User reviews

I'm not quite sure why this isn't rated higher. Though the acting is quite good, the real treasure here are the stories. They take you through the investigations bit by bit, not revealing too much, just like a good novel (of which there are a plethora by the author, Peter Robinson). Frequently there is a twist at the end, always a plus. The characters interact quite well, and as you get to know them, there are even the bits of the subtle humor the English are known for. The visuals are wonderful, showing the charming English countryside and the grittiness of the cities. Perhaps the director would be better served by revealing more of the history of the characters. Having not read any of the numerous novels in the series (though I plan to), I'm unsure what additional material is omitted in the TV versions. It's a shame IMDb features such a scathing review in such prominence (honestly, I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer's complaints - they seem petty). I think this is a very good addition for Masterpiece Theater, always known for quality productions. I sincerely hope the producers will make more.

Having read the other reviews here I was quite surprised about the negative ones, and the "too predictable" complaints. I find the cast to be really enjoyable to watch, and the stories are interesting and well written. Sure the chief is a little glum here and there, but overall he seems like a relatively happy fellow, even with the reasonable hope of a love interest. There is a minimum of forensic or medical nonsense that makes it hard for someone who knows a little bit about such things to watch without squirming. The interaction with the new DI in the most recent season is fun, and the character actors are very familiar to those of use who watch a lot of BBC. So for open minded viewers my recommendation is to not be put off by the negative comments.

Excellent English crime drama- I am no fan of Caroline Catz, but she does not manage to drag this down with her constant over-acting - Tomkinson and the rest of the cast provide the necessary gravitas, very subtle humour and at times, despair. At the end of each episode, I am left wanting more - always a good sign! Almost up to the gripping drama standard of "Prime Suspect", which also starred Tomkinson in the last episode, I think.

I can't wait to read the books now, even though DCI Banks will forever be S. Tomkinson in my mind now. Hope they show the entire range of episodes here in New Zealand!

I only started watching DCI Banks just a few months ago, but once I saw the first show I could not stop watching until I saw the last one. I'm glad I was able to see all the seasons at once because I was so hooked I would not have wanted to wait years to see them all. The cast is great, especially Stephen Tompkinson. His character is so totally honest and charming and he just gets right into you mind and heart. It makes you feel that DCI Banks and Stephen Tompkinson is the same person. The stories are great and the mysteries are real. People actually die in the show and are not all saved just in the nick of time like every other detective show. I obviously highly recommend this show and hope it will be back for a fifth season.

It's as it was written for the character/actor himself. Sadly it was discontinued, in which I don't understand.

The Brits have always known how to create a realistic depiction of daily activities of a police district, without constant shootings and chases, with officers rather "ordinary and boring" than driving luxury cars and wearing fashion clothing... Although there are dozens of frosts-morses-lewises out there, there is always room for more - and DCI Banks is another good result, pleasant to follow also then when the course of criminal activities or solution is not totally to your liking.

Alan Banks is certainly the very leading character, but he is not a lonely wolf, but a team players (with some reservations), depending on his colleagues' judgments and opinions - thus different from Frost or the Swedish Wallander, for example. I have not read any of Peter Robinson's novels, but I find Stephen Tompkinson a talented performer here - particularly bearing in mind that he has had more comedy roles to play... The female detectives, however, tend to remain somewhat sketchy, despite having different looks, approaches and background.

Anyway, a good series recommended to all fond of similar creations, without too much oppressiveness and violence. You might want to watch the episodes in sequence and without episode splitting, otherwise some nuances and events related to the characters' private life may remain misty.

"DCI Banks" was a good series that deserved more than its five-year run and its sixteen major plots (much as "Scott & Bailey" did). The main character was capable of emotionally-driven decisions, but most of the police work was solid, the plots were interesting, and the relationships among characters made them all more than cardboard cut-outs (the top four or five). It was easily a better series than "Midsomer Murders," say.

As usual, British shows get the lower end of the scale especially in this genre. This is very suspenseful, real & compelling.

It is well worth your time.

Watched the first episode won't watch another. DCI Bank's emotional expressions were frequently inappropriate, immature for a DCI for sure and downright ridiculous at times. I mean the last scene of the first episode was eye rolling. Then you have the Catz character. One minute

DCI Banks and her are meeting and the next they're drinking and conversing like old lovers. The plot was uneven, all over the place. I can't take this show seriously after that mess. No flow, no depth or believability with characters. Focused on irrelevant aspects and ignored proper tension building and story flow. Probably one of the most disjointed detective shows I've ever seen.

But not intentionally.... so stories are fine classic bbc. Banks and Annie are just plain stupid. If there are three bad decisions they could make, they will pick fourth, miles stupider than the first 3. But all in all watchable, with bit more effort could have been a good parody.

We are huge fans of British detective shows and this one is borderline good/bad. It's a bit soppy with characters whose actions are nowhere near as intelligent as they should be. It's laughably over-dramatic. Some of the most interesting characters disappear. Helen's relationship w her "happy" family doesn't make sense. There are gratuitous boob scenes that don't fit the environment. Some of the characters are so annoying, we just don't care about them. The vocab could use more clever and less crude. ... We'll keep watching though.

I have read ALL of Peter Robinson's DCI Banks books, was looking forward to seeing the series but oh, the disappointment. Where is his personality? The bad boy image and behaviour that had him carpeted at least once every episode. Where is the tension between him and Annie? I don't mean the aggression that is shown in this series, the sexual tension you get when old lovers have to work together. Where is the scenery, the moors, the rock walls that Gristhorpe made while talking to Alan? All great atmosphere and it's all gone. This DCI Banks is a wimp of a man, who overacts to the point where it's embarrassing. Why does he speak so slowly? It's disconcerting and distracting. And not a characteristic of Banks. That alone would be enough for me not to choose him for the part. And Annie is a would be ball-breaker who comes across as an unattractive, spiteful slapper. Did anyone actually read any of the books? This is what gave you the idea for the series, correct? SO why, HOW could you make such a complete mess of it?

I wish I had not seen it at all.

Like just about every British program I watch this was outstanding. Love the characters and the scripts. Sad it's not more than 6 series.

I really enjoy DCI Banks having read quite a few of the novels. Peter Robinson is a Canadian though he divides his time between Toronto and Yorkshire. For people who think Thompkinson is miscast I would say that there is nothing in concrete that an actor has to be exactly as described in a book. I think he's great in the role. I have only two quibbles about the series. I wish Banks and Cabbott would either get it on or leave it alone. All they ever do is sexually dither with each other and it's getting boring at this point because it has been going on for so long. No one ever mentions their age difference of course. I mean he must be nearly old enough to be her Dad but in television land that gets swept aside.Secondly I don't think Caroline Catz adds much to the program. All I can see is Doc Martin standing there with Portwen in the distance. I'm afraid Caroline has been typecast past a point. For some reason they have also decided to make her look old and harsh with that vampire lipstick and all black clothing.

This was an amazing mystery series.. but the character of DS Annie Cabbot wasn't well written, she was irritating and smiled all the time for no reason even in the matter with such deep seriousness!

It's either the writer who didn't wrote the character well or And.tea Lowe who was so bad an actor.. with all other actors doing their best she was the worst of the all.

She was just so annoying and irrating and irrational all the time!!

This is a dark, realistic police show in the tradition of Prime Suspect. It is beautifully acted with compelling character development and fascinating crime scenarios. DCI Banks himself is an intense and relentless advocate for justice - not always likeable but certainly the kind of guy you'd want on your side in the pursuit truth.

This is another excellent show in the vein of Shetland. I am glad I got to watch the series from start to finish. Each season was fresh with a new and interesting plot. I could go on, but most everything has been covered in the other positive reviews.

To be clear, I thoroughly enjoy British detective stories and I enjoy the DCI Banks series. I have the last four episodes of the final season to go. However, I keep waiting - and here comes the cliff hanger - for Banks and the writers to address the unresolved issue of relationships in the work place. Will my concern be alleviated in the last four episodes? If I were to guess, I'd say the answer is no.

I really like the show except for I do not like the blonde chick she's always doing stuff and she gets away with it when she was telling the painter about the killings she would've been fired if it would've been anybody else but she just keeps on doing whatever she wants throughout the whole show which actually makes the show suck but she's in everybody else's but but that's OK give me a break if she would've been out of the show I would've given it 10 stars

This was a show I caught occasionally on PBS, and I liked it enough to track down the whole series (it can be found on Hulu, amongst others).

The first three seasons were excellent. You really get to know the characters and get a feel for the overall pacing and environments. Then it appears the show took a hiatus in 2013, only to return to a somewhat whiney/indecisive Banks, characters you have come to like magically disappearing without a single line of dialog as to where they went, and questionable actions by Annie that often get Helen dressed down about.

I am considering picking up some of the novels the show is based on, just to see if the same things happened there as well. The individual plots throughout the show were all very good, but the characters didn't really develop logically IMHO. Sure, I can be accused of not getting a happy ending for the show, but the forced drama between Alan, Annie, and Helen just didn't seem natural to me. It made me wonder why the writers kept toying with the fans up until the very last episode.

In any case, it was overall a good show that suffered from problems of longevity I suspect. It's only six seasons, so go check it out!

I first discovered DCI Banks by Peter Robinson whilst recovering in hospital from life saving surgery. They were an essential part of my recovery - against the odds. Since then I have read every novel.

The TV series is however a different kettle of fish. Shallow characters abound and major characters are just not portrayed in the intended manner. The one black character, Winsome, who is such a vital character in the books with her IT skills has been dropped altogether. Her replacement? That rather nice lady from Doc Martin. Why? I have no idea.

Annie Cabbot talks down to her superior Banks in a way the character invented by Peter Robinson would never do. Apart from the fact they had an affair she is obviously very much a supporting officer in the books. She is also now a mother which is also poles apart from the original character and her lifestyle.

This is typical bubblegum TV and reduces Banks to the level of most crime series whereas it has the advantage of some superior story lines to be a major TV series. It should be another Morse or Lewis.

Steven Tompkinson? Great lightweight TV actor but not as DCI Banks in my book. I know that TV rewrites some excellent crime stories, I suppose Frost is a prime example, but Banks is my greatest disappointment by a mile.

DCI Banks is an unknown gem of a series. Wonderful characters, intriguing stories, moody tone with lots of emotion. Once I found it, I watched six seasons in two weeks.