McDonald & Dodds S1-S3

Have TV standards dropped completely? I actually reset my password just to leave this review. It was cringingly awful, terrible characters, even worse script. The only suprise is the number of good reviews I have seen - was I watching something else by mistake? Prime time (for some of us) TV and this is the best that can be done? It made Midsomer Murders look polished and cerebral...

It does make me chortle when people talk about theoretical BBC licence fee refunds on the basis of a single programme or series, as if entire corporations are supposed to cater to the tastes and prejudices of remarkably arrogant and entitled individuals. And for what it's worth, I barely noticed the so-called wokeness - because that's what modern Britain is actually like, and all the better for it. As for the programme content: very pretty, and just about challenging enough - although, without giving anything specific away, I have to say that the denouement challenged credibility somewhat! McDonald was shown to be human and vulnerable beneath that tough exterior, and Dodds was a brilliantly insightful detective who comes across superficially as a plodder, in the mould of Columbo as others have mentioned. Definitely worth a watch if you're not an intolerant, xenophobic, homophobic Little Englander who doesn't like having his or her prejudices challenged.

What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday evening. Love the character Dodds a methodical police officer, McDonald a an officer who needs everything now and to progress her career. It is fun, good characters and good story

I really enjoyed this drama, quirky and different to the usual crime drama. Love Dodds character and he could have his own spin off series. Looking forward to the next episode.

Quite possibly the most wooden acting I've seen outside of amateur dramas. If the other reviewers think that this is on par with Endeavour or Morse they must be on high strength medication.

An ambitious, strong DCI lead with a rather quiet and slow-thinking sergeant who is near retirement. Two different characters make a good duo. Due to the lack of good quality crime script writers in Japan, this drama is much better than what we normaly see here. Many of British murder and mystery tv series are well-made. The landscapes of Bath had changed since I was living in UK from the 80's to 90's. But still, the historical town looks so beautiful and inviting.

You have to love DS Dodds. He's brilliant and dogged but meek and you can strongly sympathize with him as a man who has spent his life in the company of bullies or being overlooked. The character of McDonald, however is shrill, horrid, nasty, mean, and just a terrible person willing to walk over everyone and wipe her shoes on Dodds who then just lets it go with no apology forthcoming. She throws him under the bus multiple times in each episode. She's written with every bad stereotype of a woman determined to succeed. It doesn't help that she's a black woman because these stereotypes are even worse for her. She treats her significant other so badly you want to call him up and plead for him to get out and find someone who cares for him and you never even see the poor guy! The stories, so far as I've seen them, are good with interesting twists and turns but McDonald is so overbearing that it's distractingly bad. There are the typical tropes of the mean boss who doesn't think she can do the job, is trying to push Dodds to retire early even tho he's the key to solving the crimes, and is in general, an asshole. I watch it for the Dodds scenes, really because he's so endearing.

Oh my god, where to start? The script is sooo bad. The characters are drawn with all the subtlety of an etch-a-sketch. Every action by every character is purely to ram home how good/bad/dopey/dishonest/lovely they are. Poor plot, just utter, utter rubbish. And Jason Watkins, what are you thinking? You're a good actor, why are you in this dreck?