Inspector George Gently (My Rating 5)

A knight in a grimy England

I’m a bit surprised that I haven’t reviewed this before as it is one of my favorites. Perhaps because it’s a bit grimmer than the usual. But Martin Shaw as a DCI in northeast England in the 1960s is powerful in the role. George Gently’s wife has been murdered by a gangster he was tracking, leaving him fundamentally wounded. But George is also perceptive, intelligent and deeply moral. Shaw captures Gently’s commitment to seeking justice through careful but dogged efforts. (Shaw did the same when he twice played Adam Dalgliesh.) A former boxer and WWII veteran, Gently prefers not to use force but is capable of it when necessary. He suffers from a reputation amongst his colleagues of being incorruptible in a time and place where that can be more the exception among the police. (In one episode, Kevin Whately plays one of the other kind.)

Sergeant John Bacchus is more in tune with the time and place, ready to cut corners and play tough. Through eight seasons (2007-17), Gently tries to provide him with an alternative model. But Bacchus is a mess; divorced, unable to see his daughter and an imprudent lover. (Alan Hunter, who wrote the 46 novels the series is drawn from, gave the show away in the names of the two main characters.) Gently also brings along one of the first female detectives in his HQ, despite initial resistance from Bacchus.

Gently doesn’t always get the support and respect of his colleagues. Bacchus sometimes lets him down as well. Some cases uncover secrets long left buried. Gently must also deal with the racism and sexism of the times as well as disputes arising from changing economic conditions. And he never really gets over the loss of his wife. The last season of the series is especially powerful as these dynamics all come together.

One interesting element characteristic of the times the series is set in, everyone smokes, all the time, including in the office. I’ve always wondered if they use real cigarettes. But apparently, actors usually use prop cigarettes or herbal alternatives that do not contain tobacco or nicotine. But it does seem that Gently inhales.

Inspector George Gently is a great show. I first watched it on PBS but now available on Acorn TV. A solid 5.