River: The Complete Series [DVD]

This is TV crime drama at its best: a stellar cast, an original screenplay and taut direction. Eminently watchable, it makes you yearn for the days when you could regularly rely on the BBC to deliver compelling programming instead of the wasteland we’re offered today.

Intriguing, a very unusual take on a detective tale.

How strange! I quite liked it — mature themes, exceedingly well acted by Skarsgard, who's always good, and the ever-reliable Nicola Walker. I found the concept eerily similar to a 2007 US show, though, called Raines, created by Justified's Graham Yost and starring Jeff Goldblum as a "haunted" police detective in present-day San Francisco, I think it was. River has quite a different tone to Raines — it's set in modern-day East London, after all — but I found the similarities jarring. It's unusual to see a UK TV show that has reminders of an earlier US show; usually it's the other way around. I love scriptwriter Abi Morgan's work, though, dating back to her (seriously underrated IMO) miniseries Sex Traffic, which was the first thing I ever saw directed by David Yates. That would be the same David Yates who went on to direct State of Play and the last two Harry Potter movies. I do recommend River to the uninitiated, though: Skarsgard and Walker are quite wonderful in it.

I had never heard of this series for some reason it came up on my favourites.I bought it mainly for Stellan Skarsgard and second,y it was inexpensive.Not really knowing what to expect my daughter and I sat down to watch it over two nights.It took so many twists and turns and I have to admit to getting rather confused at times but Iput it down to age, however it was absolutely brilliant.Stellar and Nicola were fantastic,it made us smile on occasion ,cry, and the whole cast were wonderful.You have no idea who is the perpetrator until nearly the end although I was beginning to twitch with suspicion.I am not giving anything away but I am so glad that the writers did what they did at the end it helped with the tears!.You will have to watch it see it.Wonderful series.

Intense and keeps you guessing. You feel for the Character River and yet can understand the doubts about him from the people watching what appears to be strange behaviour. The great camera-work creates both points of view so easily. The beginning will have stunned everybody watching for the first time. I kept thinking "Get out of the car woman, don't just sit there."First scenes grab you and you a third passenger in the car from the start. It's seems like it's going to be a night of light hearted fun...Love the music.Once the car is slowed down and the granite expression replaces the sublime smile on Rivers face...Well that's the tail-spin. It's a ghost train ride in slow motion as skeletons in cupboards rattle their dry bones right at you...or do they? You decide. I'm with River on that one. Bless him! You just want to hug him and make him a hot chocolate!

Arrived on time and in perfect condition.

Unfortunately the lack of subtitles marred what would have been a great crime drama for me . I could not for the life of me make out 20% of what Stellan was saying and even at the odd time what Nicola was saying . Perhaps it is because being Australian , I do not hear these accents as much and am therefore am not used to them . So I am sorry to say that I will only watch this series only the once due the frustration of not being able to hear and understand the otherwise great actors in this series.

really good series enjoyed watching again and its not on freeview

Bra

This is an outstanding series. It has a backdrop of 'supernatural' in the appearance of River's murdered partner (he sees dead people) but the concept is handled brilliantly and touchingly. The mystery surrounds who killed Stevie (Jackie Stevenson) as well as including some of River's own dark demons. The main actor who plays River - given the challenges of dealing with ghosts - does a fantastic job! You really have compassion along with a degree of frustration and anger watching him cope. The mystery is VERY intriguing and the plot evolves in a riveting and chilling way keeping the viewer on the edge of her/his seat the whole time. Great music and a great script make this one exceptional series. It left me at times in tears and in awe. I would highly highly recommend this. Nicola Walker does a wonderful job as Stevie and as a result of seeing her in this production, I decided to buy 'Unforgotten' where she plays a detective once again. She didn't disappoint in that one either. BUY THIS - it is special.

This and Unforgotten are my all-time favorite TV series, and also take top billing over any movie I've seen.Incomparable storywriting by Chris Lang and directing by Tim Frywell.The performances by and chemistry between Nicola Walker and Stellan Skarsgard are unmatched in depth and breadth. It's hard to imagine these two wouldn't shine in anything they appear in. They truly embody the word "superlative" in every scene, every line of dialogue.

Ich habe diese Miniserie gekauft, weil ich Nicola Walker in Unforgotten und in einer Nebenrolle bei Scott & Bailey gesehen hatte. Nicola Walker spielt in "River" Stevie, die Partnerin des gleichnamigen Titelhelden und Inspectors, die vor seinen Augen erschossen wurde. Er sieht sie aber noch und kann auch mit ihr sprechen. Er sieht auch andere Tote, die zu ihm in einer persönlichen Beziehung stehen. Die erste Folge befasst sich mehr oder weniger nur mit Rivers Geisteszustand, und das muss man erst mal durchstehen, denn die Folge ist extrem deprimierend. Er wird zu einer Psychotherapeutin geschickt, kann oder will aber nicht mit ihr reden. River und sein neuer Partner versuchen herauszufinden, wer Stevie getötet hat und warum. Mit der Zeit stellt sich heraus, dass Stevie einige Geheimnisse hatte. Die Auflösung ist bitter, schockierend, kathartisch - auch nicht in Gänze logisch, weil manche vorangegangene Andeutungen in eine andere Richtung zeigten, aber das bringt diese Art Konstruktion eben mit sich. Kurz: ich habe über die Auflösung Rotz und Wasser geheult. Das bringt ein Krimi bei mir eigentlich nie fertig.

Excellent movie.excellent acting. Keeps you guessing until the very end. As long as you are able to suspend your sense of reality you should enjoy this series. Good value at Amazon's price.