Waking the Dead: Season 1 and Pilot Episode

In my part of the country, it is getting to be the time of year when I like snuggling in with some of my favorite things in life: good food, good wine and a good detective/mystery to watch on Television. This Season One of BBC's "Waking the Dead" (with the 2 part pilot of the series) certainly satisfies the last item on the aforesaid list.The "Waking the Dead" detective series is new to me. However, I am very glad that I have added the series to my British "Detective/mystery" collection because I really completely enjoyed Season One. It's always so good for me to "discover" a new program of something that I adore. Based on this season, the series is so well acted and directed.I have always enjoyed Trevor Eve (Heat of the Sun, David Copperfield etc.). In this series, Trevor plays a tough, no-nonsense, barking orders leader of a Cold Case Unit that solves cases that have been given up as "unsolvable". The unit consists of a group of "experts" in their particular field such as psychology or pathology. What I really like is that this Unit does not always operate in a unified manner with each "expert" being very sure of their solution to the case at hand. The leader (played by Trevor) has to, of course, "step in" and solve the differences which he does and sometimes not too nicely. Yes, there can be some rather intense fights between some members of the unit. I really enjoyed watching these "battles".If you enjoy a good Detective/Mystery buy this three disc 567 minute set. By the way, the picture and sound qualities are great plus there are subtitles. Based on this season, I certainly intend to add the remaining seasons to my collection.

If you are into "CSI" types of shows and have not seen this, you are truly missing out. This British series combines excellent acting with fast paced action sequences and extensive crime scene sciences. Unlike the American shows, Waking the Dead employs extensive use of DNA evidence and other crime scene evidence to develop the storyline and the interaction among the characters. The characters are sharply drawn and form a cohesive team in solving cold cases. The team's leader, Boyd, is impatient, brilliant, emotional and a task master. The way he cajoles, yells and connects the evidence to lead the team to solving the evidence is very entertaining and would make an excellent management case study - how to effectively work for a boss who is both exhilarating and breath-takingly scary in an almost unbearably stressful situations. The other members of the team are just as dedicated and smart in solving the case, although less vociferous and provide a nice counterbalance to Boyd's almost manic approach. Even the bad guy perpetrators are multi-dimensional and fleshed out. The series pretty much sticks to the crime solving at hand and does not muddy the plot with extraneous time fillers, to which is the American series often resort to try to cover up the lack of plotline, storyline, character development, etc. I did have some difficulty in understanding the British accent, especially when they were speaking fast; however, if you turn the subtitles on, it is fine. Unfortunately, after couple of the original cast members dropped off in season 4, it just wasn't the same and I stopped watching it.

I first saw this show on BBCAmerica about 6 years ago and was instantly a fan. I am a fan of shows such as CSI:, CSI:Miami, and had seen some of the Cold Case episodes. I do agree with the reviewer above that the episodes are a little slower than the shows here in the US, but Waking the Dead has such great actors and the characters really drive the storylines. Trevor Eve and Susan Johnston play off each other very well. Claire Goose, Will Johnston and Holly Aird who make up the rest of the team are equally compelling. Looking forward to more of this series making it to DVD here in the states. A little disappointed that there were no commentaries or extras but I'm not going to complain because it seem to take forever for British shows to make it on to Region 1 DVDs. Hopefully BBC/BBCAmerica can make that happen a bit more quickly.

You don’t want to start watching this show. The first couple seasons are good, then it’s like the writers got lazy or they thought they were clever because most of the shows don’t have an actual ending. The guy in charge does illegal things in almost every show. The bad guys walk in the end and nobody does anything about it. There are lots of good BBC cop shows. Don’t waste your time and money on this one.

Reviewers appear to like Waking the Dead, which is why I purchased a copy. The protagonists must be into slaughter, rape, violence, and murder in abundance. I am not. This series might as well be a product of American network television, for all of its cruelty and political correctness.Moreover, Acorn has added a new twist to its films: the lengthy introductory commercial that cannot be sped up or sped past. You just have to sit there and endure it. Moreover, when the commercial concludes, at last, you are presented with choices, depending on what you want to see on the disc and how you want to see it. I spotted "subtitles on" and tried to change it. It can't be done, and when you fail you have to go back to the beginning of the disc and re-endure the commercial. After three tries, I simply clicked on "Play all" and the program commenced--without subtitles. Maddening. If this is a trend then I shall go elsewhere for DVDs. As for Waking the Dead, expensive as it was, it goes into the wastebasket. It's just another piece of evidence of moral and cultural decline in this new century.

I love all the BBC mysteries I have bought . Love Touching Evil, Waking the Dead , Wire in the Blood, Poiroit, Vera, Midsomers Murders, Inspector Lewis I search Amazon for new recommendations. always helpful. Need to find an interesting book series-profilers, serial killers. some of the BBC book mysteries too slow. (I have ADHD). Thank-you so much!

Great movie series , exciting

Excellent viewing. Definitely recommend.