GEORGE GENTLY SERIES 6

one of the few shows that you could watch wish that it would continue for much longer than it did, maybe you might know of a man like this, or of heard of one, or at least wish that there was one, AN HONEST MAN doing the job and fighting for the rights of everyone where ever it takes him, even to his death

Martin Shaw is superb as a deeply intelligent and ethical police detective who has become fed-up with corruption at London's Met. Complex, honest, and stalwart, Inspector George Gently (Martin Shaw) is a veteran of World War II who had happily married his lovely Italian bride. After witnessing her murder in "Series One," the grieving Gently seeks refuge in the North East. Shaw is masterful, powerfully depicting a man with deep integrity and convictions, and a talent for boxing. Those of you who enjoy  Vera  are in for a treat. Filmed in England's starkly beautiful North Country, and historic city of Durham, this vivid series boasts high-production values, and authentically recreates the ambiguous, and at times disturbing, era of the late 1960s.Series Five ended on a disturbing note, a cliffhanger, where the fate of our main characters was unsure. Veteran cop George Gently mentors Detective Sergeant John Bacchus (Lee Ingleby), a young fellow whose morals run adrift amidst the swirling social turmoil of the 1960s. As Gently's ambitious sidekick, Ingleby inhabits his character perfectly. You may recall Ingleby's inimitable turn in  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban , as the Knight Bus conductor, Stan Shunpike. Blessed with abundant talent and a memorable voice, Ingleby is incisive as the menacing Vic Tyler in the highly regarded 1970s police/time-travel hit  Life On Mars: The Complete Collection (U.K.) . A fine constant is PC Taylor (Simon Hubbard), who grumblingly serves many a cuppa of  PG Tips Black Tea  with plates of biscuits.Series Six resumes in 1969, several months after Gently and Bacchus were brutally shot admit the majestic Durham Cathedral. This encounter nearly claimed their lives, and both suffer post-traumatic stress, along with physical scars. Poor Bacchus is still recuperating in a police convalescent homeEach mystery is feature-length at 89 minutes. Thankfully, there are English subtitles, for those of who do not want to miss one word. For a three-dimensional taste experience, you may want to indulge in some Northumberland style bangers & mash, with a classic Newcastle Nut Brown Ale (a favorite of Bacchus') to top it off. Enjoy!"Gently Between the Lines"Gently is shocked to receive Bacchus's resignation, as the sergeant is suffering PTSD after the shooting (in the last season). Although Gently seems to accept the young man's notice, he insists that Bacchus help with another murder investigation. After rioters were arrested after Newcastle police tried to clear a poor neighborhood out, prior to demolition and redevelopment, one of the protesters is found dead in the cells the next morning. The case causes both Gently and Bacchus to examine their role as police officers, during a time when law enforcement changed from being seen as locally based, to being thuggish agents of the state. Young policewoman Rachel Coles (Lisa Mcgrillis) is wrongly fired from the force - just wait and see what our George makes of that! Written by Tim Prager; cast includes: Robert Pugh, Steve Evets, Ruth Gemmell, Matt Stokoe and Caroline O'Neill."Blue for Bluebird"This mystery is written by Jess Williams, of the marvelous series "Call The Midwife." Personally, I tend to dislike mysteries set in coastal holiday camps, and this one features dreadful clown faces. A beautiful young "Bluebird" from the camp washes ashore. Under all the camp's revelry and playful permissiveness, Gently and Bacchus expose a web of greed and jealousy. PC Rachel Coles (Lisa Mcgrillis) assists the team, while Bacchus fights to see more of his daughter. Guest stars include: Lee Boardman, and Pixie Lott."Gently From the Cold"As often is the case in murder investigations, cases connect in ways not anticipated. From a murder in a sauna, the case moves Gently to investigate the possibility of military abuse. He finds himself actually facing a wall of silence and Cold War conspiracy. Written by Jess Williams; guest stars include: Jemma Redgrave and Helen Coverdale."Gently Going Under"The best mystery of the lot, with wonderful developments in the relationships between Gently, Bacchus, and newcomer Coles (Lisa Mcgrillis). During the late 1960s, massive economic shifts pressure communities in the North. As Northumberland's coal mining industry suffers, stress grows in tightly knit mining communities. In Burnsend, a body is found in the mine, and Gently and Bacchus must unearth the truth beneath the community's tensions. In this beleaguered community, schisms and ill-feelings there date back to World War II. Though WWII may seem distant now, in 1969, it had only been over 24 years. To make a contemporary comparison, many of us recall the 1980s up to 1990 quite vividly. Time is relative, and memory collapses intervening years quite effectively. Written by Mike Cullen (the great Scottish series "Taggart"); guest stars include: Grant Crookes, Neil Eddy, and Poppy Lee Friar.While you wait for more George, there is another wonderful mystery series set in Northumbria, worth savoring. Based upon novels by Ann Cleeves ( Crow Trap ), the series features the great Brenda Blethyn as caustic DCI Vera Stanhope:  Vera , Vera: Set 2 , Vera, Set 3  (to be released). Be sure to have plenty of hot, strong tea and  Carr's Ginger Lemon Creme Cookies  on hand.

Martin Shaw as Chief Inspector George Gently is similar in a lot of ways to the equally fictional DCI Christopher Foyle. Both are superb detectives and deeply ethical men who are widowers. The difference between "George Gently" and "Foyle's War" is of course the time setting. Gently is set in the 1960s (although I imagine we're going to see the 1970s too since this set was set in 1969). Picking this time period was a stroke of genius because it must have been very tough to be a copper in a time of tremendous social upheaval and all kinds of new crime.The main selling point of the show is Shaw and Lee Ingelby, as Gently's "bagman" Detective Sergeant John Bacchus. Both do an outstanding job of bringing their characters to life. My only criticism of the way their characters are drawn is sometimes Gently comes across as a bit too progressive to be an old time copper in 1960s Britain and sometimes Bacchus comes across as a little thick.As far as the episodes go, I liked "Gently Between the Lines" and "Blue Bird" the best. Both of them were very believable (the first being an investigation of a death in police custody after a riot and the second being a murder taking place at a holiday camp).I didn't like "Gently with Honor" all that much...<spoilers>Frankly, the whole thing came across as wildly implausible. How believable is it that someone would commit a murder in front of a rolling camera and then not make sure the film of him committing such a terrible crime was destroyed? After all, this was the 1960s, people couldn't just make a quick copy of something like that on their computer and post it to the Internet.Also, I couldn't help but think that the whole plot of the British Army drugging squaddies with LSD and then torturing them to see if they could use such techniques on the Russians smacked more of a plot out of the "X-Files" than reality. I also could have done without the whole angle of the soldiers in question being gay and being forced to reveal that by the "evil British Army officer." The whole thing smacked of political correctness.<end spoilers?The final episode in the set "Gently Going Under" was a good one but not quite as good as the the first two. The setting for the murder --deep in a coal mine-- was pretty creative, but the complex family relationships that were critical to the story were a bit confusing, and I could have used a scene where someone explained the whole thing to make sure we all understood what was going on.This being said, I will look forward to the next set of Gently stories. One major development in the late 1960s and early 1970s that I hope they use in a future story is Northern Ireland. In 1969, the whole place went up in flames and by 1972, Belfast was like a war zone. It would cool to see Gently and Bacchus deal with some of the spillover that took place in the Home Islands.

Season six (6) of this superb British "murder-mystery" series, "George Gently", finds our two late 1960's era detectives being challenged by a changing world (i.e. the questioning of authority, women asserting themselves especially in the "work-place"-- much to detective Bacchus' chagrin, sex being a more "open" and talked about topic, etc.). Once again Season Six (6), of "George Gently" is greatly written, directed and, most of all, acted. Mellow-voiced Martin Shaw, as George Gently is superb as a very wise and caring detective guiding and advising his rather "rough around the edges" partner Detective Sergeant John Bacchus (wonderfully acted by Lee Ingleby); Baccus really needs a tremendous amount of guidance from Shaw both personally and professionally. (In Season Six (6) Bacchus seems to mature but is still very rough--there were times that I felt like smacking him!)Series six (6) is, of course, void of any of the technological help to our detectives such as computers with Gently and Bacchus having to rely on basic "foot-work" in solving some splendidly written and directed mysteries involving murder in a Turkish bath, murder in coal mine, very young prostitution, military torture, civil unrest, police brutality, etc. They solve the cases most brilliantly; I was on the "edge of my seat" through all four episodes that are each well over an hour in length. I really enjoyed viewing Season Six (6) of "George Gently".

This has been a steady journey for George and the crew. I am not going to give away any of the plot lines, but as ever well set in the issues of the time that some of us will remember. Already the signs of George’s heading to the end of his career are set though the excitement is not over yet by a long way. What more awaits? Watch the next two series and see what his legacy will be!

This is a wonderful series, usually with a long running series' they start running out of ideas, but this is as good or possibly even better than the first episode. George Gently is a very kind and caring person, where as his side kick Sergeant Baccas is a bit of a hot head, assumes a lot and thinks the worst of people and doesn't care who he offends. No swearing, nothing gruesome, no sex scenes just good old fashioned entertainment,

Got this recently. I'm a fan of Messrs Shaw and Ingleby. Been a fan of the very talented Martin Shaw since his days in the Professionals. Great stories that evoke an era of that is long gone. I was born in the early 1960's this wonderful series is set in 1969, which I just can remember. Excellent support cast as usual. A welcoming new recruit in Lisa McGrillis as WPC Rachel Coles. I hope they do another new series of this. Good drama is very hard to find these days.

I have watched some George Gently episodes and the length of these have just been over 1 hour 25 minsHowever the DVD of series 6 of the programme which include 4 dvds I have recenty bought only have a running time of just under 90 mins. Would I be right in thinking the DVDs are edited versions of the episodes?Quite disappointing if they are.Hazel Channon

After the bloody ending to the fifth series this follow up ticks all the boxes. Good stories, good acting and a charismatic lead propel the plots along. Toy can't imagine anyone but Martin Shaw as Geoege Gently although I still have problems with Lee Ingleby. A good buy.