Broadchurch fans are hailing the BBC crime drama Shetland as 'one of the best things' they have ever watched, with some branding it 'nothing short of extraordinary'. The series has drawn comparisons to iconic shows such as Broadchurch, Luther, and Line of Duty.
Shetland: A BBC Crime Drama Gem
The BBC is renowned for its popular dramas, from the beloved police series Line of Duty to the gritty crime hit Happy Valley and the enduringly popular Benedict Cumberbatch-led Sherlock. Now, another series is being lauded as 'nothing short of extraordinary': the rural mystery Shetland.
Described by the BBC as exploring 'the dark side of one of the most beautiful places on earth', Shetland is a long-running detective drama that first aired on BBC One in March 2013. Initially based on the murder mystery novels by Ann Cleeves, the screen adaptation was crafted by David Kane.
Plot and Cast
Douglas Henshall starred as Detective Inspector Jimmy Pérez, who, in the opening series, has recently relocated to Shetland following his wife's death. The debut series, based on Cleeves' novel Red Bones, follows DI Perez and his colleagues as they investigate two murders: the shocking shooting of elderly Mima Wilson and the killing of an archaeologist. As officers uncover evidence, long-standing feuds, a love affair, and betrayals stretching back to World War II come to light.
Henshall left Shetland after series seven, with Ashley Jensen taking over to portray DI Ruth Calder from the eighth series onwards.
Critical Acclaim
Shetland has garnered glowing reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. One fan said: 'One of the best things I've ever watched. I love detective dramas, and I wish there were more of this quality. Beautiful scenery, great acting, and a wonderful script/story. The lead actor's performance, at least in this first season, is nothing short of extraordinary.'
Another agreed: 'This show is the standard for incredible British murder mystery series. The landscape is gorgeous, you can feel the sea and the cool winds, and the main characters are wonderful.'
A third simply said: 'I loved this whole series. Brilliant.' While a fourth wrote: 'I love this series. I love all the characters and the scenery is magnificent. Douglas Henshall is an amazing actor.' Yet another shared: 'One of my all-time favorite crime dramas. Never miss a season. Great stories, beautiful location, amazing character development. Can't recommend this enough.'
Mixed Reviews for Later Series
However, not all viewers were won over by the more recent series. One former devotee shared: 'Up to and including season 4, I would rate this a 4 out of 5, but with season 5, it went downhill fast.'
Though another remained undeterred, saying: 'Solid writing and characterisation, augmented by a terrific sense of place. The structure of the plot lines feel a little familiar after the first few seasons, though the particular plot twists aren't too predictable.'
Shetland is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
