User Reviews

Very disappointed in Season 3. So many scenes with no sense or follow up as to what is going on. Marcella merely wanders around looking and acting the tarty role, and has very little dialogue! Struggling to watch to the end. No need for a 4th Season. Enjoyed Season 1 and 2, but it has gone downhill from there.

While seasons 1 and 2 were excellent, season 3 misses the target. I was quite disappointed at the premise, including the weak dialogue and unconvincing acting. It seems that season 3 was either rushed to production or the quality control that one had come to expect dropped substantially.

Really third season ruined the show completely, these mental relapses and split personalities is a total bs, unwatchable scenes you just fast forward.

Enjoyed S1 and found parts of S2 were good. But S3 has been a hard slog. It's just so badly written, I don't understand how it ended up as bad as this. Surely itv have people who check that the story makes sense, that smart characters aren't constantly doing stupid things etc. It feels like they made it because of a tax break in Ireland rather than because it made sense. Please don't make a 4th series. It's run out of steam and ideas.

I really liked this series. I'm reading some of the other reviews, and I think this should get more love.

If I'm reading this correctly, folks think this is pretty standard, along the lines of "The Fall" ( I'm going to review that too). My problem is I am not comparing this to other shows that are obviously, and clearly comparable. I realize that this is a good, or even maybe best way to judge a show, but I ain't doing it.

I liked the story, the writing and how the actors managed the lines. I liked the lead, I felt I "got her" right away, so any faults she made in character, and her characters behavior got a pass from me. She is a bit much upstairs for law enforcement, but the actor made me want to hope she keeps her job even if she's far from "stable".

I felt most of the characters developed well enough. One reviewer mentioned the stone faced guy, I see that too, but the rest felt like actual people who would say and do the stuff they said and did.

I felt it was well done, smartly done, kept me wanting, and in my view, delivered! In comparison to other stuff out there, I won't say it's the best crime series, but I liked it better than "The Fall", and I'm just digging in my heels and loving the production more than it's categorical rating. I guess I'm saying it ain't the best brand of candy bar, but it's good "sweets".

One thing I've learned is to not judge a show based on its reviews here. Stuck to my guns and watched it and binged watched both two seasons in two days . Amazing Defo worth a watch can not wait for season 3. Baffled by the 1/10 and 2/10 reviews it's at least a 7/10 always leaves you wanting more

Anna Friel is terrific as Marcella in this tv series which began in 2016. And what a concept. She plays a police detective with DID (dissociative identity disorder) whose personal life is somewhat of a mess and has been since the loss of her baby daughter some years earlier. She is now divorced with two children.

I'll just say that there are some great scenes and some interesting storylines throughout Marcella, but there are a couple of big problems. First of all, if one isn't familiar with a group of actors (and I only knew Jamie Bamber) - well, the actors sort of look alike.

Too many beards, too many redheads, too many blondes - I was confused in the way people have been when I'm watching a soap opera and they ask, was that the same woman who was with the tall guy? Casting directors make this mistake all the time as they prefer certain types and keep casting them in the same show. Sloppy. You can do that with a group of stars that people recognize, not with actors no one knows.

The biggest problem is the show's failure to resolve a lot of the subplots. I kept asking a friend who'd seen it what happened with so and so, and all I got was "keep watching." Well, I kept watching and guess what - I still don't know what happened with so and so, and in fact, more than a few so and sos.

Case in point - though this has to do more with weak writing. The main character finds out that someone in the police department is filming her at home (which turns out to be a lucky thing). She returns to the office, slaps him, and yells at him for filming her. End of scene. We don't know why he was, we don't know if they had some prior relationship, we don't know if he was obsessed with her - we don't know anything.

However, because of the performance of Anna Friel, I recommend this. Just don't expect answers to everything.

As you may know (if you are Americans you don't), in UK the police men/women ARE NOT ARMED, they're not allowed to carrying guns. It's tradition and they're keeping that way; that's why killing a cop is HIGH CRIME in UK, because exactly that - they are unarmed. (Of course, there is the "Armed Police", with submachine guns)...

...So, this show is a classic INVESTIGATION police movie, with a very good plot/scenario. It's like the "CSI" series, but with more field investigation and less lab research.

Very good TV show, I watched the two season in Netflix in ...a weekend! Very highly recommended. We're waiting the new 3rd upcoming season.

By season 3 they have managed to make their lead character the most annoying character. Time for her to go.

Loved the first episode in the new ITV drama series "Marcella" A real gritty start with a couple of story lines to follow including Marcella's personal life with her husband.

If you have read the Sebastian Bergman books by Hans Rosenfeldt / Michael Hjorth and seen "The Bridge" then you can see where the ideas are coming from, a typical Scandi Noir feeling to the plot which I just love.

The only thing that spoiled it for me was the "Wooden" acting of Andrew Lancell who seems to play the same part in anything he has appeared in. The face does not move, no expression whatsoever. Apart from that a (so far) excellent casting with strong performances from Anna Friel,(just like The Bridge's Saga Norén) Ian Puleston-Davies, Sinead Cusack, Patrick Baladi, Harry Lloyd and Maeve Dermody all playing great parts and strong acting

Looking forward to the next Five episodes in Season 1

What was that?? Wtf is going on, it's like not the same show. It was weird creepy nothing made sense bad at everything. Where is the story.

I finished watching the two seasons last night and find I cannot stop thinking about it. First, I'll say I think the way the last episode ended was brilliant. Just when you think Well, where can they go from here, Marcella is through, they've come up with a hook to keep us viewers eager to go on to the next season. Obviously from many of the reviews here there are lots of people who won't watch another season, but I'm not one of them. Yes, I agree that especially in the second season there was a lot that could have been better in terms of a cohesive plot. I, too, didn't know what was going on half the time. And then, the resolution of the second season was somewhat strange and unbelievable. Ultimately, though, what I loved about it supersedes what I didn't so I'll say I think the writers and producers succeeded in creating the most scary, depressing, morbid, depraved but in the end, very exciting, atmosphere that I've ever seen in a TV show. I'm not a film expert but I think it was the combination of the protagonist's manic and depressive personality, along with all the hideous things that were happening, along with the created ambiance of darkness, rain, grim isolated settings, along with a group of characters, each of whom was more treacherous than the next, along with the music... all of these created an atmosphere that was almost too sordid to watch. The main character, Marcella, is really so unlikable, but I found her fascinating, too. I thought Anna Friel played the role exceptionally. The irony of her little pixie-face paired with who she is and what she does is delicious. I'm thinking now I may watch the two seasons again to pick up on the many details I've probably missed. I'm so looking forward to seeing how it's going to go forward, given the way season two ended.

We just finished watching S3, not because we though it was so good, but just because my need for closure wanted to know how it ended. And it turned out it was even worse than the previous season.

There is no point of watching a series, if it's doesn't keep us on the edge. The humans insanity and struggle between good bad and a strong fight with inner monster is all about this series, it's definitely thrilling

Being produced, written and directed by Hans Rosenfeldt, a Swedish screenwriter and creator of the series Bron/Broen aka The Bridge (adapted as The Tunnel for UK audiences), Marcella is a good example in bringing related undertones and approaches into the UK context. True, the plot includes some doubtfulness and the characters are not so sophisticated and bright-line as Saga Norén and Martin Rohde, but the series is still thrilling and interesting to follow, one can ponder on and over several events and issues.

The wrongdoer was on my list of suspects, but I did not guess the person too early, that is another additional point from me (I have watched hundreds of crime series and, in some cases, the solution is too plain). The cast is even and realistic, there is no one leading role/character shining over the others, as modern police work is always team-work (sometimes "forgotten" by US filmmakers). So, although the series contains hardly any wow! or novel effects, it is still a decent creation to follow, unless you dislike the framework and depiction in Nordic series.

This isn't the type of show I usually watch, but I was just surfing Netflix and saw it. I decided to give it a try, and ended up binge watching it over a weekend.

Marcella is so incredibly flawed, as are everyone around her. There's no clear good and evil, no pat answers, no clean crimes. Everyone is connected, and every connection leads to another answer and another dead end.

There are several very good actors here, including the talented Sinead Cusack as a corporate mogul.

I was very intrigued by where this story is going, and I'm sure it will lead me down an incredible complicated path before it gets there.

Why are the reviews for this show so dubious? It's a well-timed, keep you guessing, edge of your seat thriller from beginning to end, with a perfect soundscape, lots of grip your chair moments, amazing modern photography, an easily followed yet gripping whodunit, a highly watchable lead with a hypnotically baffling personality, exuding with almost 24 hour energy, a mind that is both quick and brilliant and determined, there is up-to-date police method here, used with precision, and the back stories are almost as wicked and engaging as the murder trail itself! At eight episodes long it is not too much to ask of the viewer (each is less than an hour).

I was never a fan of detective shows being more concerned with the private lives of the detectives than the actual police work. Even though that is very much part of the case here what is brilliant about this show is that there are co-incidental tangents between the detective's life and the investigation, somewhat outside of her control, and thus, in this case, we need to see her private life to know what is going on.

To me this show is the correct evolution between British and European crime drama. Sure, I'd still like to see a gritty show that leaves the detectives' lives at home, but in this case all is forgiven. Even the dangerous sounding, and at first odd, sounds of the pumping electronic intro music eventually came to inspire me and see how appropriate it was.

All the actors are great characters, and at no time is belief suspended. It's so good that it becomes apparent to anyone who loved it just how difficult a sequel might be. It's that good.

I really enjoyed the first two seasons. They should have stopped there. The third season is terrible, and the last episode is laughable.

So, yet another shabby detective with a complicated domestic life who brilliantly solves multiple murders on prime-time TV. We've been here before - and to be honest Marcella doesn't quite cut it up against the high quality of the competition.

I'll admit - I've a bit of a soft spot for Friel, and she has the star quality to have carried some slightly ropey scripts in the past, but she can't dominate here - there's just too much going on. Like the city it's set in, this show is frantic, with subplots and red herrings weaving in and out. But as with Agatha Christie or Dick Francis novels that leaves less time to get to know the characters, and attempts to make them "interesting" just get lost in the rush. In particular I suggest you watch (series 1) episodes 6-8 in a block because I didn't, and felt I rather lost track at that point.

Marcella isn't terrible, and is a pleasant enough watch if you've already seen most of the big-name modern detective shows, and/or you don't care for your murders to need subtitles. But at the same time it wouldn't be first on my list, and it probably only makes a 7/10 thanks to Friel.

I found this show to be well crafted. The twists and turns continued to pull me in. I am not a huge fan of dark thrillers, but there was a balance of intrigue, life, and drama that gave clues, yet kept me wondering until the end. I, to be honest, am surprised that it only has a 7.5 rating. I am sure that has to change with more viewers. I could not stop, so here I am on a beautiful Saturday morning writing a review after the conclusion of the last episode.

I highly recommend it... There was emotion, suspense, gasps. There was a great mid-season resolution that led to the rest of the season's suspense. In the beginning I suspected the killer but could never be sure.

Season 3 was terrible. Very bad. 1 and 2 was pretty good,

This show has the most unlikeable cast of characters I've seen on a series and it begins with Marcella herself. I have no idea why I continue to watch it. I gave this series 8 stars the first season but 2 seasons later that's now down to 4 stars because of an unlikeable cast, other than Rav, and writing that makes no sense. Marcella herself is too disturbed to be trusted with anything.