MovieChat Forums > Shetland (2013) Discussion > Dull

Dull

posted 12 years ago by badgerking10
12 replies | jump to latest

Dear me - I'm not doing very well with crime dramas lately... The mediocre "Broadchurch" completely failed to impress... I was expecting "Shetland" to be better and, in some ways, I suppose it was - most importantly, the script wasn't one long cliché. But, I didn't like or care about anyone and, so, forgot how they were related to each other as soon as it had been mentioned... Of course, the most glaring problem was the accents... Shetlander Steven Robertson used his native accent, while all the other Scottish actors - even those playing his close relatives - used their own mainland, not particularly Shetland accents... Whether this was laziness on the part of the actors, poor direction or a rather insulting assumption that the mostly non-Scottish audience wouldn't notice, I don't know. But, it was bad programme-making... A crime drama set in Shetland could be very interesting... Sadly, this story of an old family feud, possibly connected to wartime Norway didn't engage my interest... I suppose a story involving the oil industry, for example, would have been very obvious, but might have made for a rather more engaging plot... I get the impression that the BBC looked at the current popularity of Scandinavian noir, wondered how it could make something fairly similar, while not straying from its commitment to British drama and cobbled this together with relatively little thought.

[–] badgerking10 12 years ago

To be fair, episode two was better. Though, the accent thing still annoyed me... If they want to make more of these, they really must come up with stories that are much more engaging... However, if they're after crime dramas set in Scotland, I'd much rather they made more of the excellent "Case Histories" - the gorgeous and highly talented Jason Isaacs, interesting stories and lovely Edinburgh making a wonderfully atmospheric backdrop.

[–] paudie 12 years ago

The second episode was too late for me but the first episode was decent.

The "whodunnit" is really coming back into style on UK TV at the moment with the likes of "Shetland", "Mayday" and "Broadchurch"

You're an errand boy, sent by grocery clerks, to collect a bill

[–] mackay254 11 years ago

I loved Broadchurch until the crappy ending. Although this is not a 'must not miss', it's a canny show.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (41638798) 11 years ago

I do really enjoy the show, due to the gorgeous settings and interesting characters.

But after all this time, Jimmy. Ahem. Jimmy. He's possibly the most dull and boring whodunit investigator in recent memory.

What's he like in the book? Is he as dull as the Jimmy portrayed here?

This Jimmy is an entirely charisma free zone. I nearly fall asleep every time the camera stays on his face with all those blank stares! It has to be directed and written this way on purpose.

Because Henshall is a good actor. But this is underacting me into a coma.

[–] mackay254 11 years ago

Ha ha ha! Coma free zone here. But, I know exactly what you mean. Every expression from A-B. From Shetland, the bleakest place in Britain/UK, this may be all you'll get!

[–] !!!deleted!!! (41638798) 11 years ago

You may be onto something there...perhaps Jimmy's behavior represents the stark and spare environment in which he grew up.

So he's quiet and just simple in his ways. Not emotive nor a high drama guy.

He did lose his beloved wife, so he's still grieving, which would allow him to be overly quiet and reserved.

But here's hoping we get a little of Jimmy's hidden depths before it's over! LOL

[–] lilactime2014 11 years ago

Hi Parade

You have hit the nail on the head. As a family we have been to Shetland 3 times and Orkney 7 times and, in general, the people up there are very calm, very studied and not given to massive over-reacting. This ain't Essex with a whole bunch of "OMG". Talking to people up there I think it is the relationship with nature that makes people realize that it isn't all about themselves. The tight communities put other people first and aren't given to needless histrionics. So much TV is based now on the "MEMEME - what about me, Oh my Gawwwwwwd". Pretty much any farming community (like in the Yorkshire Dales) would be quite similar.

There are many parts of the UK that could stand to be a little bit more like Shetland, the aforementioned numpties of TOWIE for one.

get busy livin' or get busy dyin'

[–] jude2348 10 years ago

I guess it depends what you respond to but I think Jimmy Perez is a wonderful character. As played by Douglas Henshall, he is the kindest, most empathetic and decent fictional detective I have ever seen. From the moment in episode 1, when he gently and compassionately gave his young subordinate, whose relative had been murdered, tasks that would make a contribution yet would keep him from compromising the investigation, I have loved him. He is a good man and a good cop. There's plenty to warm to.

[–] lilactime2014 10 years ago

If you delve in the wonderful Midsomer Murders there is not a lot of difference between Jimmy Perez and Barnaby. Neither are given to histrionics. Both are decent, good coppers with a solid head on their shoulders.

Jimmy is a product of a life on an island, no more, no less. The highlight of the year is the "County Show", we went to Cunningsburgh Show last year and it was terrific. If anybody here gets the chance to go to Shetland or Orkney, for that matter, do it, you won't regret it.

'tler

[–] jpk-684-173069 10 years ago

"Of course, the most glaring problem was the accents... Shetlander Steven Robertson used his native accent, while all the other Scottish actors - even those playing his close relatives - used their own mainland, not particularly Shetland accents... Whether this was laziness on the part of the actors, poor direction or a rather insulting assumption that the mostly non-Scottish audience wouldn't notice, I don't know. But, it was bad programme-making…"

When you brought up accents I thought you were going to say that most of the actors accents were incomprehensible.

I'm from US - this series was recently run on the Education Public stations.

I came to IMDB to read up on Shetland and learn more of what was going on because I couldn't understand any of them.

US audiences are more familiar with Michael Caine cockney and Guy Ritchie movies so we get exposed to some UK accents but I couldn't make out what most were saying in Shetland.

I guess that's how some US films with Boston, New York, Texas and deep South accents sound to Europeans.

Anyway I'm about to watch episode 2 - maybe I'll start to understand more.

[–] lilactime2014 10 years ago

Once you get off the Northern mainland the accents completely change. There is a Scandinavian lilt to it. My wife calls it "singy-songy". Shetland and Orkney's distant history lies with Norway, not mainland Scotland or the wider United Kingdom. There is evidence in every other street name of this wider Nordic association.

So to nail a native Shetland accent, as told to me by the owner of the cottage we stay in, pretend to be a Norwegian speaking English and you won't be far off

'tler

[–] JaneBingley 9 years ago

Haha, I am Norwegian, so will remember that :)