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Beck New Series - starts Saturday 1 July 2023 BBC4 9pm

20 replies

IwantToRetire · 01/07/2023 20:45

I wonder if Beck is going to be like Taggart ie keep the name of what was the main charracter but actually focus on others doing the work.

Including this time his grandson.

If I remember rightly in the last series who only appeared about twice and didn't seem very well.

Will be interesting to see how they make it work.

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Willmafrockfit · 02/07/2023 09:52

saw this for the first time last night,
is it normally better?
got annoyed by the grandson

rosegoldwatcher · 02/07/2023 13:38

The early series were very good (IMO) - Mikael Persbrandt as Beck's pugilistic, brooding sidekick Gunvald Larsson was amazing.

There are several series on STV.

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 02/07/2023 16:58

From memory it was always quite slow, but interesting as it was very much about police procedural, office politics etc.. Then as Beck (not sure why) the character retreated and became peripheral it started to lose substance, and relies more on the personal turmoil of the characters.

And yes the grandson is annoying. It seems to be about giving Beck a domestic life which previously he didn't really have other than across the balcony to his strange neighbour.

In fact they could have made it more interesting to have an unrelated youngster starting and sort of going what's all the reverence for Beck, he's just an old timer.

I always found the ealier ones interesting, but now I wonder if they just shouldn't give up.

Of course it may be that the earlier ones were based on books, and these later efforts are from tv writers.

I think I am right in saying they were also done as radio plays on Radio 4 or 4 extra. So had time to give more background on social issues, politics etc., but I think were always at bit melanchonic.

Looks like that might still be available to listen to here https://archive.org/details/TMBSR4

This is the tv series link https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06chqn8/episodes/guide

The Martin Beck Stories : BBC Radio 4 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Full cast dramatisation of Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo's 10-book series featuring detective Martin Beck and his colleagues in the National Police Homicide...

https://archive.org/details/TMBSR4

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Bloodysoapoperas · 02/07/2023 17:11

I've listened to those and they are pretty good. Made a fair while ago I think. Loads of other decent BBC radio dramas on archive.org too.

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 02/07/2023 17:17

Loads of other decent BBC radio dramas on archive.org too

I found it by chance, and it seems it is a useful resouce. Good to know.

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Willmafrockfit · 02/07/2023 17:55

thank you @IwantToRetire

duc748 · 02/07/2023 21:28

I'm about to dip into this, but am I wrong in thinking that we already saw Gunvald killed off in another series on BBC? Or am I thinking of another character?

rosegoldwatcher · 03/07/2023 00:14

duc748 · 02/07/2023 21:28

I'm about to dip into this, but am I wrong in thinking that we already saw Gunvald killed off in another series on BBC? Or am I thinking of another character?

Yes - the lovely Gunvald was killed off, rather suddenly, in the episode called The Hospital Murders.

BECK - "The Hospital Murders" clip

https://youtu.be/ydYlZYsv6PU

duc748 · 03/07/2023 00:59

rosegoldwatcher · 03/07/2023 00:14

Yes - the lovely Gunvald was killed off, rather suddenly, in the episode called The Hospital Murders.

Show quote history

Thanks, I'm glad it's not me imagining it! 😀I remember thinking at the time; that's a shame, as he was by far the most interesting character.

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IwantToRetire · 11/07/2023 01:09

The second episode was much better, but as usual a bit grim. (very little grandson)

And for anyone who missed the man mountain from Norway, he is somehow back on the team.

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Willmafrockfit · 11/07/2023 06:20

oh thank you, might give it another go @IwantToRetire

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 16/07/2023 23:31

Have to say the third episode was better still.

Quite a complicated plot, so may have missed bits.

Though do wonder when they now give contect warnings at the start of an episode, and specifiying what it is, sort of gives away part of the plot?

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duc748 · 17/07/2023 00:52

Yes, I've been enjoying these. I keep thinking who Alex reminds me of: I'm getting West Wing era Allison Janney, but I think there's someone else?

Original poster
IwantToRetire · 18/07/2023 17:04

Have to say I dont think Alex is anything like a West Wing character which was all about smart alec dialogue IMO!

I wonder if she isn't more like the original Scandinavian in terms of tv series, Sarah Lund.

Sort of serious, and anxious not to let personal emotion influence decisions (though I think towards the end she stopped being so "ethial")

Or even Borgen.

Maybe?

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duc748 · 18/07/2023 17:16

I meant looked like, not character-wise! It's the eyes!

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Marsyas · 18/07/2023 18:04

duc748 · 17/07/2023 00:52

Yes, I've been enjoying these. I keep thinking who Alex reminds me of: I'm getting West Wing era Allison Janney, but I think there's someone else?

I think Dr Abby Lockhart from ER

duc748 · 18/07/2023 18:11

Maura Tierney! Good shout!

So yes, both of those.

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