Shetland season 8

[laplage]

Anyone else looking forward to the new season starting on Wednesday? It will seem a bit strange without Perez but looks to be a good cast and storyline so far as we know.

And that “quintessentially English” village just happens to be in Scotland too.

Is nothing sacred?!

Yes, but Jimmy looks comically awful as the Major, and Duncan looks weirdly aged as the vicar!

https://visiteastlothian.org/things-to-see-do/towns-villages/tyninghame/

I think it’s a planned village, moved by the landowner from the original location to a new one nearby in the 18th century.

I’d love to know the make of Tosh’s green coat this season

Any idea where the sweatshirt Tosh wears on date night is from?

It looks like it might be Hush, but that’s a guess.

So looks like they're doing two more series and Ashely Jensons character will be coming back. Also looks like Tosh will be back to her old role now Jenson's character is back.

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a60167445/shetland-seasons-9-10-confirmed/

Why can't the BBC leave things on a high? When Perez left, Shetland should have finished(Shetland was Jimmy Perez, just like Vera is Vera Stanhope that's how Anne Cleeves wrote the books).

If they wanted Jenson to play a detective make a new series for her instead of shoe horning her into an already established series.

I do know what you mean; Douglas H was very good as Jimmy. But I guess they've decided that viewers also like the rest of the cast and the setting (I watch it for those reasons, as well as Jimmy).
And TBF those who've read the books have always said he was miscast, being pale and ginger whereas Jimmy was meant to be descended from a Spanish shipwreck.

I quite enjoyed the new one with Ashley J, although it is to some extent a different show. But we still have Tosh and Billy and Sandy, as well as the glorious Shetland landscapes. I'm OK with it.

Yeah, I agree. I liked DH as Perez, but I definitely watch it for the scenery and scenarios as much as individual characters -- I like the combination of people whose families have known one another, and feuded or intermarried, or both, for generations, and the blow-ins, archaeologists, birders, tourists etc. And I also like knowing that, despite it being a crime series, I won't be confronted with graphic violence or sexual violence. If I had no other loyalty to Shetland, I would admire it for the way it presented Tosh's rape, other people's responses, and her recovery from it.

I've deliberately never read the novels, which I gather are very different.

I quite like the Ashley Jensen character's situation of being a returnee, so she has ties there, quite messy ones, but is also an outsider in some ways.

Yes he was miscast, I can't remember his name but there is a Scottish actor who I think would have been more in line with the book (he was in Irvine Welsh's Crime on ITV) but wouldn't have given Jimmy the tortured soul softess that DH is so good at and that Jimmy had in the books.

I do hope Billy, Tosh and Sandy aren't sidelined because they deserve more than just supporting parts.

Would it be Dougray Scott @xSideshowAuntSallyx you're thinking of ? I've just finished watching Crime Season 1

Though personally I loved Douglas Henshaw as Perez but I've not read the books.

Yes, I'd forgotten about the mix of archaeologists, blow-ins etc, but they definitely add to its unique feel too.
And the way it dealt with Tosh's rape was exemplary, I agree.
I am a bit annoyed that (presumably) she'll continue being a deputy, if Ashley J is top dog. I wonder how they're going to justify it in the show? Is she just going to continue saying she'd have to leave the islands for a bit to get the necessary specific experience, and she doesn't want to?

All of this. I had some trepidation about the last series, but I gave it a chance and I’m glad I did. Shetland is bigger than DH, and I enjoyed aspects of AJ’s character and the dynamic of a slightly reluctant returnee.

I also think Tosh’s reasoning about not wanting to work elsewhere and disrupt her settled, family life is absolutely valid if that’s how they choose to play it. Priorities shift in life, and that’s OK.

@LadyEloise1 Yes that's him, he's how I picture Perez from the books.

I've always had a soft spot for Douglas Henshall though, ever since Primeval so I accept the miscast 😂.

I find Dougray Scott a bit of a lightweight, and he also always seems to play someone a bit slippery, if not outright horrible, so I'm not sure he'd have nailed Perez.

I've never thought he was much of an actor. Dougie Henshall is much better.

For some reason I cant remember has started watching Shetland from Series 1. I dont remember any of it so must not have been interested.

There seem to have only been 2 episodes to series 1, but obviously created enough interest to gor for series 2.

But what was so noticeable was how much more upbeat everyone was, even in the pace the spoke to each other.

Even (early) Sandy wa whizzing around and being quick witted, though Tosh did seem a bit ditzy.

I never liked Dougie Henshall when I started watching as he spoke so slowly and drearily you could go away and make a cup of tea and he still wouldn't have got to the point of what he was saying.

So it was almost a relieve to see him being a bit sparky and articulate.

Its funny how in some tv series it almost like they develop a shared style, and the last of the original Shetland cast they all played downbeat and defeated.

But then as I work my way through the series it may well be all the awfulness of what they have had to deal with. Let alone living in such a smal community where it seems every family has some terrible secret to cover up!

When I rewatch the earliest ones, what mostly strikes me is that Perez is a bit scruffier, and the costume designers haven’t yet come up with the Perez Costume of jeans, dark jumper and black pea coat. And that Tosh is a ditsy party girl with braces and a hangover.

And that Tosh is a ditsy party girl with braces and a hangover.

Yes it is more like Sandy is going to be the one to get ahead, and Tosh will be a bit more motivated by emotion etc..

So I suppose we should be glad the series didn't go down the stereotypical route.

So far, still on series 2, women seem to be the wrong doers.

They eased in the background story to Duncan and Perez and they make a good "couple" even though Duncan has already asked for a divorce!

The first few series' were actually based around the books. I do believe they did 2 books a series(2 episodes each or something).

The later ones have just used the characters (or invented them in series 8's case) for the stories and have changed them slightly.

I have to say, Shetland does a good line in flinty female villains. You still have some real wrong'uns to come!

While I've decided never to read the Ann Cleeves novels, because I started with the TV series, and as I gather there are significant differences, it feels 'too late' to read them now, it was only the first two series that were based on the novels, and those were the series that did a novel in two episodes. The first 'series' was only two episodes in total, I think, both based on one novel, and the longer second series was three different two-parters, based on three Cleeves novels. It was only once they seem to have decided to make series where a single storyline extends over six or episodes that they started using screenplays written directly for TV, not adapted from AC's novels, though using her characters.

I didn't realise they stopped using the novels so early. I seem to remember thinking that the standard of the storylines and characters was high until a good few seasons in.

I agree about the villains, and about female characters in general – I adore both Cora and Rhona.

I also don't remember Tosh being ditsy or Jimmy not wearing his nice knits and peacoat! It is clearly a long time since the early seasons.

Sorry feel I've sort of hijacked season 8 thread, but as we are waiting for 9.

Also noticed in these early episodes that they had quite a starry cast.

Brian Cox nearly unrecognisable, and Bill Paterson as Perez's father. And others but I am so bad on names.