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Original poster

to think Shetland isn't as good as The Killing

103 replies

coatonarack · 10/03/2013 21:56

Not nearly enough Shetland jumpers. Or ponies. At least Sarah Lund wandered around in Hunter wellies a lot.

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 10/03/2013 22:59

Forgot it was on. I loved the books but sounds like I've not missed much.

I really struggle with most Scottish accents.

Magimedi · 10/03/2013 23:02

Just agree with all tigerdriver has said.

Such a shame as the books ar fab.

SaggyOldClothCatpuss · 10/03/2013 23:09

Red Bones is a dark and gloomy book. Im just about to watch it. Ill report back with a verdict in a while...

JaquelineHyde · 10/03/2013 23:11

Less I know I have lived there!!!!!

Moved back to England in August and believe me it is not at all cosmopolitan.

SaggyOldClothCatpuss · 10/03/2013 23:11

Plopple an Orcadian is someone from Orkney.

claudedebussy · 10/03/2013 23:12

they mumble too much. i kept thinking 'speak up!' and i'm only 40. Hmm

not a patch on the killing. although i enjoyed looking at hattie. she is very beautiful. but now she's deeeeeeaaaaad

MousyMouse · 10/03/2013 23:16

I'm from forrin and was able to understand most of it.
loving the rolled rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

JaquelineHyde · 10/03/2013 23:16

Also there is no such thing as a typical Shetland accent, there are loads of variations accross the mainland and out islands.

I lived on one of the outer islands, Yell and the accent there was different to the typical Lerwick (the main town) accent and the accents on the Soutside again were different.

In fact Shetlanders sometimes couldn't understand each other because of the variation of accent, it was a big joke that nobody ever spoke to anyone from Whalsay (another outer island) becasue no one ever had a clue what they were saying. We don't think they even had a clue a lot of the time Grin

Pandemoniaa · 10/03/2013 23:23

I think 'lacklustre' is a pretty good description. I didn't have any issues with accents and underneath the brooding, the mist and the distinct impression that it has been overly influenced by the Shetland Tourist Board, there's an interesting plot line. Unfortunately, it's got somewhat swamped by the 'atmospherics'. But I'd rather like to read the book it was based on. I also don't think it has been helped by being shown a week after the much more gripping 'Mayday' though.

SaggyOldClothCatpuss · 10/03/2013 23:30

Pandemoniaa Ann Cleeves who wrote the original book is very good. Raven Black is the first in the Shetland Quintet, Red Bones on which Shetland is based is the 3rd. They are definitely worth a read, but do paint an often gloomy picture of Shetland.

Pandemoniaa · 10/03/2013 23:35

Thanks Saggy. I've just bought the Kindle edition of Raven Black.

SaggyOldClothCatpuss · 10/03/2013 23:38

I have to say, 20 minutes in, the TV series bears little resemblance to the book!
Pandemoniaa enjoy. Raven Black is my favourite so far.

peeriebear · 10/03/2013 23:46

I liked it mostly for the scenery- my family live in Shetland so it was 'spot the places I've been'. As my auntie said, if it was supposed to be January (Up Helly Aa is in Jan) they would have all frozen their arses off; nobody was wrapped up warm enough :o and it was too light, and the grass was too green...
And yes, true Shetland accents can be impenetrable.

SaggyOldClothCatpuss · 11/03/2013 00:56

Well I wasnt impressed with the programme sadly. Its barely recognisable as the book and doesnt have any substance. The people and places are all wrong. I love Douglas Henshal but he is totally wrong for the part.

Peerie I was watching Up Helly Aa on webcam in January. It was pissing down and the wind was blowing the flames from the torches horizontally! Its a wonder nobody got their beard singed! Shock I cant imagine doing a risk assessment on an event like that! Grin

peeriebear · 11/03/2013 11:04

Up Helly Aa is a great spectacle :) however no women are allowed to take part in the torch procession or the jarl squads!

SaggyOldClothCatpuss · 11/03/2013 12:16

I'd be quite happy not to be wandering about in fancy dress in sideways rain TBH! Grin I'd be happy to be a bystander in several layers of thermals and a fur coat!

shallweshop · 11/03/2013 12:26

Just watched it for the scenery - don't think much of the plot though. I just love Shetland. My dad was from Unst and I have lots of happy memories of holidays spent there. Agree that there are lots of dodgy accents! Sent my Shetland cousin a text about it and she replied saying we should allow for some artistic licence!

Also, the music in The Lounge Bar sounded more Irish than Shetland to me!

LessMissAbs · 11/03/2013 12:28

Surely "doing" different accents is part of being an actor? Steven Robertson, the Shetland actor (the blond pc Sandy) is the best bit in it!

I think its badly directed. Its very slow and dull, and cliched. Too much relies on the fact that it is in Shetland, which is promoted at every point. The promotional clips on tv are so cliched its a bit sickening: "Most murders are committed by people known to the victim" - no, really? Newsflash!

I find it depressing that this thread illustrates the lack of awareness of other accents in the UK. Do people never travel?

peeriebear · 11/03/2013 12:29

There's lots of fire to warm yourself by :) It just galls me that they do this big "we are men, we are Vikings!" thing, and they then dress up as schoolgirls, superheroes and cartoon characters. But WOMEN would somehow violate the sanctity of the event?!
Anyway, it's just an excuse for the entire population to get eye bleedingly drunk and stay up until 8am... :)

Northumberlandlass · 11/03/2013 12:32

Did anyone else notice how misty / foggy it was in their houses ?

Wasn't overly keen, don't have any issue with understanding the accent (didn't seem that strong to me) but will watch it again tonight !

shallweshop · 11/03/2013 12:44

Peeriebear - each island has its own Up Helly Aa and women are allowed to take part in these smaller events. I had great fun at the Unst one the year my cousin was Guiser Yarl and yes, I did get very drunk and went to bed about 6.00am Grin

peeriebear · 11/03/2013 13:14

Yes I keep referring to the main Lerwick one as if it's the only one!

SaggyOldClothCatpuss · 11/03/2013 13:39

If you read the book, there are lots of different accents. Perez is from Fair Isle, Sandy is from Whalsay. The chief inspector is from Aberdeen and the archaeologists are English. The series sadly bears little resemblance to the book. Sad
I thought Up Helly Aa was invented to give the wild young blokes something o do in the winter? Isn't the point to keep the men out of trouble? Back when it was invented, (Victorian era?) women didn't need to let off steam, they were too well behaved!

recall · 11/03/2013 13:45

Lsmissabs Would you be able to differentiate between a Somerset, Dorset and Devon accent ?

racingheart · 11/03/2013 13:52

Gave up after 5 mins. I love the books. Douglas Henshall is a great actor but not for Jimmy Spanish Armada Perez FGS. How silly was that casting?

It felt very plodding and flat. No atmosphere. Like they'd made it because they were told to, not because they wanted to.