So great to have Shetland back, after months of searching and nagging the BBC it's back. Sometimes after a strong series and a break a show can be a little flat, no such problem here, the opening episode sets the tone for another cracking series. It has the usual slick production values, glorious scenery, superb acting, and of course the wonderful Douglas Henshall. Stephen Walters was excellent as Thomas Malone.
5 Reviews
Finaly, its back!
ollakalla118 February 2018
I must say, i had big hopes for season 4. Season 3 is with out a doubt my favorite. so i was afraid that this would be a step down. But i was wrong. This is reley good! i belive that the first episode sets the tone for the rest of the season. I can't wait to see the next one.
If only...
carnes-219 July 2018
Long-awaited Season 4 has arrived, and it is every bit as good as the first three.
Back in the 1980s, I heard a young actor being interviewed about his new hit movie. He was asked his opinion on a current political situation. I have never forgotten his answer: "I'm an actor. I know as much as you do about what is going on, and I don't understand why my being a celebrity makes anyone think my opinion has more weight or importance than anyone else's." It was a brilliant deflection, and allowed me to continue to enjoy this actor's work in the decades that have followed, without the taint of always remembering when he shot his mouth off about something he had no expertise about.
I will never understand why people whose careers depend on popular acceptance want to insult and alienate half their potential audience, but they keep on doing it. It's an unforced error and they do not make themselves look more intelligent; quite the opposite. And that is why, although everything about Season 4 is as excellent as the others, I am enjoying it less.
Back in the 1980s, I heard a young actor being interviewed about his new hit movie. He was asked his opinion on a current political situation. I have never forgotten his answer: "I'm an actor. I know as much as you do about what is going on, and I don't understand why my being a celebrity makes anyone think my opinion has more weight or importance than anyone else's." It was a brilliant deflection, and allowed me to continue to enjoy this actor's work in the decades that have followed, without the taint of always remembering when he shot his mouth off about something he had no expertise about.
I will never understand why people whose careers depend on popular acceptance want to insult and alienate half their potential audience, but they keep on doing it. It's an unforced error and they do not make themselves look more intelligent; quite the opposite. And that is why, although everything about Season 4 is as excellent as the others, I am enjoying it less.
Seemed disjointed
mattycampbell-266845 February 2020
After getting on the first two short series with only two episodes and loving them but then just getting through series three, series 4 didn't work from the first ten minutes. Also jumping to Perez and his family made no sense. Not sure if I'll watch another 6 episode series again. Not sure the quality can stretch that far. The shorter the better.
BAD Editing
Warin_West-El25 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Shetland is supposedly a very small area. How is it possible that a group of people conspire to kill Thomas Malone AND they have driven an earth-digger to his property?
QUESTION 1: How does that happen in a small town without DI Perez finding out about it in advance? If not him, certainly someone else on his staff would have found out about it in a small town. OR relatives of the people on his staff would have gotten wind of it and told someone on his staff.
QUESTION 2: How is it possible that an EARTH DIGGER could be driven to Malone's property without him hearing it? An earth-digger has to be hauled to a site on top of a flat bed. Malone would have heard them unloading it onto his property. If a flat bed is not used then an earth-digger can be driven SLOWLY and LOUDLY down a road. Malone would have heard it coming a mile away.
This episode defies reality, which the original Shetland did NOT do. The screenwriter chose a visual effect over realism. That's a tragic mistake and ruins the very foundation of this series. Shetland is based on the premise that it's a small town. Well, there are certain things you just can't get away with in a small town. And moving an earth-digger onto someone's property without them noticing is one of them.
I'll keep watching this season but that opening episode ruined the credibility.
UPDATE: Episode 2 makes clear what was obscure in Episode 1. The gang of haters put Malone in a van. Upon reviewing that scene, the end of the van is shown but the clip is so short you can't tell what's happening. For example, if the filmmakers had included a shot of the van doors being opened then the van would have been established. But it's dark and they don't show Malone actually being put INTO the van.
Then the Malone haters drive Malone to another location. But we don't see that. The filmmakers cut to a funky location we presume is on his property. That's where the earth-digger is waiting.
Therefore, upon further inspection, the last scene in episode 1 is missing key establishing shots. That confuses the action in the final sequence. And the audience has to wait until episode 2 to discover what they've watched. That's BAD editing.
QUESTION 1: How does that happen in a small town without DI Perez finding out about it in advance? If not him, certainly someone else on his staff would have found out about it in a small town. OR relatives of the people on his staff would have gotten wind of it and told someone on his staff.
QUESTION 2: How is it possible that an EARTH DIGGER could be driven to Malone's property without him hearing it? An earth-digger has to be hauled to a site on top of a flat bed. Malone would have heard them unloading it onto his property. If a flat bed is not used then an earth-digger can be driven SLOWLY and LOUDLY down a road. Malone would have heard it coming a mile away.
This episode defies reality, which the original Shetland did NOT do. The screenwriter chose a visual effect over realism. That's a tragic mistake and ruins the very foundation of this series. Shetland is based on the premise that it's a small town. Well, there are certain things you just can't get away with in a small town. And moving an earth-digger onto someone's property without them noticing is one of them.
I'll keep watching this season but that opening episode ruined the credibility.
UPDATE: Episode 2 makes clear what was obscure in Episode 1. The gang of haters put Malone in a van. Upon reviewing that scene, the end of the van is shown but the clip is so short you can't tell what's happening. For example, if the filmmakers had included a shot of the van doors being opened then the van would have been established. But it's dark and they don't show Malone actually being put INTO the van.
Then the Malone haters drive Malone to another location. But we don't see that. The filmmakers cut to a funky location we presume is on his property. That's where the earth-digger is waiting.
Therefore, upon further inspection, the last scene in episode 1 is missing key establishing shots. That confuses the action in the final sequence. And the audience has to wait until episode 2 to discover what they've watched. That's BAD editing.
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