Shetland is just a ferry away from Aberdeen, where I had worked briefly for a period of time which is partly why I adore this television series. However, on it's own Shetland has had some incredibly complicated plots and the central characters to the plot are the ones you can identify with and care for as they try to bring a logical end to every case with good old school police work. I am a fan of Douglas Henshall as he plays DI Perez so convincingly and with an amazing depth that does at times compare with the best characters I have ever seen on TV or Film. Frankly, I cannot remember a single bad episode of Shetland unlike so many other TV series which are not quite as good throughout. Highly recommended for attentive TV viewing.
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samratmitrafeb1419 March 2018
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Sleepin_Dragon26 January 2016After a good pilot and a fairly good first full series I feel that Shetland is starting to come into its own, this second full series has started in fine form, it's somehow more slick, more meaty, the stories seem a bit bigger.
I have forever been a big fan of Douglas Henshall, he's a truly talented actor, I've always found him to be an excellent villain, a great bad guy, but finally a show for him to have the lead role and show a different side.
The Pilot was really enjoyable, I thought Blue Lightning was a really good story, and the recent opener to the second full series was great too, loved the performance from Ciaran Hinds.
The mixed up story between Jimmy Perez, his daughter Cassie and her biological father Duncan is great.
An enjoyable series that hopefully will continue to run. 8/10 -
paul2001sw-126 April 2014The recipe for comfort-detective-television is well established, starting with a community that is close-knit, picturesque and cursed with an improbably high murder rate, and adding a brooding, lonely, middle-aged male detective. And to an extent, 'Shetland' is pure formula milk. But there's something in the spectacular landscape that makes the stories affecting; and even if the role is thin, Douglas Henshall manages to invest it with a convincing, emotional gravitas that goes beyond what's written in the script. The plots aren't too bad either, although the low-key style (reiminiscent of the BBC version of 'Wallander') tends to defuse their dramatic effect. If allowed to run too long, this series will doubtless stale; but for the moment, it's still feels fresh, and as raw as the harsh Shetland climate.
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georgybowen15 July 2016One of thee best detective series ever. Reflects true life as it really is. Some people obviously prefer the flippant unrealistic mystery shows shown on cable TV. Shetland is wonderful, stories, scenery and acting all superb. More please. It is so sad when viewers look at a series like this and criticize it as being dismal and depressing, it's about murder and I'm thinking that is pretty depressing at the best of times. The scenery and lifestyle of the Shetlands is totally unique and while it isn't for everyone learning about this amazing culture is well worth the effort. I can't say enough bout the acting it is superb and the accents are definitely toned down so we can understand them. All in all a job well done by all concerned which definitely does credit to Ann Cleve's amazing writing. Thank you and please keep them coming.
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lkhull-687099 June 2017I loved this series! The characters are multi-dimensional, the plots are always very suspenseful without being gruesome. I saw someone else say the show sometimes moved slow (although enjoyable) and I would say the pace is perfect because the viewer is allowed to think alongside DI Perez. The acting is superb. So is the cinematography. I am so looking forward to the next season as it's become a favorite in my household!
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bonnybergstrom5 February 2014I discovered 'Shetland' while clicking around on the media streamer XBMC late tonight. I became an instant fan. It delivers: plot, intrigue and suspense. There is lots of room for arm chair detective work. So many possibilities to look at. Is it power? Is it money? Is it about an old love or a new love? Is it an old feud that's gone on for generations and finally came to it's breaking point? Or is it simply an accident? One thing is for sure, there is a dead body and a detective who is on the case. He is skilled and insightful.
The Shetland landscape is beautiful, peaceful, isolated and full of history. It is as important to the story as any of the people. I look forward to the 2014 season.
I appreciate this type of crime story so much. For me the British deliver the best treatment of a murder mystery. This is the way to tell this type of story. The touch of Sherlock Holmes' creative mind and a land where intrigue and power struggles have been the way things were done since Merlin was learning magic. It grips my imagination, allows the me to be right there with the detective, looking right over his shoulder. Hurrah for the advent of media streaming. Now I really can always find something good to watch. -
sonbyrd12 May 2017Absolutely love this contemporary Scottish series. Wonderful acting, authentic dialects, superb plots that keep you guessing. I haven't guessed one right yet! The scenery is sparse but beautiful, offsetting the overall gray skies in this part of the world. I can see how this series has received so many nominations (and a win). My family is addicted to this one.
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maria-ricci-198310 February 2019There are few detective stories where the main character is not only a deductive, sharp-minded person, but also an honest, justice-loving, decent guy without a tormented past, or weaknesses, or complex moral contradictions. (I think of Foyle, who is also such a good guy and father, or Lewis, also in this vein.)
Here we have Jimmy Perez, which is so well performed and written that you simply fall for him and his humanity, though the cases often portray damaged people or bitter crimes.
I always say farewell to each season eagerly waiting for next year, so we can resume our tremendously pleasant and thrilling engagement with Shetland, their people and the characters in this show.
Plus the landscapes and the atmosphere, which are enthralling and make you yearn for the place even if you've never been there.
It is not a fast-action show, but very thrilling with a brilliant management of suspense, the whole who-dunnit thing and the gradual unveiling of the truth shared by the team. If you like detective series, really give it a try. It deserves a huge audience! -
CrisGraham17 September 2016I really liked to watch the 3 seasons and I cant wait for the 4! There will be a season 4 right?
Great crime argument and amazing natural Shetland Isles as a prime character!! I often review some parts just to see all that beauty landscape.
To some it may be a little depressing, but I just find it real. Crime and investigation world is just like that. No time for a lot of joy and BBC Wallander, Shetland and so on show us that.
Douglas Henshall delivered an awesome performance as Jimmy Perez! It took me to find his previous work and he is now one of my top actors! Well done! -
kristal-4220123 December 202310 stars for the seasons with Douglas Henshall.
I loved the first 7 seasons of this show. It had everything just right, characters, cast, setting, stories, love & intrigue.
I've enjoyed it a lot, watched it 2x even.
I just finished the 8th season without Douglas Henshall and I really had to make myself stick with it and watch the last couple episodes.
To be honest, I feel the show would've been better without the new woman, Ashley Jensen. Why not let Tosh and Sandy carry it? They could do that. Flesh out their characters, promote Tosh, and simply get a new lower ranking officer in to provide a bit of newness. That would've worked better.
I understand it isn't easy to replace Douglas as he is such a strong actor and has such a powerful aura. That's going to take time for the audience as well as the cast, but for some reason I didn't like the story either. I got bored with it, which is why after watching 4 episodes it took quite some time for me to get back to watching the last two.
It made me wonder if there was more going on outside the main storyline in the previous episodes.
Things will probably get a bit easier with the next season, if there is going to be one.
I'm thinking that maybe it'd be best to simply call it quits. It'd be a shame not to have more of the Shetlands, but it's also better to end it on a high and not let it go down the drain.
In essence I don't like this new character. -
ecanarensis26 August 2017This is a wonderful series ...I'm watching S1 & S2 again for the 2nd time in less than a month. The writing is great, so is the acting, the characters are3-D & interesting, not from stock. The stories do share some sameness...there's a murder (maybe 2) in a small, place that's fairly isolated, in one part or other of the Shetland Isles. There's several potential suspects. The stories & mysteries are the kind that seem like what could happen in any small town, village, or big city, for that matter; the types of things that happen to real people, as opposed to dramatic, wild, over-the-top happenin's. Not as cozy as a drawing room mystery, but easy to relate to.
Which is not to say they're boring. I really grew to care about the characters, & when bad thing(s) happened to one (or more)* of the regulars, it really moved me.
The islands play a big part in the series; as at least one other reviewer observed, the land & sea are pretty much main characters as well as the people. Beautifully filmed in a gorgeous (if minimalist) land, the scenery makes me want to go there to get in touch with my own Scottish roots.
Lovely series; I hope the Beeb has more sense than most of US TV decision-makers & keeps it up (this show wouldn't have lasted a full season on a US channel...too intelligent & classy).
It occurred to me mid-way thru the second run thru that part of what I like about the characters is that the actors look like real people, rather than the plastic Barbie/Ken people that we get on US TV shows; older characters may have belly bulges or wrinkles. Most look as if they've never been near a Botox needle. There's very attractive people, and some very unattractive people. Realistic people. What a concept!
Though, one silly nit-pick: why does the GP who does the forensic work for the Shetland police always shake down her electronic thermometer?
*trying not to intro any spoilers -
mikejade31 January 2021The writers screwed up. Olivia needed to be in jail until the end. All it did was make me angry. Yes she is crazy about her missing daughter but all she did was make it worse.
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drednm8 April 2019Season 5 wanders and dithers all over the place in a story about people traffickers and a maybe romance for Perez with a truly annoying woman.
Aside from the moronic romance with a married woman, Tosh maybe finds a boyfriend while Sandy maybe gets suspended for being stupid. Rhona still just sits around scowling at everyone. The trafficking story devolves into various murders and is way too thin to be stretched out over 6 episodes. And then there's Duncan reaching for rock bottom while Cassie is off at Uni.
This season seemed really full of filler and "OH PLEASE" moments that were way off the mark. I like the setting and the main characters but if there's a season 06, they'd better have a better crime story and less "romance."
Season 6 never even mentions the cliffhanger from Season 5 yet sets up Sandy with yet another fail (which is also not resolved). Murders galore and unlikable characters make this season one of subplots and no main focus and everything is way too far-fetched.
Duncan is still stupid, Sandy shouldn't be a cop, and Tosh spends all six episodes with that dumb look on her face. The ultimate fail is Jimmy's incredibly stupid actions in the final episode that go against his character and just add one more bad cop to the world. -
jt-358443 January 2024Loved Seasons 1 - 7 of Shetland that had it all -- a great lead/character; excellent supporting cast/characters; interesting storylines; along with natural character development woven into the stories.
But cut to Season 8, and not only did the series lose its central character, but much of the supporting elements that made the previous 7 seasons so compelling.
Doug Henshall's character of Jimmy Perez gave the series an admirable hero -- honest; committed to doing the right thing; realistic, with wisdom gained through experience; committed to his work; smart; caring; and purposeful. You wanted to see Jimmy and his team overcome challenges and succeed in solving not only their cases, but also their personal struggles.
In contrast, the Ruth Calder character is dishonest; manipulative; selfish; reckless; incompetent; and irrational/emotional. As likeable as Jimmy Perez was, is how unlikeable the Ruth Calder character is. If DI Ruth is intended as a Jimmy Perez stand-in/replacement ... it simply doesn't work ... plus she lies to Tosh! Because the DI Ruth character is so problematic, she also doesn't bond with the existing Perez team and the team dynamic that used to be so strong is gone. Ashley Jensen is receiving a lot of criticism for her portrayal, but that may be misplaced, as the DI Ruth character is truly awful and as such, she doesn't have much to work with.
Another miss was in not developing the Tosh character, who would have been the worthy and natural successor to Perez. Tosh shares the same character traits that made Perez a hero. Up to this season, the audience has watched Tosh grow under Perez's direction and it would have been interesting to watch her continued journey in taking over the team and seeing how she would develop her skills in solving complex cases.
Another miss -- the absence of Julie Graham -- although her role was generally limited, her Rhona Kelly, procurator fiscal character was smart and professional -- a memorable foil for Perez. The Harry Lamont character now fulfilling this role was in contrast, silly and annoying.
If there is a Season 9, I hope the writers return to the core characters/cast and develop them -- nurturing the seeds planted by Jimmy Perez. -
cmoon-4229119 September 2016The 6 episode second season is a gripping, complex tale with not just the one murder that starts it, but eventually a handful. Characters and plot are introduced and revealed bit by bit, in a way that keeps you wanting more.
It is like three or four different onions that are peeled back one at a time, you just are never sure which one is being peeled, and whether it is a good one or a bad one. Eventually they start to come together, but never in quite the way you might have guessed. The ultimate denouement is action packed - right up to the last 10 minutes of the series.
Then the whole plot is revealed in a highly improbable manner in a monologue by a single character, with even a key fact being announced when the character could have had no knowledge of it. So disappointing after such a riveting series. I was ready to rate the series a 10 until the last 10 minutes. But don't let this deter you from watching it - other than that the show is really good. -
barryrd28 April 2017Douglas Henshall as Det. Insp. Jimmy Perez and the remote location of Shetland are the main attractions of this superb British drama. Perez is a man with a good heart who takes on each murder case as if the family survivors depend entirely on him. He's the sort of guy you want to have on your side. The setting is spectacular but the climate is harsh; cold, grey, damp. You feel like you're right there with them. The murders do not have simple explanations and often involve a web of intrigue. Perez will hunt them down, whether its clan warfare in Shetland or a crime syndicate in Glasgow. Perez (his family name comes from his Portuguese father) has a close friend and rival in Duncan Hunter, a local councillor. Played by Mark Bonnar, Duncan is in a relationship with Perez's ex-wife and is a surrogate father to his teenage daughter. This is an area of contention because Jimmy cares deeply for his daughter and faces the challenge of not being in control. Used to dealing with criminals, he fears the worst for the one he loves most. The stories are from British author Ann Cleeves. The series is a fine piece of work in the tradition of British mystery writing and film-making. It is also one of many great television shows that have come out of Britain and Scandinavia in recent years along with Borgen, The Bridge, Broadchurch, Wallander. Shetland and the others are what great television is about.
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emuir-122 June 2017A truly excellent detective series with a different feel thanks to the little known location. The wind and rain swept treeless Shetland location gives a wonderfully authentic atmosphere to the tried and true detective series. I became hooked on Scandinavian detective series through watching Mhz Worldview, particularly as I liked the alternative to London and New York settings which highlight the fact that there is a whole other world out there - a world of small communities where everyone is related to everyone else and the few small towns are like villages where everyone is a family.
Like many people, all I knew about the Shetland Isles is that they were as far north as you can go in the British Isles, almost in the Arctic, had once belonged to Norway, had bad cold weather and were not very high on the list of places I would like to visit.
The ensemble acting is superb, with cameos by famous actors such as Brian Cox, as is the occasional dialect speech 'simmer dim' for the long white summer nights which never get totally dark and people can still be sitting out in the twilight way after midnight. I particularly liked the episodes paying homage to the Shetland Bus operation of WW2 where the Shetland seamen helped ferry agents, money and supplies to Norway, and bring back refugees to help the war effort.
One caution is that they do a lot of drinking - straight from the bottle. A visitor is likely to be handed a glass of whisky along with the bottle! They must never have got through the cases of whisky washed ashore in the film 'Whisky Galore'. -
Gilliganm18 July 2017I have watched many police stories over the years and this is at the top of my list as one of the best of all time. It compares quite favorably with Midsomer Murders, another of my favorite shows. I actually put off watching the 2017 premiere of Game of Thrones so that I could finish watching season three of the show. Especially living in Southern California, and specifically in the inland Valley, it is comforting to know that some places on this planet are not hotter than Hades.
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nmqttcwp27 May 2023I binged all 7 seasons and now feel depressed its over. The writing, the cast and the scenery were so enjoyable to this Californian who wants to visit Scotland very badly. The chemistry with the cast is amazing and I very much enjoyed all the relationships between everyone. Something about these UK/Irish/Scottish shows go so much deeper than American TV. Shetland is a great detective series with interesting twists and turns. Well paced. The first 6 eps contain 3 separate mysteries that are 2 eps each. Then it moves into one mystery spanning 6 episodes a season. All very well done and paced well.
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sassyred-122142 January 2019One of the best detective shows I had seen in a very long time. The scenery is spectacular and the acting is wonderful. Each episode has me deeply immersed in the story. Wonderfully done and thoroughly enjoyed. I hope they continue.
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craig-hopton16 March 2013OK, so this wasn't a groundbreaking detective drama. The mystery plot was good (it kept me interested and I wasn't able to work out "whodunit") but it was nothing special.
But I thoroughly enjoyed this two-parter. Why? Well, first of all, the location. The Shetland Islands have an atmosphere and landscape all of their own and provided a wonderful setting. In fact I think they could have made even more of the landscape than they did - they stayed within quite a small area of the islands.
Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Perez was an excellent lead. He didn't have a particularly strong supporting cast but I found him very engaging and believable.
Finally, I thought they made very good use of the Shetlands' unique history. The Shetland Bus, Up Helly Aa, and an archaeological dig were all weaved into the story, making sure that this drama stayed firmly rooted in its setting. A very diverting and enjoyable two hours. -
blancah-893-9275682 April 2016We discovered the series this Spring 2016 – the third series. Hooked quickly on the well-played drama. Having lived in Glasgow some years as a student enjoy a good Scottish accent and love the nature they present on the series.
It is filled with unexpected twists, good mixture of real life drama and feelings. The pace is good and the actors make the characters believable. Could not wait for the follow ups.
In the meantime, we are buying the DVD's of the 3 series. That is how much we liked it!
I am really hoping that BBC makes a 4th series. Highly recommend a well-played series.
Enjoy! -
andrewrye-065352 September 2021This going to be a bit like other reviews but we go.
Loved the setting, truly spectacular. Despite the high murder rate for a smallish island they mange to cobble some pretty good story lines. The acting up until season 5 has always impressed and I assume the dialect is correct although I do need subtitles which I am fine with. It really does get the feel of desolation and cold dampness across. I might ask if the weather ever changes? Never seems to rain, snow or have days of bright blue sky and warmth? So that confusing.
Season 5s story line was paper thin and confusing. I also noticed the characters who were previously front and centre drifted more into the background behind Perez's story line and romance which made very little sense. Tosh, who I've always wondered how she rose to a lofty DS position from the start (in fact she was a DC in the first episode then a DS). She isn't a strong character but does have a great sense of humour and cunning which needs to be encouraged in the writing for her character. For some reason Perez's speech has changed in S5 and I found the gaps between syllables sounded as if her were a bit drunk. It was odd and I'd never noticed it before. The only Uniform they show is Billy who just really answers the phone and drives the story a little. No other uniforms till they need the to 'look after someone' which, for a population of 22,000 is a bit odd. But really, this is nit picking as it's a good series and worth the first 4 season alone.
They have to stop saying 'Sir! You've got to see this' every 5 minutes. It's a 6 because Sir! You've got to read my review! -
nithig23 March 2019Series 1-4 were wonderful. All scored really well. Of course I want to watch SO5. There are 2 episodes to go so perhaps not the whole story... but enough me thinks. The characters, created by Ann Cleeves, were very credible in the first 4 series - compeling at times so I was eager for more. For SO5 I would score this way:
- very good story basis
- delivery of action 1
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robertguttman21 December 2018This is yet another excellent British detective series, in the mode of "Inspector Morse" and George Gently". However, this time the venue is the Shetland Islands.
For those not familiar with the Shetlands, it is the most remote portion of the entire U.K. Those familiar with classic movies may be familiar with the spectacular movie director Michael Powell filmed in the Shetlands in 1937, which he appropriately entitled, "The Edge of the World". An American might think of the Shetlands as the British equivalent of the North Slope of Alaska.
Nevertheless, despite it's remoteness, people do live in the Shetlands. And, where there are people there inevitably are crimes and, consequently, there are also rozzers to ferret out the villains.
As an American viewer, I have to admit that this is the only British television series where I actually felt the need to employ the "Closed Caption" feature on my new "Smart TV". But then the characters do not speak the way people speak in London, nor even in Edinburgh.
"Shetland" had excellent writing and characters and meticulous production values. Apart from that, it is one of those rare television series that transports the viewer to a remote place that he has probably never heard of, and would normally never see. It is definitely worth a look.