Case Histories (2011–2013) User Reviews (54)

Great new series

[batmancox · 9/10 · 23 June 2011]

Another great new British detective mystery series. Isaacs is an excellent lead figure - though it took me awhile to realise that he was Lucius Malfoy.It's not the type of series that explains every detail in case you missed it but lures you into guessing what will happen next.

The story lines so far have been gripping and interestingly human - usually running two or three over the two hour programme. The characters have depth and the interweaving is clever. Maybe the childhood flashback is shown a little too often.

The scenery is stunning.

Hope it continues the way it started.

Quality show!

[cushfam · 8/10 · 28 September 2019]

I really have enjoyed watching this series. I think Jason Isaacs is amazing. I will be reading the books now that I have binged all the episodes. I'm sad to see this one end.

Closure comes in many forms

[blanche-2 · 9/10 · 27 October 2011]

Jason Isaacs stars as detective Jackson Brodie in "Case Histories," which is a miniseries filmed in Edinburgh. Brodie works on several cases at once. This episode concerned a child who disappeared 30 years earlier, a young woman who was murdered years earlier, a woman engaged to be married attempting to find her niece, plus he's helping a paranoid old woman who never pays him. And her nephew is after him to stop. Divorced, Brodie often takes his daughter on cases when he has visitations, and she's quick to tell her mother, "Dad beat up a man," and things of that nature when she gets home.

The series is based on books by Kate Allison. The stories are dark and brooding amidst the glorious scenery of Edinburgh - absolutely spectacular cinematography. The stories intertwine and have more than a few twists. In short, "Case Histories" makes for very absorbing viewing.

Jackson Brodie is a likable character in the hands of Jason Isaacs - he's handsome, adventurous, and really tries to help his clients. He has sadness, too -- his brother was killed, and the case has never been solved. Everyone has secrets on "Case Histories." The acting is very good, but Millie Innes who plays Brodie's daughter is irresistible, a beautiful child as well as a good actress. What sets Brodie apart a bit from some other detectives is the human touch. He's a man of great humanity, and he brings this to his cases. Highly recommended.

We loved this, will there be more? Please? More?

[leafy-2 · 10/10 · 2 November 2011]

This is a beyond good series. I had not read her books, but will now. The stories are edge of the seat as well as being sad and funny. The settings are beautiful or interesting and the characters are complex. I don't agree with any of the criticism,my husband and I were mesmerized. We turned on the closed captioning so as not to miss a word of dialogue. I am now motivated to see the Harry Potter movies, just for Jason Isaacs. I never fail to be amazed at the over the top talent of the British ,it is so refreshing to watch actors that are not Hollywood, and look like real people. This is as good as Luther. Seriously.

Why haven't I heard of this show before?

[louiseransil · 10/10 · 20 May 2019]

Yes, stories tie together with a number of coincidences, but they make it work. Fast moving, excellent characters and truly surprising twists and turns. I was HOOKED from the first episode...

Another superb Ashley Pharoah production

[bbewnylorac · 10/10 · 8 January 2012]

I have just finished watching Case Histories on DVD and I can't fault it. It's just superb television. I have read all the Kate Atkinson books and Jason Isaacs is perfect to play Jackson Brodie, and all the other actors and characterisations are offbeat without being too wacky - i.e. they have real depth to them. It's amazing that the series portrays so much violence and bleakness and yet you still love it and cheer on the good guys. And the good guys aren't perfect. I might have known that Ashley Pharoah was the screenwriter: Life on Mars which he co-created is one of my all time favourite TV series. Edinburgh and rural Scotland makes for a fantastic backdrop, and Atkinson's intricate plots are executed with superb clarity and yet not losing their great heart. Congratulations to everyone behind the series: bring on season 2!

Clever series about fate and coincidence based on the books of Kate Atkinson

[Rupert17 · 9/10 · 22 February 2013]

Jason Brodie is a private investigator whose goal in life is to bring closure to lives on hold. His own sad past is the springboard from which he throws himself - sometimes reluctantly - into the problem of others.

Like many heroes of modern literature, Brodie is a flawed character whose personal failings never cease to amaze him: a failed marriage from which came a child he adores; an ambiguous friendship with a feisty female police inspector that could be going somewhere or nowhere;and a private detective business groaning under the weight of his inability to take on lucrative jobs rather than exercises in humanitarian kindness where the paycheck isn't always bankable and his carping secretary is only too willing to let him know.

It's ingenious the way Kate Atkinson's narrative sees apparently disconnected stories seamlessly interweave and overlap. Jason Isaacs is just right as the tough, selfless, good-hearted Brodie and each of the six episodes is filled with excellent acting and direction. 9/10

A fabulous mini-series, makes totally riveting viewing

[robert-temple-1 · 18 August 2011]

Jason Isaacs says he hates detective series, and yet he has proved in this BBC mini-series that he is one of the best detectives ever cast in a film. He has all the human qualities that so many of them lack, and his well-rounded portrayal is a triumph, in lifting detective stories onto a higher plane. It is impossible to praise Isaacs highly enough for his superb realisation of this sympathetic character who just happens, as a disgraced ex-policeman, to have taken up work as a detective. The setting is the beautiful city of Edinburgh, exploited visually to the full. Edinburgh is above all the British city with the most magnificent vistas of them all, surpassing even Bath in that respect. The mini-series is based on some novels by a prize-winning Edinburgh-based writer named Kate Atkinson. This explains the fantastically complex and interweaving plots of the films, which go far beyond the normal intricacies of even the most elaborate scripts. The rich tapestry which is thus woven is satisfying in a way that so much of television is not. This mini-series is thus an exemplar of what those of us concerned with quality should all hope for. Three different directors (Marc Jobst, Bill Anderson, and Dan Zeff) helm the three double-episodes, and are uniformly excellent. The series was 'devised for television by Ashley Pharoah', who although he seemingly can't spell 'pharaoh' properly, is a well-known figure in British and American television. The supporting performances in these tangled tales are all excellent. Two of the most charming are by the child actress Millie Innes, who is as winsome as they come and plays the daughter of Isaacs, and the teenager Gwyneth Keyworth, who plays a fascinating waif in the final story. Fenella Woolgar is, as usual, compulsively watchable in a harrowing character role, and Natasha Little as her glamorous sister manages to add extra twinkle and sparkle to a character who might have been flat in the script but got proper three dimensions in her portrayal. Amanda Abbington is excellent as the police woman with a love/hate relationship with Isaacs, and once again a part which might have been hackneyed comes alive as a rounded individual at her hands.

Reasonable new crime drama

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 21 June 2011]

As I enjoy crime dramas and think Jason Isaacs is a pretty good actor I had to check this series out. Sadly it wasn't as good as I'd hoped; that isn't to say it was terrible; just rather average… although I think it improved as the series progressed. Jason Isaacs did a good job as ex-cop private investigator Jackson Brodie who, as well as solving cases, has to deal with the fact that his ex-wife is about to emigrate to New Zealand with their daughter Marlee. This was rather unfortunate as it provided an unnecessary distraction and the scenes with Jackson and Marlee in the opening story were some of the most entertaining; every time he took her out he ended up doing something to do with his case which Marlee enjoyed but her mother did not approve of. Each story started with him investigating fairly trivial crimes such as looking for a missing cat or trying to find out if a man's wife was unfaithful but ended up with him investigating murders. He was always at just the wrong place; nobody can be as unlucky as Jackson; he goes for a jog by the sea and finds a body in the water; he breaks down and while walking along the road in nearly hit by an old woman who then crashes onto a railway line only to by hit by a train which puts him in hospital!

The six episode series was made up of three two part stories with ongoing flashbacks concerning the death of his sister that occurred when he was a child, I thought that this would be the major mystery solved in the final episode but it turned out not to be the case. As well as the good performance from Jason Isaacs; Amanda Abbingdon was good as his friend and former colleague DCI Louise Monroe and Millie Innes was delightful as his daughter Marlee. While the stories had an almost old fashioned feel to them with lots of coincidence helping our hero there were quite a few shocking moments too; I won't go into details but the final episode was shocking and wince-inducing at the same time near the end! The stories weren't the best I've seen but I'd recommend it to fans of crime fiction and will continue watching if further episodes get commissioned; by the time it ended I was rather hooked.

Jackson Brodie character at the heart of this show

[barryrd · 9/10 · 27 May 2017]

This series is one I highly recommend for those who like the style of a modern British mystery. The character of Jackson Brodie, played by Jason Isaacs, gives the series a tenacious detective scarred by a troubled past. Brodie's past comes out in a series of flashbacks that drive him to jump into ice cold water hoping to save a life or make that final push when finishing a run. Family deaths, divorce and his love for daughter Marlee keep him well-grounded and not lacking in compassion. Brodie is spurred by a strong desire to help people as well as bring wrongdoers to heel. He doesn't talk much but listens carefully. He is smart and is quick to make shrewd observations and deductions. His cases range from finding the truth behind a long-cold case to repeatedly hunting down the beloved cat of an elderly pet lover who never pays her bills. It's hard not to like him but his ex-wife, former boss and secretary are all too eager to point out his faults. His impulses result from a soft heart and an impatience to help, putting him in hard luck situations. Daughter Marlee is his real love and spending time with her is his main satisfaction in life. He and Marlee practise French together or drive off to a convent where he investigates one of the nuns. Amanda Abbington plays his former boss with a soft spot for him and one can sense the two might become a couple. I guess we can only imagine. The series ran for nine episodes and one can see that the Brodie character might have worn thin if the story continued and never came to grips with the issues that defined his life. No matter. The series is still great viewing for the nine episodes that are on tap.

Interesting..

[sagei · 6/10 · 12 June 2011]

Easy viewing about a scot\ex cop\pi. Isaacs is compelling enough to convince as the basically good guy whose life however is far from good personally or professionally.

Cases seem to fall into his lap and he works more than one at a time. This would work well in a book but feels rather contrived on screen. No Hollywood endings but isn't more credible for it. Strange to say considering that we routinely suspend logic and reason as viewers but the stories interweave with a neatness that doesn't sit well.

Stories and pacing like this work better with narration. But no personal observations here, since apart from some remarks about his daughter's outfit etc he isn't exactly chatty.

Stunning landscapes and competent cast. Relaxed pace, few twists and some good music.

Dark and brooding without being haunting or particularly memorable.

Will look good compared to some other small screen offerings but wont stand up well on it's own.

Wish them well.

Thank you.

Those subtitles though...

[inkadog · 10/10 · 16 July 2019]

Great show, 10/10. Never saw Isaac in anything but Potter, but he really is fantastic in this. Only bad thing about this show is the subtitles. I've seen bad subtitles, but this takes the cake. So atrociously bad it becomes hilarious.

Jason Issacs made to carry all the heavy lifting...and he manages well *Music Spoiler Alert*

[shemuses · 6/10 · 27 May 2013]

Enjoyed the first 3 episodes aired on US Television...but do not recall the insipid 'all female singers of folk and slow tunes' that drolls over an otherwise successful revival of a good show. Don't know if I'll continue watching because of this one very annoying plague. While I enjoy ALL types of music/genres/artists...it is glaringly apparent that the person designating this repetitive and soapy soundtrack does not. I am a fan of many of the musical artists. I own recordings by the likes of Mary Gautier , Lucinda Williams and Lori McKenna! But to have them lined up in such a fashion does not lend to atmosphere, plot advancement or motif...rather it detracts in the way elevator music works, only worse.

Please switch it up! There are thousands of great songs out there.

And as an aside to the writers: I also recall that the character of Jackson was not quite as daft as it's being written in the new shows. There is little need to have him making so many errors in judgement in order to build suspense or conflict. There are other devices.

If someone reading this could pass my remarks along...perhaps we can improve a few future episodes.

Weak...very weak

[Fad64 · 4/10 · 13 June 2011]

Not being familiar with the novels I can't say if the TV program is true to them or not, but if it is then they can't have been very good.

The plots seem to rely heavily on coincidence and happenstance, as seen in the 'Murder She Wrote'-like way that the protagonist cannot move without bumping in to a crime. If there's a corpse to be found or a crime-in-progress to be stopped you can be sure that the program's hero will not be far away, and if there's a clue lying around he is bound to stumble upon it within seconds of looking (no matter the police having already searched the scene), not to mention an uncanny eyesight which allows him to spot something as small as a piece of jewellery from a roof top. The acting is fine, and it has the occasional nice visual, but the plots, thus far at least, are farcical. If the hero meets someone at random you can be sure that they will tie neatly into one plot or another in some obvious, and unlikely, way. Another problem, as I see it, is that instead of dealing with one case at a time the program also seems determined to cram several crimes into each story, (probably as a result of the weakness of each individual plot-strand), making it still less realistic. It also falls uncomfortably between cosy Sunday night drama and something far darker, depicting an unnecessary level of violence for it's otherwise fairly twee subject matter. I have no problems whatsoever with explicit sex and violence being shown, if appropriate, but they just don't seem to fit with the general 'Agatha Christie' type atmosphere of this show where everyone who gets so much as a line seems to be integral to the story.

I wanted to like this. Having grown up with the likes of Cracker and Prime Susopect there is currently a cop-show sized hole in my viewing schedule but this, it appears, is not going to fill it. Having watched just three episodes I've already given up on it. If you like a good cop drama that keeps you guessing then find something else to watch. Very poor.

Fabulous

[bshantinorth · 30 October 2011]

In a word:fabulous. Compelling, not to miss a word of dialog. The story line evolves from a loosely woven beginning to a tight ending. Enticed one wonders where it will go in the end. The acting brings you into the heart and soul of the characters, who have lives and emotions that inter connect and create a richness not found in the usual mystery genre. If you are pining for a who done it go to Sherlock or Perot. Jackson Brodie is superbly acted, a romantic,wounded hero who knows life has its price and he is not afraid of it. He rescues and restores justice for his clients,he is an admirable, and often suffering hero. Suffering humanizes him and we all can identify with his pain. The theme of father figure and the need to protect are strong motivations for the character. Sophisticated and refreshing for this genre. I want more. This is the new school, old school mystery is predictable and tiresome. We want sexy guys, with real life stories, love and lust thrown in the mix, the Victorian thing is over.

LOVE this series!

[suzpom · 10/10 · 6 May 2021]

Really a great detective series. Too bad only two seasons. Jason Isaacs is brilliant in the part, so if there is any chance of bringing back Jackson Brodie and all the main cast, I sure hope it happens.

Will there be more?

[fannyvanelewijck · 9/10 · 11 March 2018]

I recently discovered this series and I love it. I also love watching Jason Isaacs playing a good guy. I really hope there will be more of this.

A Scottish Gem

[pnpete9 · 10/10 · 2 May 2020]

Simply can't fault this excellent crime drama. As is often the case it's strength lies with a very strong cast of fine Scottish actors who give it their all. Along with good script and credible stories this really is a gem of a series. Sadly nothing is produced of this calibre by the BBC any longer.

Good mix of drama, crime story & character study, all with an awesome soundtrack

[jcravens42 · 10/10 · 13 March 2021]

Jackson Brodie is a very good detective and a not so great boss or father. Loves his daughter, obviously, but put so much into his work his marriage fell apart. Says yes to cases he should say no to. And is haunted by a childhood memory. I fell in love with this show when it was on Masterpiece, and have yet to find anyone who has seen it. Wonderfully atmospheric, stories you really don't know where they are going to go, and always with a song or two playing in the background or over the credits that's perfect for the moment, making you want to settle down in the dark with a whiskey and try to sort things out...

dated plots or characterizations. Dime store Sam Spade

[mymeister · 6/10 · 7 May 2023]

Watched it all the way through. First season better then second and knocked a point off after seeing the second season. For the love of god make sure the captioning works. Just because you have computer attempt it does not mean the job is done.

This series will appeal to the fantasies of men (and women) who want the dream of a detective with

• lots of access to women/sex

-police or police adjacent but on the outs somehow -takes physical knocks and proves himself physically.

I call this the dime store Sam Spade.

As Spades's Hammet said about the physicality of the Sam Spade character:

"Spade has no original. He is a dream man in the sense that he is what most of the private detectives I worked with would like to have been and in their cockier moments thought they approached. For your private detective does not-or did not ten years ago when he was my colleague-want to be an erudite solver of riddles in the Sherlock Holmes manner; he wants to be a hard and shifty fellow, able to take care of himself in any situation, able to get the best of anybody he comes in contact with, whether criminal, innocent by-stander or client."

The modern ones (Bosch, this series, et) also add -solves the cases where others fail..all others pale in comparison.. -family martyrs: rather than fight for half custody and commit to being a full parent, they know their priority is their job not their children, so they "give" the other parents almost all custody rights but play the victim as if the other parent has forced this on them. As it is they are late with their children or in this case bring their child to crime scenes etc.

People like who they like when it comes to detectives. Some don't like women detectives and denigrate them as "Nancy Drew". Otherss like the fantasy of the Sam Spade type like this one. It's personal.

What I think was the main weakness of this show was the somehow dated nature of it. I am not sure if it is the plots, the other characters or a mix of both but I got a whiff of the outlandish or perhaps "already done" here...e.g as an example the family with the four sisters all eccentrics. Hasn't that been done many many times? The side characters all seemed larger than life (the failed stand up comic, the timid author). It just felt like an older style. Still okay as escapism of course.

At first I was weirded out as others mentioned Malfoy from Harry Potter. Then of course I realized it was the father.

7 - glad I watched but wouldn't save a copy in my video library.

Now a six - second season a muddle of untidy stories and untidy and inconsistent personal life interactions.

Ex soldier.Ex cop.Ex husband.Ex Father.But still tilting at windmills.

[ianlouisiana · 9/10 · 8 March 2022]

My first advice to toy would be read Kate Atkinson's books. Not just the Jackson Brodie stories but the whole canon.

Like a one - woman Avengers Squad she is a fierce advocate for truth and justice. And a seeker for some meaning in the most banal of lives.

And she is also very funny. A Feminist without hating men.

With Jackson Brodie she has brought Private Eye literature into the 21st century.

No slick London ways or faux - Vegas schtick for him.

His clients are more often than not women ,real women,not the airbrushed Hollywood types who breeze into his office in a cloud of Guerlaine's'Ode' He is well - realised by Jason Isaacs as an ostensibly tough Northerner.

Viewed by his ex with amused contempt for his perceived weaknesses,he is hamstrung by his brutal childhood experiences.

Several plots intertwine and some are never satifactorily resolved.

Just like in real life.

You may wish to shave a point off my rating if you're new to Miss Atkinson's works.

Hmmmm....

[smartinezmd · 7/10 · 22 April 2019]

I usually give most things that I bother to review high ratings. I like this show but - it is a bit redundant and trite or unbelievable at times. The lead actor - first time that I have seen him in a show, I believe - is very good. Charming. Nice to look at. A bit of humor. But, that recurring scene of him flashing back while running...it is done way too many times. Also, the story lines between the two sisters looking for the sister who disappeared 30 years ago and how the other woman took the blame for her sister killing her husband....a lot of women (sister) clients or the father who is trying to figure out his daughter....something about the writing....does not ring believable. I gave it 7.10 stars and that was generous. 15 minutes into the second episode and I am looking at how much time is left on the episode before it is over. Hmmmm....not a good sign.

I hated the ending!

[maryraymond123 · 8/10 · 18 June 2021]

As good as the series was, the ending sucked. It was so depressing! He and Louise should've ended up together, and he should've gotten a paternity test for that baby.

Worst soundtrack EVER!

[TokyoGyaru · 1/10 · 23 July 2021]

Just awful, every single song. I've never heard such consistently awful songs, and you realize just how awful they are when you binge the show. And you realize how mediocre the show is when you do this too. The story and lines are very basic, and everything is lukewarm and lazy overall. Maybe they had money to throw away.

Jason is 10/10. But there's nothing else I like. Jason is a good actor, of course, even though what he's given is a vague nothingness. But he was in nice shape. And he's enjoyable to watch in whatever he does. So, I've been watching for that alone. The show is like a cozy that isn't a cozy. And there is a RIDICULOUS amount of coincidences regarding the main character. Death is magnetized to him.

I committed because of Jason, but I don't recommend this show at all. Whoever rated it highly has never seen a high-quality mystery/thriller series. This doesn't come close. What's more, there is no arc for the main character (or others). Some relationships end up making no sense at all. The show can't decide if he's a good man or some bad boy. They gloss over stuff, big stuff, left and right, and they drop some others with no resolution. Having watched the two series, the show is bad as a collective. There are FAR better mysteries out there. By the end, I found the whole thing pointless.

Case Histories and Jackson Brodie

[CineNutty · 24 October 2011]

There is a bit of realism about bureaucracies and police work which comes through loud and clear. The real why Jackson Brodie is a "good copper" is because he cares about people and cares about his work. At the same time, he has a deep underlying motivation based on a tragedy in his own life as he was growing up. It is analogous to what motivates some psychologists in going into psychology in the first place. Thus, there is a relevant dose of human nature and human motivation that is lacking in many crime dramas from the standpoint of what pushes the investigator.

As to production values, the Brodie's secretary is a real trip with the correct mix of efficiency, humor and acerbic wit. Zawe Ashton plays the secretary and is an accomplished actress. Likewise Jason Issacs who played the memorable villain Col. Tavington in "The Patriot" does more than yeoman's work as the troubled ex-copper Jackson who bucks the system even for the dead. With the occasional twist and turn as you would expect in a British mystery, this offering is better than 95 % of the crime dramas on American TV.