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BuzzJack Music Forum _ Television _ PRIME SUSPECT
Posted by: HausofTroye 15th February 2016, 08:37 PM
Appreciation/discussion for the classic British show from the 90s/00s (if anyone else has seen it? - if not do!).
The British police procedural television drama series starring Helen Mirren in perhaps her greatest ever role broke boundaries, addressed any and every controversial topic and did it with expert precision and brilliant execution. The show has been critically lauded and praised and it has gone down as one of the greatest British shows ever made, hugely inspirational and daring and still continuing to make its mark today.
So have you seen it, and if so what are your thoughts on the various cases? If not, and you're looking for a (relatively) short show to get into, you could do much worse than this incredible show.
Posted by: Maurice 15th February 2016, 08:41 PM
We watched this at home as it was aired on Dutch tv after Morse i do remember it, my dad was a huge fan of it at the time.
Posted by: Froot. 15th February 2016, 09:23 PM
I've never seen this but I've always been aware of it! I didn't actually realise that there were so little episodes considering how long it ran for. 
Posted by: HausofTroye 15th February 2016, 09:43 PM
Well for the most part each episode is 3.5 hours and is an entire season in official TV terms. But it's a show that breaks boundaries and isn't really confined by normal expectations. Each is like an extended film and I don't think watching it over the course of a few weeks (as originally broadcast) would give it as much impact. In my opinion each season needs to be watched from start to end, and despite being very lengthy, it's so gripping the time really flies by anyway
But yeah, not that long despite the extended time period it was actually shown on TV and well worth a quick purchase on Amazon and watch ~
Posted by: HausofTroye 15th February 2016, 09:49 PM
I watched them all a while ago as part of my Film and TV masters course and have returned to them this past week. I've just finished '3'.
They each deal with a separate issue quite closely (gender, racism, homosexuality, paedophilia etc) and so each is like a completely different ballpark. I think my favourite is '2' (racism) - I struggle to find better acting than some of the performances throughout it 
Don't really remember 4 onwards but I'll be rewatching them over the next week!
Posted by: Maurice 15th February 2016, 10:31 PM
I see they are on the Dutch Netflix might watch them. Is it like "A Touch of Frost" and Morse? Or something complete different ?
Posted by: HausofTroye 17th February 2016, 10:48 PM
THIS SHOW !
I thought when re-watching them all that i'd enjoy them but I think i'm actually preferring them second time round and through the nature of the show I didn't expect them to have such good replay value. I have watched 'Scents of Darkness' and 'Errors of Judgement' today and honestly sweated HARD.
I have yet to rewatch the final two seasons (but it won't take me long to do that given how gripped I am) so I will save a full rank of the seasons/episodes until then but honestly GIVE THEM ALL A WATCH. I'd say 5 - 'Errors of Judgement' matches/surpasses some of the first 3 seasons for sheer grit and suspense so it's certainly more effective when they don't break the seasons down into mini-films (like they did with Season 4 (even though 'Scents of Darkness' is INCREDIBLE (but mainly because of the link to the murder in the first season))).
Posted by: HausofTroye 17th February 2016, 11:15 PM
... and that's just the entertainment value and ignoring the REAL LIFE / SOCIAL implications. Gender, sexuality, race, politics, and everything in between explored so callously and truthfully. I think this is firmly my favourite ever British show.
Posted by: HausofTroye 22nd February 2016, 08:24 PM
I finished it all over the weekend. There is not a single moment of it that I did not enjoy and I can't say for any(?) other show. It's truly an incredible ride.
My attempt at ranking the episodes:
1. Prime Suspect 2
2. Prime Suspect
3. Errors of Judgement
4. The Last Witness
5. Prime Suspect 3
6. 4 - The Scent of Darkness
7. The Final Act
8. 4 - Inner Circles
9. 4 - The Lost Child
GAH every single one is incredible though - I cannot recommend the show enough. Severe withdrawal symptoms now it's over ~
Posted by: Maurice 22nd February 2016, 08:38 PM
Well you can come over to mine cause I'm watching it right now ( I'm on 4-inner circles) 
Posted by: bipolar angel 23rd February 2016, 09:31 AM
i like the show.
it was (still is) good
watch them on dvd still
Posted by: Count Olaf 16th February 2017, 12:00 PM
Prime Suspect 1973 aka a PREQUEL is starting on ITV on Thursday 2nd March and will be a six part series.
The six-part series will also star The Inbetweeners' Blake Harrison as DS Spencer Gibbs - another of Jane's superiors - while Alun Armstrong, Ruth Sheen, Lex Shrapnel and Jay Taylor have been cast as members of a crime family. Jessica Gunning and Andrew Brooke are playing Jane's fellow officers, and the cast also includes Nick Sidi, Geraldine Somerville, Joshua Hill, Tommy McDonnell and Jordan Long.
Prime Suspect 1973 comes from writer Lynda La Plante, who wrote and created the original series. Her novel which precedes the new series, Tennison: Prime Suspect 1973, was released last week.
Posted by: Mack 16th February 2017, 01:03 PM
Would like to see repeated on ITV3, never seen it. Really want to see it though.
Posted by: Count Olaf 16th February 2017, 03:31 PM
It's currently airing every night on ITV3 in the run up to this new series! Just found out otherwise I would have recorded them to watch, they might be put on ITV Hub but they'll probably run out before I'm able to watch them all!
The 2nd part of Prime Suspect 2 airs tonight.
(just realised I should record the rest and I should be able to watch the other three if they're on ITV Hub in time!)
Posted by: HausofSZA 22nd February 2017, 06:00 PM
I AM HERE FOR THIS obviously. The original as i've said here is one of the greatest shows ever made in my opinion.
With Lynda La Plante on board this *could* be solid. It will sorely miss Helen Mirren but i'm willing to give it a chance. FROOT get on them, essential viewings!
Posted by: Klaus 22nd February 2017, 06:37 PM
I have indeed been recording them, so just need to start them! This is based on your recommendation so you better not let me down 
Posted by: common sense 24th February 2017, 03:19 PM
The first one was easily the best. Looking forward to the new series Prime Suspect 1973 starting next Thursday on ITV.
Posted by: HausofSZA 2nd March 2017, 07:01 PM
TONIGHT.
Excited and nervous but so willing to give it a chance. Tennyson is one of the most fearless, well-respected women on TV so to see how she began will be interesting at least. I hope the drama, tension, grit and realism is still maintained.
Posted by: Klaus 2nd March 2017, 07:05 PM
I've watched the first episode and I did enjoy it, particularly in addressing the sexism in the force as well as the distrust of a new person in charge I guess? Already I'm seeing the strength in the characterisation of Helen's character! A really engaging did he/didn't he story as well, very much looking forward to seeing how it concludes.
of the original series i mean of course
Posted by: HausofSZA 2nd March 2017, 10:04 PM
Glad you're watching it !!
First episode of 1973 was pretty much exactly what I wanted it to be. Same style as the original, in terms of grittiness and humour. I am really impressed with young Tennison too, she has some of the later DCI's mannerisms and although nothing can really match Mirren's character it's a good go at it! I loved the smoking references, the "more posh" girls on the force comment and how genuine it all seemed.
The scene examining the dead body was brilliant - you would never imagine a later Jane just falling to the ground at the slight command of a man. And again in the scene where they visited the deceased's parents, her willingness to ask for guidance and do exactly as she's told - it's all part of how she becomes the fearless DCI we know some 20 years later.
Excited to see how the story develops!
Posted by: UltraGreenLight 2nd March 2017, 10:07 PM
Never watched the original series but I found this fantastic! Very interesting! Think I'll need to watch the originals at some point!
Posted by: Maurice! 2nd March 2017, 10:27 PM
Absolutely amazing right from the start! As a huge fun of the original i'm glad this is made in the same style and i'm looking forward to see how the rest of the series develops.
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