Anyone NOT a fan of uk dramas any more and prefer well made well written American shows?

[Graphista]

I keep trying uk stuff and every time I'm disappointed!

So I'm increasingly reluctant to try new stuff. I find this is particularly true of shows "everyone" raves about!

The main one I thought was utterly shit was dr foster.

I keep getting sucked in by them being touted on chat shows and online (both marketing stuff and family and friends and recommendations on forums like here)

So I get excited at the prospect and then try them - and they're crap!

I much prefer well made, good long series (24 episodes or thereabouts, several series at least 3) American shows

Lie to me, white collar, suits, bull, the rookie, prodigal son (really bummed that's been cancelled!), this is us, lucifer, castle, the mentalist, house, criminal minds, bones, desperate housewives, friends, the good wife, the good fight, charmed (original), elementary, greys anatomy, the practice. ER, ncis, Mrs maisel,

Very very few uk shows come close - not least I think because they aren't given the same investment! In terms of both money and time. Most are 6-8 episodes per series but that isn't the whole story I feel the quality of writing and production is lacking too. Lots of very predictable, non innovative ideas and storylines.

So this thread has 2 aims

1 I'm looking for a new quality show to watch I tend to end up watching old favourites on repeat as I struggle to find new shows I enjoy as much

2 I'm wondering if I'm the only person that feels this way?

I want uk tv and film to do well but it seems to be really struggling at the moment and I'd like to discuss why that may be.

I can't remember the last time there was a genuinely good new uk show that I enjoyed came out. I keep trying ones that get good reviews and good "public" response but when I try them they're shit!

I WANT to support uk tv and film making but I'm not finding this easy to do at all!

Some of the things you mentioned, like Bones, are basically older - they were making better UK television then too.

I agree - but the question then is WHY was better tv being made then?

IS it because there is less investment now and should that be being addressed?

Ashes to ashes wasn't quite as good as life on mars (but I must admit on my part that's likely partly as I don't like keeley hawes much as an actress)

There is very much an element of instead of coming up with new stories, new ideas many of the show makers are (similarly to what's happening with film in more obvious ways with the endless bloody "reboots") they're simply going eg "oh broadchurch was loved cos it was one crime over a whole season" and copying that - without having the creative chops to actually do it well and pull it off!

They're copying certain elements of the most popular/well received/highly rated shows without understanding why exactly those shows were successful.

Taking the example of broadchurch - imo it was as successful as it was because

The one crime over a whole season thing was a NEW thing at the time

It had a great cast

It had excellent writing and direction

It had some wit in it

It had well developed fully rounded characters not stereotypes

It had at the time an unusual setting (few crime shows at that time were set in modern coastal locations with an understanding of how seaside towns are)

The main factor imo was the NOVELTY factor - and when you copy ANYTHING there's zero novelty factor!

I feel the same.
Dexter is good if you haven't watched it BUT I think the original series is no longer on any streaming services.
The only UK shows I like are things like the IT Crowd and the Office, UK drama just doesn't do it for me.

I started watching Dexter ages ago but the it was removed from uk content when I was halfway through 1st season and I've not been able to find it since! Maddening when that happens

OP I have just finished Impeachment all about the Lewinsky/Clinton affair in the 1990's. Brilliant TV. I enjoy alot of the FX stuff. Another good one is The Flight Attendant on sky. I have never seen Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones either. Another one which has huge hype is Peaky Blinders which I have never seen but I am going to give it a go tonight and see what I think.

The copying thing is huge in film.

I think that is absolutly budget related. Most of the films released for widespread theater distribution are effects based stuff like Marvel. They cost an incredible amount of money. So they have to appeal to a very wide demographic, they have to be playable in a lot of different countries, they have to work translated without too many complex cultural elements that some guy living in Seoul will find frustrating, or which will be culturally insensitive. Etc.

All this means they are very risk adverse.

I'm not convinced the huge writing teams are really great in the end. I worked as a nanny for a while for a scriptwriter from Hollywood, I remember them sending him things where he was going to be the 25th guy to try and make a script work. It seems to me that it ends up in many cases being very generic, there is no real vision, nothing that they are trying to say. No real author's voice.

I thought the first season of PB was ok but it succumbed to the usual issues after that.

If anyone is reading your OP who knows me in real life they will think I wrote it

I know this isn't AIBU but YANBU!

One of the reasons IMO is that there is too much nepotism in the UK tv and film industries. If you look into most UK actors they either come from a privileged, wealthy upbringing or have parents who are already in the industry. In the US that seems to be the case much less.

If you look at IMDB it's all

UK - Barnaby Hartington-Smythe was born in Kensington to parents who were an opera singer and a lord and attended prestigious theatre school...

US - John Smith was born in Newtown, Kentucky to parents who were a teacher and a waitress.

Have you seen Happy Valley? There are two series and a third is being made. One crime solved over six episodes. Set in the north. Female lead and female writer. It’s on iPlayer. The two series are connected.

@MadameMinimes

Bridgerton was also good fun.

Bridgerton is Netflix so is funded and written by people from the US.

I think Peaky Blinders was the last UK TV series I really liked.

I came to it late and saw it on IPlayer - haven't seen lastest series - few quibbles but overall really liked. Though used to love Call the Midwife but it's not even a shadow of what it once was and Dr Who just a joke - though hopefully that may improve.

I have found a few K dramas on netflicks I've liked - but many I don't - they're certainly not afraid of a really improbable plot.

I would say UK drama does seem to be in a bit of a dip at the moment.

Impeachment also on to watch list

Peaky blinders I'm a little tempted by as I like cillian Murphy but I'm genuinely worried it'll be yet another disappointment - is pb peaky blinders? In which case I won't bother

@SantaClawsServiette yea the generic, risk averse thing really does my nut in!

@Snowiscold frankly your post seems like the classic "haven't bothered to actually read the op properly let alone the thread" post

Happy valley is exactly the kind of show I am talking about as one I don't/wouldn't like!

Peaky blinders was awful, I couldn’t get beyond Cillian Murphy’s horrendous accent

I did read your post. Happy Valley might only be 6 eps per show but fits the other categories you want. I’ll leave you to it.

@Graphista

Some of the things you mentioned, like Bones, are basically older - they were making better UK television then too.

I agree - but the question then is WHY was better tv being made then?

IS it because there is less investment now and should that be being addressed?

Ashes to ashes wasn't quite as good as life on mars (but I must admit on my part that's likely partly as I don't like keeley hawes much as an actress)

There is very much an element of instead of coming up with new stories, new ideas many of the show makers are (similarly to what's happening with film in more obvious ways with the endless bloody "reboots") they're simply going eg "oh broadchurch was loved cos it was one crime over a whole season" and copying that - without having the creative chops to actually do it well and pull it off!

They're copying certain elements of the most popular/well received/highly rated shows without understanding why exactly those shows were successful.

Taking the example of broadchurch - imo it was as successful as it was because

The one crime over a whole season thing was a NEW thing at the time

It had a great cast

It had excellent writing and direction

It had some wit in it

It had well developed fully rounded characters not stereotypes

It had at the time an unusual setting (few crime shows at that time were set in modern coastal locations with an understanding of how seaside towns are)

The main factor imo was the NOVELTY factor - and when you copy ANYTHING there's zero novelty factor!

Agree with all this.

If you like "The Tudors" you'll like "Reign". It's similar addictive nonsense

@Snowiscold

I did read your post. Happy Valley might only be 6 eps per show but fits the other categories you want. I’ll leave you to it.

In defence of happy valley, it is excellent and well acted, not a stage school kid in sight and good resolution

Thanks @AnotherEmma another great that gets it!

I've not seen Reign anywhere I've heard about it but not sure where it's available

Happy valley seems though (and I know I haven't watched it) to be yet another dreary misery upon misery drama with again no levity

A PP mentioned Sex Education which I enjoyed. It's British but doesn't feel too British

Please give Succession a go. You'll either "get it" or you won't. If you do, you're in for an absolute treat. My advice is...watch it from episode 1 with the knowledge that it's dark satire.. The put downs are sublime.

@Graphista Reign is on Prime. It used to be on Netflix. It's 4 long seasons (I think 22 episodes per season). It's very addictive but is as historically accurate as other trashy "period dramas" (so not at all)

Reign also has an extremely hood-looking cast. Toby Regbo as Francis is my future husband

Good-looking

Yes I really do agree. Most Uk dramas are predicatable, trite and underwhelming.
I did quite enjoy Vigil recently and Happy Valley is very well done, but I totally take your point.

Definitely crack on with Succession, it's one of the smartest tv shows in years. White Lotus Hotel doesn't have multiple seasons but was a joy to watch last year

I think I have very similar tastes to you, and I also struggle with finding UK drama series I enjoy. US ones I don't think you've mentioned are Mad Men (my all time favourite show), The Good Doctor, Big Little lies, Madam Secretary and Scandal (although I stopped that after the first couple of series). All the Aaron Sorkin as well, so West Wing, Newsroom, and Studio 60 on Sunset Strip. Rewatching Newsroom a few months ago reminded me just how good it was at the time, but also how much things have changed in the meantime.
Game of Thrones is not for me either.
I'm definitely watching this thread for ideas.

If you like Greys have you seen Private Practice, which is effectively when Addison moves to LA and tells parts of her story we weren't aware of, and Station 19 which is the fire station that Grey Sloan works with?

Then maybe Chicago Fire, Chicago Med and Chicago PD, oh and New Amsterdam as well