Northern Lights

Tired of graphic forensic detail? Weary of exploding heads, car chases? Northern Lights might be your cuppa. And no, it's not a smarmy Hallmark series. School friends who are like brothers, sisters who are best friends, funny work/home dynamics make this series pleasant and engaging. These aren't the posh Oxford/Cambridge folk, these are Manchester and Newcastle characters whose relationships chug along without servants and country houses. The dialogue is clever, there's occasional 'language,' and the cast create believable people. Plots range from a laughable school reunion to a very big criminal event. Robson Green is great, Mark Benton, Nicola Stephenson, Sian Reeves are excellent. Two seasons to watch, give Northern Lights a try.