The British are often smarter about drama. Many of their series rather than being the 24 episodes which are standard here in the US are much shorter. Sometimes only four or six hours. This has allowed some shows to sustain themselves over a longer time before jumping the shark (or getting cancelled before they find an audience).
Prime Suspect is one of those series. The detective series starring Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison began in 1992. Prime Suspect 6, the first show in seven years, airs on Masterpiece Theater on PBS this Sunday and next and will be out on DVD on May 16th (4 & 5 will be out on Tuesday).
All of the episodes feature smart writing and excellent performances. The mystery is still important, but it is much more than that (Prime Suspect started on Mystery on PBS and then was elevate - I guess - to Masterpiece Theater). And this continues in the latest edition. And Mirren says she'll play Tennison once more.
Article comments
1 - Jim Carruthers
The latest aired a while back on the CBC, and was just amazing, especially the government official who doesn't exist.
"Prime Suspect" really highlights how much US teevee has given in to crack addiction - the instant payoff, quarterly profits and what have you done for me lately.