not sure if it’s still available.

Also, the old Wire in the Blood series are worth a look.

Finally, I would join the others recommending Scandi Noir. The Killing, the Bridge, Wallander (I prefer the original, rather than the English version with Kenneth Branagh).

Was this the series based on the maternity unit? Really enjoyed this when I found a few years back!

The Staircase - either the dramatisation or the documentary - both are utterly riveting. True crime did-he/didn't-he story.

I found the recent art fraud documentary really interesting as they interview the criminal and his wife a lot and they are just so sure it was no big deal to swindle people out of millions.

Blue Lights is absolutely brilliant.

@Cinaferna the 🦉did it obviously

If you are from Edinburgh I'm guessing you've seen Crime on itvx. Dougray Scott?

Have you seen Unforgotten? That had me gripped!

Not a series but a film - the Long Good Friday. Genuinely a gritty grubby (Helen Mirren excepted!!!) early '80s setting in the old London Docklands.

Ooh @Allromanticsmeetthesamefate glad I wasn’t off the mark!

@CalzoneOnLegs hehe, fair enough! I guess this is a perfect example of “you can’t please them all” :) I must admit, the scenery is a big sell for me but then the scenery in the aus crime show “High Country” is sublime but the writing is absolutely not, so it must not be a purely aesthetic thing for me.

@aLogLady yes! Like brokenwood mysteries, beautiful scenery and vegetation, but it’s like Midsomer Murders with better gardens !

The Jetty (iplayer)
Unforgotten (Netflix/itvX)

Just watched Rebecca on Netflix - bloody brilliant

Mare Of Easttown. But only free on Sky/Now. Brilliant.

We watched Prisoners last night with Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman. Intense stuff.

Medical dramas ? St. Elsewhere, E.R.
or Hill Street Blues, N.Y.P.D. Blue

Some oldies which will definitely fit the bill:

The original Prime Suspect with Helen Mirren.
Messiah (2001) with Ken Stott.

Kin and Love/Hate, both Irish, both great. Love/Hate is grittier.

The Gathering

@EasternStandard where is that please

The Essex Millionaire Murders (recent true crime documentary but really gripping).
Line of Duty.
You have to watch Slow Horses! I don't like spy stuff either but it's really not standard fare.
State of Happiness (Scandi) is good.
The Bridge
Life on Mars.
Endeavour - each series it just gets better.