Dalgliesh (2021– ) User Reviews (73)

This is some quality viewing.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 7 November 2021]

A real winner of a crime drama series, coming from an unlikely source, Channel five.

Bertie Carvel picks up the baton, and takes over the role of would be Commander Adam Dalgliesh, we see his early cases, and hopefully his rise to the top. I'm not sure he'd have even been someone I'd have thought likely, but he does the role some real justice.

Beautifully made, very well acted, and very well written, they are working off some superb source material, and aurpriaingly have decided not to mess around with it too much.

It looks awesome, that E Type Jaguar must be someone's pride and joy, it's the terrific attention to detail like that, which made it so easy on the eye.

I hope this runs for many years to come, loved it, 9/10.

Hang on as the 3rd episode shines

[ociopia · 9/10 · 18 November 2021]

I should disclose that I watched the Roy Marsden Dalgliesh years ago and felt it to be fabulous and worthy of P. D. James' novels. That entire series was superlative; tender, thoughtful and often rather spooky. When I saw the ads for this new series, I couldn't imagine it would be good. The first two episodes were mediocre. Above average compared to American procedurals but nothing particularly special. I nearly skipped the third episode. Praise be that I turned it on. It is wonderful. I think from seeing it I can critique retrospectively what ails the first two episodes. Tone. P. D. James has a voice in her novels that the original series was able to translate to the screen. It is restrained but under the restraint lies both a mounting tension and an overwhelming reflection of sorrow, encapsulated and reflected to us by Dalgliesh himself. Bertie Carvel captured that perfectly in the third episode. I was touched.

Very good

[glenlammas · 8/10 · 28 November 2021]

Didn't enjoy the Roy Marsden version but really enjoyed this. Great acting, loving the 70s cars and clothes hope there is a 2nd series, ignore all the Lampards on here its great.

Nearly as good as Vera.

Intelligent, high-quality period detective drama

[JRB-NorthernSoul · 8/10 · 4 November 2021]

Stylishly directed and photographed with an excellent cast all-round and a lovely score. Bertie Carvel (never seen him give a bad performance yet) nailed the lead role as Inspector Dalgliesh, adapted from three of the novels by one of the greatest British crime writers, PD James.

The scripts were sharp, with good plots and pacing, nice dialogue and lots of interesting character and period detailing. Everyone involved in this series seemed to be on song. I hope it gets re-commissioned as I really like what I've seen so far. Dalgliesh is a definite winner.

There are 3 standalone two parters, best watched in a single sitting.

a deeper portrayal of Dalgleish

[Okalee1 · 8/10 · 9 November 2021]

Best cast Dalgleish yet. His sympathy for human frailty is more evident than earlier portrayals. Subtle, yet warm, as one would expect a poet policeman to be.

Too rushed.

[pepegomez65 · 7/10 · 5 November 2021]

When this book was televised back in 1984 (starring the excellent Roy Marsden) it was spread over 6x 50-minute episodes. Channel 5 have tried to squeeze it into 2x 45-minute episodes and the whole thing felt rushed, lacking development of both plot and characters. Well-acted, well-produced but ultimately disappointing.

A Standing Ovation!

[duckdecoys · 10/10 · 18 November 2021]

I am 64 years old and have been reading mysteries and watching movies & TV series in the genre my entire life. Even in the one's I truly enjoy I have usually figured out the "who & why" by the end, but not with these! 6 episodes in Season 1 with each "story" taking 2 episodes, which is the perfect amount of time. I was not familiar with DCI Dalgliesh and I have been bowled over with the depth of this character, and the actor who portrays him. The supporting cast for each of the stories is superb. And as is often the case with ACORN TV productions the settings are fascinating and the scenic vistas are gorgeous. I am tight-fisted about giving 10 stars, but this series deserves each one! I am passionately hoping there will be a Season 2!

Interesting stories, shame about the detail...

[williamold · 6/10 · 14 November 2021]

It's interesting that there is such a diversity of opinion on here about these remakes. I couldn't make up my mind about these, but having watched them, I concluded that the "two-episode" just doesn't work.

And I've spent the latest two-parter with half my mind on the plot and the other half wondering why on Earth Sgt. Kate Miskin is always - apart when off-duty and talking to Adam Dalgleish in the park - wearing an inspector's insignia... did I miss something in the storyline, or is this just a massive goof on the part of the production company?

Brilliant...Much improved over the Roy Marsden 90's series

[joshgibbs-35276 · 9/10 · 28 April 2023]

This is like Bertie Carvel was born to this character. He brings the depth and tormented soul of a poet while being amazingly observant of human behavior and detail around the crime.

The writing and dialogs are also much more crisp. The pace is better as they have not included too many irrelevant scenes. Just enough to move the plot forward and keep the viewer engaged.

The supporting actors are also superb and perfect for the roles.

It is a great service to PD James novels to bring such amazing work to the small screen.

Looking forward to many seasons of this brilliant series by Acorn

i must say in the last year Acorn has finally surpassed Britbox in content quality.

Murder mystery by the numbers

[mitya_ilx · 6/10 · 27 December 2021]

There probably isn't a one-size-fits-all review of this series, which is based on the books of PD James but has the difficult task of following on the screen versions of the books produced by Anglia in the 80s (starring Roy Marsden). The Anglia series were remarkable for stretching most of the books out over six episodes, which gave them the opportunity to dig into all the characters. They were slow, but purposefully so.

The new versions condense each book into two beautifully shot 45-minute episodes, which means something that may have been one or more scenes in the 80s version gets condensed into a sentence. For me, this means the new series feels rushed. However, if you haven't seen the previous versions, you may not notice. It's definitely a quality production, and so should satisfy your need for a mystery. But ultimately it feels formulaic.

Outstanding

[andrewpeel · 10/10 · 22 November 2021]

**********************The best thing on TV by a mile. I will take no arguments about this. If you're bored by this you have no brain or soul. I have nothing else to add.

Different!

[sonic-70644 · 6/10 · 17 November 2021]

It's nice to see it depicting the darker side of PD James. But really frustrating with procedural errors and silly mistakes. As an example, the female in the second story wears an inspectors uniform but is referred to as Sgt!!!

This is PD James and detail is important. So to make a silly error in costume is unforgivable because it is such a basic error as well and knocks the credibility of the production in my opinion.

Not really.

[iris-45156 · 2/10 · 1 December 2021]

I recently watched the Roy Marsden series and this is nowhere near as good. Each story is rushed, crammed into two episodes. The pointless sidekick is horrendous, terrible attitude, insubordinate and overacts. He irritated me no end and so did Dalgliesh's curious failure to discipline him. In "A taste for death" the RM episode, the murdered man's widow is carrying her husband's child and heir. He is aware of her infidelity and changes his Will leaving the bulk of his estate in trust for his son. In this version the baby is the lovers quite an important change to the plot, why?

It's a grower

[fierackas · 8/10 · 19 November 2021]

I wasn't convinced by the first couple of episodes but as the series continued it got better and better. On the whole the acting was excellent although the female officer was a bit wooden. The first story felt a bit rushed and muddled at the end but the other 2 were much better.

SURPRISINGLY GOOD

[pnpete9 · 9/10 · 25 November 2021]

Have only watched the first episode so far but it was truly excellent. Did not expect such quality drama on 5.

The acting from all members of case is of the highest standards with some very promising new faces.

Check it out.

Down in the dumps

[pawebster · 6/10 · 6 August 2022]

Bertie Carvel doesn't seem to be doing much at all in the first story (the first two episodes of the six). He has to get a bit more demonstrative later, especially in the second one. The character of Dalgliesh is indeed glum, taciturn, lugubrious - that is how P D James created it. Sadly this doesn't tend to make for entertaining viewing, as it is difficult to identify with a hero who shows so little warmth and doesn't try to be likable. My mind went back to the1990s Dalgliesh series with Roy Marsden and I re-watched him in the first episode of Devices and Desires, available on YouTube. In my opinion Marsden does a better job. He is also taciturn, etc, etc, as per the job description, but through it all he conveys a greater sense of Dalgliesh's underlying humanity. There is just a hint of lightness and warmth in his portrayal, which we don't get here. Bertie Carvel's Dalgliesh is fair, concerned for justice, even indulgent (excessively so towards Jeremy Irvine's character ) - but he's glum, he's grim and he's grey.

MORE?

[suzpomz · 10/10 · 25 November 2021]

No spoilers; no words of review; only this:

I HOPE THERE'S A SEASON 2 and 3 and 4 and and and... AND SOON!!! Oh, and each season should have more episodes!

That should be enough to tell you what I think...

If you're a PD James fan, you'll probably enjoy it.

[Avidviewer-02847 · 6/10 · 15 November 2021]

Never really been a fan of PD James (Phyllis Dorothy James) and her main sleuth Adam Dalgleish of the Met (Scotland Yard). Roy Marsden played him in an earlier series which was ok. I too only watched the first two episodes of the current series and I'm not that impressed, but I will watch the last four episodes and maybe it will improve. Bertie Carvel and Jeremy Irvine are fine actors, no slight intended to their skills.

I prefer the characters of Colin Dexter (Morse, Lewis and Endeavour) and Ann Cleeves (Vera and Shetland) over PD James and Ruth Rendell. Even Christie's characters are much more interesting. Very dark episodes, like something set in the 1800s not in 1970s.

Watched the last four episodes and the last story "A Taste for Death" was better. Still Dalgliesh is dark and moody, fits with dark churches. Masterson is more of a jack the lad.

Amazing

[cole-06511 · 10/10 · 18 November 2021]

Based on a PD James novel, so you know the original writing is spot on, the adaptation is incredibly well done, if you don't watch this you will miss what is sure to be a classic.

Flat, pedantic, with frequent plot gaps . . . sadly it lacked development and flow . . .

[SceneByScene · 2 May 2022]

Not to my liking, for several reasons.

A few criticisms: Technically, just too flat. Made as if to be dubbed & sold abroad. Uninspiring. And parts of the plot are even left out. It lacked development and feels badly finished, as a production.

Yes, Bertie Carvel as the lead is great to look at. WHAT an elegant physiognomy, & beautiful nose. And you feel he would be a great calm in a storm. I can see him playing Austen's 'Mr Darcy', to great effect - Regency high collars and all! ,-) But the characterisation here lacks what could simply be called 'oomph'. We need a bit of edge in a detective series, not just moody looks by the lead, & lingering camera shots. Yes, 'Dalgliesh' is a quiet, clever, poet of a man; but something is missing in the way of dynamism in the series . . . I have to blame the way the drama has been put together.

It's a while since I watched the Marsden 'Dalgliesh'. And it's even longer since I read the P. D. James novels - which I devoured as a reader, many years ago. I'd dread rereading them now, in case this adaptation of the 2020s proves to be what I fear it might be: a complete diatribe. :-(

So I shall rewatch the Roy Marsden version of these detective stories: the 1980s' scoping of the novels. At least that rendition had more episodes per adaptation. Which gave the storyline & characterisations more time to be fleshed out. In the meantime, let's hope that if this 2020s' production continues onto a second series, it gives the characters the depth they lacked in series one. Some comprehension of what makes the characters the way they are is badly needed . . .

Well made...

[mike-1804 · 6/10 · 6 November 2021]

.... There's no doubt in my mind that this is a well produced series. Well written, well acted etc etc etc. The only problem I have is that it is based on a 1970's book set in the 1970's and,oddly, feels like it was actually made in the 1970's (with a low budget).

It feels like someone has scoured the archive and found this series hidden away on a back shelf; unseen for years. The only modern attributes are that it is in colour and HD. That's it!

It has a look of series you can find on the Talking Pictures Channel. Not sure why it was commissioned for Channel 5. I would be surprised if it were to attract many viewers; simply because there is nothing new here. 6 out of 10.

This is an excellent watch

[krl41 · 10/10 · 5 July 2023]

This is suspenseful with fabulous atmosphere.

Bertie Carvel is absolutely masterful as Adam Dalgliesh. We subscribe to Acorn TV and Britbox to see high quality shows like this. American shows rely heavily on violence instead of solid storytelling and suspense, it's predictable and tiring. This is a murder mystery so there is violence, but it also has fully developed characters that are really believable. It takes place in the 70's with great cars and clothes. Oh and the refreshing absence of tech! Every story is in two parts so be sure to plan for an hour and a half, I have to see both parts in one watch!

Could Be Better

[westsideschl · 6/10 · 21 April 2022]

A 1975 fairly good period drama. At first I was disappointed in the quality of the forensics at the crime scenes then I remember it was '75 so I'll excuse the producers. Disconcerting to see such discourteousness toward the police by the populace. More troubling is the annoying assistant detective (DS) to Dalgliesh, unrealistically annoying. Poor character for the position, thus not too believable. The other newly arrived assistant female DS, filling the gender & ethnic requirements at once, is just the opposite in personality; also not too believable.

Dumbed Down Dalgliesh

[the_venetian · 4/10 · 31 August 2023]

I find Bertie Carvel the ideal actor to take up the role of Dalgliesh, and think he portrays the character quite well. What a pity, then, that the scripts are so appalling. I had just finished watching the original series -- both Roy Marsden and Martin Shaw -- in order, and once again marvelled at the excellence of how these complex stories and well-drawn characters were portrayed. Each one successively made me want to re-read the novels, all of which I devoured while in university. I was watching most of them for the third or fourth time.

I had seen the Bertie Carvel series, with growing disappointment, when it first came out, but I did not want to let the character go, so I watched both series again. As the others were now so fresh in my mind, I was horrified at the secondary casting. I can't think of a single one who compared favourably to the original casts. But the, like the principal, were hampered throughout by the stripped-down scripts and the simplified endings. The only two actors who had comparable quality to the roles' originators -- Jane Lapotaire and Michael Maloney -- were denied scripts that gave their roles any depth of meaning, and seeing Michael Maloney ushered into the police car completely ruined the whole point that the title of the episode suggested. The story in Shroud for a Nightingale was ripped through in such diluted form that the resolution seemed stuck on. With another "success" where originally Dalgliesh faced the frustration that dogs some of his cases.

There are many fine actors in these episodes -- Amanda Root, Richard Dillane, Stephen Mackintosh and others -- and if they had had better material they might have made the characters their own. But it is impossible when the stories are reduced to bare bones with simplistic endings. However I will watch the next series, and hope that the final scene of The Murder Room and its suggestion that the utterly misdirected Kate Miskin is really departing is fulfilled. Hinting at a love relationship growing between her and Dalgliesh is the ultimate betrayal of both characters.

I'm going back to the books.

Fantastic

[Crazy_Cat_Lady-Paula · 10/10 · 6 November 2021]

Amazing acting, and completely enthralling. I really enjoyed this slightly darker version of Adam Dalglish and his creepy sidekick. I can't wait for the next episode.