Waking the Dead – The Complete Season 1 and Pilot Episode
Description
The Cold Case Unit, led by quick-tempered, no-nonsense copper DS Boyd (Trevor Eve), have assembled to re-examine “unsolvable” crimes with cutting-edge detection techniques. But the pressure is on for this mix of forensics, psychology and detective investigation to yield results…. More >>
Waking the Dead – The Complete Season 1 and Pilot Episode
July 1, 2010
12:10 am #comment-1
The premise was original when this show launched…..crime team reopen closed cases and solve old murder mysteries. Since which time there have been several American versions, none of which compare to the original. The show tends to be bleak and US viewers may find it a tad slow going, but the acting is first rate, especially from Sue Johnston from the 80′s Channel 4 soap ‘Brookside’. Trevor Eve does what he always does…ie. look very sombre, serious and worried all the time. Since his first series on British TV “Shoestring’ over 20 years ago, he continues to act the only way he is able…very one dimensional ! But the show is brilliantly made, as only the BBC can.
I am so very grateful that finally these British shows are making it to Amazon.com as the exchange rate…Dollar to Sterling was killing me on Amazon.co.uk. !
Rating: 4 / 5
July 1, 2010
12:19 am #comment-2
I first saw this show on BBCAmerica about 6 years ago and was instantly a fan. I am a fan of shows such as CSI:, CSI:Miami, and had seen some of the Cold Case episodes. I do agree with the reviewer above that the episodes are a little slower than the shows here in the US, but Waking the Dead has such great actors and the characters really drive the storylines. Trevor Eve and Susan Johnston play off each other very well. Claire Goose, Will Johnston and Holly Aird who make up the rest of the team are equally compelling. Looking forward to more of this series making it to DVD here in the states. A little disappointed that there were no commentaries or extras but I’m not going to complain because it seem to take forever for British shows to make it on to Region 1 DVDs. Hopefully BBC/BBCAmerica can make that happen a bit more quickly.
Rating: 4 / 5
July 1, 2010
12:36 am #comment-3
This is a great series. Great characters and plots. The pilot was not shown on BBC America so I enjoyed seeing that. I look forward to release of the following seasons.
Rating: 5 / 5
July 1, 2010
1:43 am #comment-4
The pilot set the scene for a very good series.
The actors performances were excellent – story line kept you engrossed.
Waking the dead is one of my favourite series, along side Foyle’s War, and Inspector’s Lynley and Frost.
In my opinion Trevor Eve is first class in the role of Peter Boyd.
Rating: 4 / 5
July 1, 2010
4:37 am #comment-5
If you want a look at how Cold Case Files and CSI came to be,
then obtain the BBC-produced Waking the Dead (Seasons 1 and 2). Absolutely tremendous writing, superb casting and acting, and believable characters that you can relate to. Whereas the US-produced Cold Case, CSI, etc., present us with “cookie cutter” gender leads, the British-produced Waking the Dead is not concerned with the looks as much as the believability of the characters. We were so impressed with these stories and their presentation that we purchased Seasons 3, 4, 5 directly from Amazon.UK, because those seasons are not yet produced for our playback region. We even purchased an “all region” DVD player to watch these. If you want to experience made-for-tv drama the way it should be done, do not deny yourself this experience.
Rating: 5 / 5