Ha! I thought he made up forensicated. 

Thoughtful review via TVBites

This is exactly the kind of review I wanted to see.  A nice balance between what makes it different, and what made it good as a viewing experience.....and I agree with every word -except the bit about the four episode series.....don't think I'd tire of it if it had a full 8 eps.... 

"....we need to at least care about the drama’s central characters and not just see them solving the crime" - is exactly what we said during s1!  I guess it's been a pretty steep learning curve for everyone involved, but  it is definately growing from series to series.  

"....a sense of urgency as Weston and Steele made their way through the labyrinthine structure of the college in order to track down their suspect"  - although the series tends to centre a lot around the what happens in the interview room (which is, in itself, quite different to other crime series) I think this is exactly the kind of scene which Suspects excells at - it feels very real...a bit chaotic (although I'm sure it's carefully planned) ....and makes such scenes in other series appear....choreographed.

Excellent! Well found, domino!

fifi wrote:

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This is exactly the kind of review I wanted to see.  A nice balance between what makes it different, and what made it good as a viewing experience.....and I agree with every word -except the bit about the four episode series.....don't think I'd tire of it if it had a full 8 eps.... 

"....we need to at least care about the drama’s central characters and not just see them solving the crime" - is exactly what we said during s1!  I guess it's been a pretty steep learning curve for everyone involved, but  it is definately growing from series to series.  

"....a sense of urgency as Weston and Steele made their way through the labyrinthine structure of the college in order to track down their suspect"  - although the series tends to centre a lot around the what happens in the interview room (which is, in itself, quite different to other crime series) I think this is exactly the kind of scene which Suspects excells at - it feels very real...a bit chaotic (although I'm sure it's carefully planned) ....and makes such scenes in other series appear....choreographed.

Excellent! Well found, domino!

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yes, Yes, YES!  Everything you've said.  I swear fifi, we're like twins separated at birth. Fraternal twins, obviously...

Some of my favorite scenes have been those really adrenalized running scenes, very raw and potent.  From S1, the last episode when they raid the grooming ring, was such a powerful scene, even though it's dark, choatic, you hear intermittent yelling and the campera is just jumping around.  I thought it was pure genious, because I felt like I was running in there with them, felt this sense of relief and justice that they captured these horrible men and saved the girls.  The scene in S2 with the boy rescued at the end had me sobbing.  Such urgency, so emotional, so heartbreaking to see the boy's face when Charlie finally finds him.  You just feel so much more connected with the first person perspective.  The handheld, rocky camera work WORKS so effectively.  This labrynthine scene from S3 took it a step further by putting the camera in for the officer.  Emmett Scanlan knocking it own and then staring down at it was a stroke of pure genius.  I gasped and then clapped like a loon, all because they did that little bit of unexpected, that interaction.  Breaking the 4th wall, as it were...

They've done that before and each time it's just a little bit of richness added to the narrative.  We know this is a drama, and it's questionable if it's supposed to be that a camera crew is riding along. Most of the time the camera acts as recorder but not "in-your-face" documentary style. Then you get those little hints, Jack turning to camera to say "bingo", Martha closing the door when they find the pornography laptop... and it's like "oh yeah that's right, having the camera following them is part of the narrative".  They've come up with some other great angles, such as the rear view mirror & the dashboard camera.

I remember when Suspects first came out, a frequent complaint was the dodgy camera work.  The peaking around the corners, looking through reflecting windows, constant switching between angles in the interrogation room, the wash of overhead lighting partially obscuring the actors.  But I've really warmed up to it.  I feel they've refinded it a bit, there's less washed-out look, more vibrancy, yet still retain that "you're right there" realism.  Something I first thought would be a detriment has turned out to be an unexpected asset.

Oh, Another Tongue finally mention Damo!  Only took them like a whole year... I was on the lookout to see if they would tweet about Raven, and was disappointed they didn't. 

You think it's time to share those marvelous audio clips?  

HI guys! check out my post on the Suspects TV Show fan page for fan reactions on Twitter to Suspects Series 3!

SUSPECTS SERIES 3 - THE FANS HAVE SPOKEN!

Weston and Steele / Sapphire and Steele

I think it's an exellent idea! 

But one of the things which I love about Suspects which hasn't been mentioned at all is the fact that 2 of the 3 lead characters - including the boss - are women.  Turn it into a duo and it would be back to the male boss with the woman as his junior.....and much as I'd like to see that series it would kinda be a shame to lose the current dynamic.....

I've found the complete contradiction of the reactions to Suspects quite amusing!  And have been amazed by the comments critisizing the acting!!  I'm really hesitant to use the fact that the dialogue is improvised as an excuse for bad acting....it needs to be able to stand up alongside other dramas regardless of any innovations used in making it.  BUT personally I think the acting is outstanding!  The fact that it's improvised does give it a different edge though....for me it lends the whole thing an extra dimention of realism - and I do wonder if the reason that some people think it's not good is because it doesn't meet their expectations.....it doesn't LOOK like acting in the way that they understand it and so it must be bad...?

"Also some people prefer their drama slick, spoon fed, comfortable and familiar, with a camera that acts like an eye looking at a painting, rather than gritty, immersively overwhelming, experientially heart pumping, uber realistic, challenging, brave and innovative."  

Agree with this entirely...the key word being "familiar" - like with what I was just saying about the acting style. 

(I apologise for the excessive use of bad grammer in all of that - I hope you can make some sense out of it all....)

Suspects Series 4 has not started yet, but we already have a review!

Via The List 

TV review: Suspects Series 4, Channel 5

Gripping improvised police drama starring Fay Ripley, Damien Molony and Clare-Hope Ashitey