MovieChat Forums > The Shadow Line (2012) Discussion > This is where those 'U.S.TV is so much b...

This is where those 'U.S.TV is so much better' arguments end.


So often on IMDB comparisons are made between U.S> and British television drama.The general consensus is that programmes such as "The Wire" "Deadwood,""The Sopranos" etc. are light years ahead of what we have to offer. In general I have had to agree, but when a show like this comes along, I am reminded of how good British television can be and how it produces programmes that you would never see on HBO and certainly not on the major networks. "Shadow Line" was absolutely stunning. Complex, painful, uncomfortable and thoroughly engrossing. If anybody had the misfortune to try to watch the pitiful, yet highly regarded "Rubicon" and then was able to watch this, I am sure that they would agree. This is one programme that I will watch over again. One of the greatest television dramas ever.

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Agreed. I have this argument all too much with a mate of mine. He doesn't quite seem to realise that we only get the best of American TV, and always compares that to the duds we come up with. Idiot.

The drama that BBC have come up with so far this year has been amazing IMO, and The Shadow Line was the most compelling thing i've seen in years.

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That's the problem, the Shadow Line is the most compelling thing in years, we only produce this kind of stuff once in a blue moon. The Americans, particularly HBO, produce shows of equivalent quality year on year (more often than not with British cast and crews).

The last things anything like this were The Last Enemy and State of Play, but the last thing anything like as good as this was Edge of Darkness, which was what, 25 years ago now?

I'm sure we produce good drama that isn't conspiracy thriller, but the conspiracy thrillers always seem to be so much better than anything else. Our cop shows and medical dramas are turgid. We do have compelling tv shows, we do have tightly scripted dramas, we can put together stellar casts, and occasionally we produce innovative concepts and stories. We just can't seem to do it all at once, not very often.

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I know that this was in a class of its own, but, this Summer, we have already had "Injustice" which was excellent. Also, the "Scott & Bailey" series is very good, in a different way. The acting by Lesley Sharp and Surrane Jones is superb, as is the script by Sally Wainwright. In fact any thing that involves these three is worth watching. Shows like these do not have the big budgets of HBO productions, but that does not stop them from making their own mark in their own way. <P>

As regards to the output of HBO and AMC, have you looked at their schedules? The big shows are just shop windows for endless re-runs and bought-in movies. And while we are at it, how about "The Killing" and "Wallander"? I know these are from Europe, but they would have no chance in the States. Look what they did to the re-make of "The Killing" It ended on Sunday without delivering the shock conclusions that were such a big feature in the last episodes and with the identity of the murderer to be revealed next year!

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I'm really confused as to why anyone would think The Shadow Line has a quality anywhere near something like The Wire or The Sopranos. Although the story was complex, it was also pretty messy and unravelled to the extent that motives and events don't always make much sense in light of what happens later. The acting was sometimes awful, the characters (especially the police) were flat stereotypes. The offices of the police were ridiculous - empty except for a few props dotted about - like a student film.

Shadow Line was good, but its still embarrassingly weak compared to american shows.

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Wholeheartedly agree. When the BBC is on fire, they're unbeatable. The Hour, too, is a miraculous piece of television (and one that, for me, is lightyears ahead of the - quite similar, some have said - Mad Men) and I've yet to see an American show that was as powerful and emotionally raw as Channel 4 miniseries This Is England '86, broadcast last September. I think it's just a classic case of British cynicism, really.

http://dylzo.tumblr.com/.

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I had high expectations for this show but was slightly dissappointed, it's of course wayy better than the pathetic show Luther and is also very intriguing gripping but in the end it's just too much. The story is just over the top. I would rate this a 7/10 or so and that is a few notches lower than the best HBO shows which generally are 8-10/10


very funny characters in this thow, british naaasssty :)

_______
"if seagal was thinner this could have been a theatrical product."

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Luther isn't pathetic.

So Say We All

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Nothing's wrong with Luther.

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Better late then never.. while I do not live in the UK nor US, actually I live in a non-english speaking country, I absolutely love 'UK-Style' TV.
You simply have the much better taste and are not keen to recycle. Not to mention you do not fall for the typical Hollywood writing where the good guys must win and (most) of the heroes make it out (those that do not, go down in a blaze of glory after uttering a cool line). Boring! I love that I am never sure who is the good guy or who will survive. No one is safe. And you will not shy away from certain topics.

F.i. (to avoid spoilers) Only in the UK would a show about people with superpowers make me never want a superpower. (Misfits)

Also that you constantly come up with new ideas and are willing to take a chance.

Sure, some US-TV shows come close, but they always fall short in fear of hurting someone's feelings. Way short.

Keep up the great work!

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