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Marple - The Pale Horse (30/08/10) starred Julia McKenzie in the title role but it was Pauline Collins as the “proprietrix” of the hotel (and chief witch) who stole the (very) starry show. The book is not actually a Miss Marple investigation but no matter, the London metropolis contrasted with eccentric village life makes it a suitable vessel. This was a competent but not wildly exciting watch but then it wouldn’t be since that is not the essence of Marple.

Vexed (15/08/10) starring Toby Stephens as a complacent DI with a knack of making inappropriate comments and indulging in childish humour while Lucy Punch is his more serious but stressed and frustrated partner. A chuckle-raising comedy which has a bit of dark edge as it deals with violent crime. Not an instant hit, maybe, but I will be watching the rest of the series.

Sherlock (08/07/10) and a cracking fast-paced finale with Moriaty revealed. For me these shows succeed because they show intelligent people racing through life leaving the dullards behind. The double-act between Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman works really well. Watson’s irritation (and admiration) for Sherlock adds another layer to the show. The “Sun revolves around the Earth” strand comes from early in the original Conan Doyle writings.

The Deep (03/08/10) was another new series from BBC1 but it’s just not in the same league as Sherlock despite excellent actors like Minnie Driver and James Nesbitt. I have a problem with studio submarine sets that are huge - submarines are pokey and claustrophobic. The story was rather clichéd and didn’t surprise me but, heck, this was only the first episode, let’s see what happens next!

Sherlock (01/08/10) and the second episode did not disappoint. More depth was added to Martin Freeman’s Dr Watson with humour resulting from his commonsense sometimes catching Sherlock out. When John is frantically questioned by Sherlock about having memorised the symbols painted on a wall, he calmly indicates that he has photographed them. This time we had fiendish oriental villains - very much in the style of the old old Sherlock Holmes tales! More next week!

Sherlock (25/07/10) and surprisingly Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss have managed to revitalise the well-known story of Sherlock Holmes. Their young irritatingly brilliant and frighteningly observant consulting detective has a brain that runs 100 mph! This first episode raced along at high speed just giving us time to compare the setting and characters with those from our memories. Cleverly using a combination of captions and Sherlock’s monologues we were able to observe through a criminologist’s mind. The introductions are over and we will soon be plunged into another episode.

Taggart (18/07/10) It was good to see an old favourite back but the story was pretty undramatic. I enjoyed it but it could have done with a bit more drama and pace. A bit more “Waking the Dead?”

The Silence (12-15/07/10) is a crime drama with a deaf teenager as the only witness to the killing of a policewoman. Amelia Edwards is played by Genevieve Barr who is actually deaf and the we see (and hear) her struggling with her new cochlear implant. She is already struggling with the effects of being pushed into the noisy hearing world and scared for her safety. The murders are fellow police officers and by coincidence (!) her uncle is investigating the crime. Amelia adds an interesting strand to a pretty slow-moving “thriller” plot.

Identity (05/07/10) a dramatic new police series in six parts. The pace of the show is pretty frenetic and filled with techno-babble. It is certainly glossy and image conscious with dramatic aerial shots etc. But could a strange 20-odd young man who likes to pose as schoolboy really bring an ex-soldier to his knees by stealing his identity? Not sure if I really like this, I need to see the next episode to see how it develops.

Father and Son (10/06/10) was the concluding episode and Michael O’Connor managed to get a reasonably good result from a desperate situation. This has been a gripping well-produced action drama.

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Luther (08/06/10) was the last episode of the series with the rather unlikely plot which had Luther go on the run (unnecessarily) and then enlist Alice’s help to steal the gun that killed his wife. He even managed to get Mark North on side to rob a police locker. The end was no great surprise and this series has stretched credulity as it went along.

Father and son (08/06/10) and another cracking episode full of gun-toting action. This is a dramatic good old-fashioned crime drama but with high production values. More to come as Michael wheels and deals to try and protect his son.

Father and Son (07/06/10) started out telling us about tough criminal Michael O’Connor living in Ireland after a long sentence in prison. He is dragged back to his old criminal roots in Manchester after his son, Sean, who lives there with his police officer aunt, is caught up in a culture of gangs and guns. The question is how far will he go to save his 15-year-old son from the prison culture?

Ashes to Ashes (21/05/10) was the last ever episode and explained who Gene Hunt was and what his strange world was all about. The main revelation about a life after death I had decided upon but the revelation about the body in the shallow grave and it’s ghost did surprise me. Rather a sad end for Alex after all her efforts to get back to her daughter but still she has gone to a better place!

The Prisoner (15/05/10) was another confusing episode with two versions of number six when a darker alter-ego “splits” off. Six fights to suppress his murderous other self. Is this a metaphor or is he schizophrenic? He also returns to his employer, summakor’s, offices and is able to look out of the window at the village. All will be explained next time!

Luther (11/05/10) was thrown into the desperate case of a trained killer with ordinary coppers in his sights. Idris Elba’s intense character may even have a death wish. He certainly is reckless and driven. Can’t wait for the next story!

The Prisoner (08/05/10) was tortured by the introduction of his lover, Lucy, into The Village as 4-15 although it’s not clear whether he is naturally in love with her or the attraction is artificially (chemically) manipulated. Indeed, whether she was part of the plot before he was, presumably, abducted. I am not sure why she is blind when in the village? (Love is blind?) Also why was she passed out in the hallway outside Number Six’s apartment? Then more holes appeared in The Village but, no problem, you just need pig’s breath to keep them at bay. And why did they kill of the cab driver’s young daughter? Another confusing episode not helped by muttered dialogue.

Luther (04/05/10) burst onto our screens. DCI John Luther is a passionate, angry, violent man who practically kills a paedophile at the very start of the first episode. Later, he smashes the panels from a door at his, separated, wife’s home when she tells him that she has a new man in her life. Despite the violent outbursts he is an intelligent policeman who soon gets the measure of a creepy psychopathic girl killer called Alice Morgan.

The Prisoner (01/05/10) continues on its confusing way. The village has strippers and violent bikers, it’s so different from the sanitised world of the old series. We have creepy children trained in surveillance techniques so that they can spy on their parents and report on them. But there are other bizarre strands: what is going on with 2 and his wife who he woke from her coma with a black pill and what about the big hole that the cabbie has found?

Foyle’s War (25/04/10) ended last night with a story of spies double-dealing during the Second World War. This was another fairly complicated tale that Foyle went to great lengths to disentangle. More terrific effects to achieve an authentic appearance to the programme.

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Written by Terry Sibley

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