User Reviews

Makes a nice change from the formulaic US-style crime dramas with their monologues and maverick cops, pieces to camera and complete absence of false starts, hesitations and incompletions.

The performances (I wanted to say 'scripts', but that doesn't really apply here in the usual sense) are well-judged to contain just enough of the jargon and officialese that marks the dialogue out as belonging to the context of police work and makes it feel believable, but not so laden with it that the actors fall into that pat delivery where emotion has to be overplayed to break through the sheen.

Having a degree of improvisation seems to free the performers up to be both emotive and small-scale; understated and authentic.

(Full disclosure: I do fancy Damien Molony)

My wife and I have watched scores of international detective series. This one is different in that there is almost no mixing in of the detectives' personal lives. It's all about solving crimes through modern police techniques and frequent interviews of suspects. For us, there were two negatives: many of the crimes were extreme ("sick") and there seemed to be excessive use of 4-letter words by everyone. Most of the episodes were self-contained although there were some two-parters and Season 5 followed certain crimes through the entire season. We thought it deserved better than a 7.0 rating.

Love the cast and the concept. This is a non-scripted show. The actors are given a story line to follow and the rest was left up to them. It is a very fresh take and was one of my favorite shows from the first episode. I would have loved to see more from this one. Great cast and Damien Molony is brilliant in this. Love it so much I have purchased every season and watched several times.

The first review I read of this show was not positive, and I don't agree. It seems quite authentic to me, and I like the idea that the cast is not exactly scripted. Obviously the actors have to be taught some police lingo, and have probably been coached on how to handle certain types of people. I like the actors, and any hesitations or camera movements don't bother me. I watch primarily British crime and mystery shows (as well as those from Canada, Australia and New Zealand), because those made here aren't nearly as well done or interesting. Crime shows here feature, it seems to me, only beautiful women and handsome men. That's not how life is! Women in their 30's are not likely to be police superintendents. Helen Mirren, a stunning actress, did a fantastic job in the Prime Suspect series. She was shown without a lot of makeup, a bit tired, and it felt so real, not fake. That's how I think of Suspects as well. And many other British crime shows. Keep them coming! I'll give it a 10!

This won't be everyone's cup of tea. But it definitely is mine. Never before has there been a more convincing TV show, in terms of its plots, dialogue and characters, and this is largely down to its unscripted format and documentary-style filming. Naturally, there's never going to be award-winning artistic cinematography or Hollywood-esque dramatic lines, but that's what makes this show different. You get utterly transported into the working lives of the three detectives, as if you're a fourth party watching over their shoulder.

With the exception of the first and second episodes of the second series, each episode has its own crime to be solved, meaning that there's no grand story arc to follow, and you can dip in and out of the series; missing an episode is no problem.

It's also a breath of fresh air that there's no personal rubbish with the main characters. Sure, sometimes a case gets a little close to home on the occasion, and DI Martha Bellamy noticeably has pictures of her kids on her desk - little touches of believability like that - but other than that, the focus is on the plot and catching the criminal. As it should be.

As someone who has grown up watching Poirot, Sherlock, and countless other crime-solving dramas, you'd think they'd have had enough making these things, but nevertheless the plots keep coming, and the plot twists in this show are actually unpredictable. You yourself are a detective, trying to thread the clues together alongside Jack, Martha and Charlie, and it's certainly a tense ride.

I feel this show will 'revolutionise crime drama', as The Guardian has said. Although the format is foreign and takes a moment to get used to, it's something I don't regret watching. Well done, Channel 5.

Unusual crime drama not just for the unscripted dialogue, but the meta-speed of plot developments. Puzzle pieces and connections among characters that on most crime dramas come together over several episodes fall into place in the course of each crime-to-solution hour. The pace is a bit off-putting, often defies credibility and comes at the expense of deeper character development. But the appeal of the primary detectives and the satisfaction of one-episode resolutions (in most cases) is it's own reward. I prefer the slower-burn dramas but thought this was an entertaining change of pace.

I absolutely love this show.

The only thing I don't like, is the fact that Channel 5 mess around with the episodes and when they are shown. They commissioned 10 episodes for season 1, so they should have shown them in the order they were made. The 7 other episodes should have made up season 2.

I did however like the change to 2-part stories. Would be better if they did them here and there in the series.

Roll on more episodes!

Any idea when season 4 is being shown?

I can't wait much longer!

But when you find yourself playing games on your phone with this running in the background, you know it's not exactly "gripping".

The main dude policeman is SO bad, it's utterly ridiculous. He behaves so unprofessionally, he should have been suspended pending an enquiry and then sacked! If any policeman carried on like that, I'd like to think their career would be curtailed asap.

The filming is different but not always in a good way. I get that it's supposed to be gritty and realistic but it just becomes annoying after a while as with the sound. All echo-y and tinny in the interview rooms.

And, last but not least, I must mention the solicitors, as has most of the other reviewers and their complete indifference to the clients they're supposed to be representing. I'd engage one that wasn't a deaf mute, if I was any of these suspects!

.....explain why ALL the solicitors just sit there taking notes and doing & saying NOTHING in defence of their clients. Is there a British law that says "thou shalt not defend thy client until trial and thou shall shut thy pie hole until then." Those scenes are a TOTAL embarrassment to ALL British solicitors.

I love this series, wish they could have made more seasons. As far as the swearing goes, not that much different from the programs on HBO Starz and other cable channels. Y always have a choice not to watch it. I think it's a great show and it not scripted.

If you like First 48, here is a wonderfully written show that throws you in with the work of being a detective. No useless drama, these are believable characters and due the profession a courtesy. Quick paced and fantastic character actors! Truly enjoyable cases.

I just find this series dull and repetitive. Constantly in interrogation with the "suspects". I always laugh that the "solicitors" NEVER say a thing... Just sit there and act like they are taking notes. Totally predictiable. Seems like every episode is the same. Dont like the video format either. My girl on the other hand loves that. Just not my thing. Boring.

I fell in love with Law & Order decades ago and sought out Law & Order UK 🇬🇧 Really enjoyable with a stellar cast! This show has every bit of the fine acting and possibly a less formulaic storyline that reflects a closer version of real life. Love this show!

The production team must be aiming for a raw, in-the-moment, breaking news type look. This means a constantly shaking hand held camera zooming in and out, frequently looking through windows, catching people either in close up or at great distance, and panning frantically back and forth, left, right, during conversations. (A fifteen year old can provide better photography with a cell phone.) The color is brackish and the recorded sound muddled. While the plots themselves aren't bad, they're fumbled by monotonous and repetitive dialogue. We don't really see a crime, we hear people discuss it or sometimes see brief grainy CCTV footage. Each episode begins and end quite abruptly, so if you miss a plot point, too bad. Most of the performances are undone by heavy accents being muddled in poor sound recording. I'm being generous with three stars.

This show is very good and so well done. Only thing I don't like is the constant F bombs. No need and brings the show down a few points.

"Did you kill your brother?" "No!" "Are you sure?" "Yes!" "Yeah - are you really sure?" Clearly, the actors don't know what to say so they just keep asking suspects if they're sure. If that's a real interrogation technique, the police must get a lot of suspects laughing in their faces. "Oh wait. Maybe I'm not really sure if I killed my brother this morning. Let me think about it." (giggle)

I happened across this program by chance. I'm hooked. Really like everything about it. The twists, turns and out of left field investigations and revelations. Even the shaky camerawork (which is purposeful) gives it an edge. Only 3 episodes in and can't wait to watch more. Just sorry I missed first time around. Love Faye Ripley' character. The 2 supporting detectives are excellent playing off one another, whilst still relying on each other. Overall good series. Hoping it has legs to carry on as good. Sometimes success can change the production and writing, seriously hope that isn't the case here!

I'm glad this series got a high rating-- it certainly deserves it. I went all in with 10 stars because I have no criticisms at all. It's amazingly realistic (I think-- I am not a cop) which is rare. At first, the episodes seem to end very abruptly. But that's it-- case solved, on to the next!

Also, a shout-out to the small-role actors-- but of course there are no small roles! This class of actors in Britain are phenomenal. Compared to the main players-- who are great, but clearly actors-- the many bit players, the perps, witnesses, etc., seem 100% real. I keep thinking, where did they find this guy???

Something that makes me chuckle in each episode are those shots of the elevated tracks outside the police station, with a train rumbling along. That's it! Just a-- i dunno-- an establishing shot? Very funny. In the third season, they toss in more exteriors of the building and less of the elevated train. Sometimes the train is seen through one window, other times through a different window of the same type. Like, WHY???But please don't stop. Perfect show for the person who, like me, craves and devours British crime shows.

One last side-note: It's fun to watch the public defenders who sit in on suspect interviews. These actors sit there, expressionless, motionless, they don't even appear to be listening. They have zero lines. It's like the casting people just pull someone in off the street and say "just sit here, say nothing, do nothing, and you'll get a check at the end of the day."

Which is not a criticism of the show! I wouldn't have it any other way.

I really liked all of these, from the first to the last, well acted and the filming where it seemingly rolled the characters rather than being very set, added to the energy. Overall, a really good set of episode with plenty going on to keep the interest.

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I've found the majority of British crime dramas/procedurals to be at least watchable and at least less insulting to our intelligence than their American counterparts. But Suspects, with its "Get this evidence fast-tracked to tech, please" and "Let me get these two photos sent off to facial recognition" and high-def, color CCTV footage and immediate lab results ("We have your DNA all over the base of this broken bottle!") seems like a way, way dumbed-down version of its predecessors. I can't believe that it's much better than Bones or NCIS or other American prime-time fare. I hope nothing about this show signals a shift in how Brits do the bulk of their crime TV-- i.e., without gimmicks and for a thinking audience (Prime Suspect, Trial and Retribution, Poirot). The cinema verité look they're going for in Suspects backfires. It feels contrived and dated. And the unscripted/improvised dialogue gives the impression that the actors are trying--really, really trying--to look and sound unscripted. Avoid.

I started to watch this with a degree of uncertainty after a recommendation by a friend...I tend to only enjoy true crime documentaries....but on a slow evening with nothing much else to watch o have it a go...I was very impressed from the offset as to how real it made the situation feel?... unlike other crime dramas...it looks at things as they would happen in real life....it takes you inside the eyes of not only how the police find a suspect, but how they have to make the evidence stack up for any procecution....very refreshing and an addictive watch tbh....the last time I enjoyed fictional crime so much was reading the Patricia Cornwell books... Hopefully there will be many more series of this spectacular drama to come?...