DCI Banks (2010–2016) User Reviews

Much better than the ratings

[snafu22q · 8/10 · 18 February 2013]

I'm not quite sure why this isn't rated higher. Though the acting is quite good, the real treasure here are the stories. They take you through the investigations bit by bit, not revealing too much, just like a good novel (of which there are a plethora by the author, Peter Robinson). Frequently there is a twist at the end, always a plus. The characters interact quite well, and as you get to know them, there are even the bits of the subtle humor the English are known for. The visuals are wonderful, showing the charming English countryside and the grittiness of the cities. Perhaps the director would be better served by revealing more of the history of the characters. Having not read any of the numerous novels in the series (though I plan to), I'm unsure what additional material is omitted in the TV versions. It's a shame IMDb features such a scathing review in such prominence (honestly, I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer's complaints - they seem petty). I think this is a very good addition for Masterpiece Theater, always known for quality productions. I sincerely hope the producers will make more.

Wonderful detective show - don't believe the negative reviews

[forensictrauma · 9/10 · 27 April 2013]

Having read the other reviews here I was quite surprised about the negative ones, and the "too predictable" complaints. I find the cast to be really enjoyable to watch, and the stories are interesting and well written. Sure the chief is a little glum here and there, but overall he seems like a relatively happy fellow, even with the reasonable hope of a love interest. There is a minimum of forensic or medical nonsense that makes it hard for someone who knows a little bit about such things to watch without squirming. The interaction with the new DI in the most recent season is fun, and the character actors are very familiar to those of use who watch a lot of BBC. So for open minded viewers my recommendation is to not be put off by the negative comments.

Taut, dark and realistic

[luciakristina · 9/10 · 3 June 2013]

Excellent English crime drama- I am no fan of Caroline Catz, but she does not manage to drag this down with her constant over-acting - Tomkinson and the rest of the cast provide the necessary gravitas, very subtle humour and at times, despair. At the end of each episode, I am left wanting more - always a good sign! Almost up to the gripping drama standard of "Prime Suspect", which also starred Tomkinson in the last episode, I think.

I can't wait to read the books now, even though DCI Banks will forever be S. Tomkinson in my mind now. Hope they show the entire range of episodes here in New Zealand!

One of my favorite shows!

[motormouth51 · 10/10 · 17 May 2014]

I only started watching DCI Banks just a few months ago, but once I saw the first show I could not stop watching until I saw the last one. I'm glad I was able to see all the seasons at once because I was so hooked I would not have wanted to wait years to see them all. The cast is great, especially Stephen Tompkinson. His character is so totally honest and charming and he just gets right into you mind and heart. It makes you feel that DCI Banks and Stephen Tompkinson is the same person. The stories are great and the mysteries are real. People actually die in the show and are not all saved just in the nick of time like every other detective show. I obviously highly recommend this show and hope it will be back for a fifth season.

Addicting

[zephyrsnana · 10/10 · 24 October 2018]

It's as it was written for the character/actor himself. Sadly it was discontinued, in which I don't understand.

Another solid and realistic crime series from UK

[BeneCumb · 8/10 · 11 February 2016]

The Brits have always known how to create a realistic depiction of daily activities of a police district, without constant shootings and chases, with officers rather "ordinary and boring" than driving luxury cars and wearing fashion clothing... Although there are dozens of frosts-morses-lewises out there, there is always room for more - and DCI Banks is another good result, pleasant to follow also then when the course of criminal activities or solution is not totally to your liking.

Alan Banks is certainly the very leading character, but he is not a lonely wolf, but a team players (with some reservations), depending on his colleagues' judgments and opinions - thus different from Frost or the Swedish Wallander, for example. I have not read any of Peter Robinson's novels, but I find Stephen Tompkinson a talented performer here - particularly bearing in mind that he has had more comedy roles to play... The female detectives, however, tend to remain somewhat sketchy, despite having different looks, approaches and background.

Anyway, a good series recommended to all fond of similar creations, without too much oppressiveness and violence. You might want to watch the episodes in sequence and without episode splitting, otherwise some nuances and events related to the characters' private life may remain misty.

Better tha 7.6

[heibeinh · 9/10 · 16 May 2021]

As usual, British shows get the lower end of the scale especially in this genre. This is very suspenseful, real & compelling.

It is well worth your time.

Good except for relationship with older boss and younger female employee

[lbotten-77915 · 7/10 · 9 January 2019]

Relationship of older boss and younger female employee is not believable. Watching season 3 now and no one has mentioned that it is not appropriate for a boss to be seeing a subordinate. Kind of sleazy. Takes away from the rest of the story and dates this series.

"DCI Banks" was worth watching.

[larryrogers08 · 9/10 · 1 December 2017]

"DCI Banks" was a good series that deserved more than its five-year run and its sixteen major plots (much as "Scott & Bailey" did). The main character was capable of emotionally-driven decisions, but most of the police work was solid, the plots were interesting, and the relationships among characters made them all more than cardboard cut-outs (the top four or five). It was easily a better series than "Midsomer Murders," say.

Rather silly

[jacileblanc · 26 February 2015]

Watched the first episode won't watch another. DCI Bank's emotional expressions were frequently inappropriate, immature for a DCI for sure and downright ridiculous at times. I mean the last scene of the first episode was eye rolling. Then you have the Catz character. One minute

DCI Banks and her are meeting and the next they're drinking and conversing like old lovers. The plot was uneven, all over the place. I can't take this show seriously after that mess. No flow, no depth or believability with characters. Focused on irrelevant aspects and ignored proper tension building and story flow. Probably one of the most disjointed detective shows I've ever seen.

Glad it exists, but we hope it gets better....

[Franklie · 6/10 · 30 March 2017]

We are huge fans of British detective shows and this one is borderline good/bad. It's a bit soppy with characters whose actions are nowhere near as intelligent as they should be. It's laughably over-dramatic. Some of the most interesting characters disappear. Helen's relationship w her "happy" family doesn't make sense. There are gratuitous boob scenes that don't fit the environment. Some of the characters are so annoying, we just don't care about them. The vocab could use more clever and less crude. ... We'll keep watching though.

Compelling drama with a touch of humor amidst Yorkshire

[safenoe · 10/10 · 4 November 2016]

I started watching DCI Banks at the end of season 1 (Cold is the Grave), and I've just finished watching Wednesday's Child, which is the season 3 opener. I am hooked by DCI Banks (just as I also like other British shows like Rosemary and Thyme, The Last Detective, Midsomer Murders, Judge John Deed). Sure, there's some overacting and overshouting, but the rapport between the characters is something to behold.

One of my favorite features of DCI Banks is the contrast between the Yorkshire Dales (DCI Banks even has a cottage in the Dales) and the gritty streets of Leeds. The overcast weather, dark clouds, and rainfall also adds an ominous feel to the story lines of intrigue and surprise. Without a doubt there's a major twist at the end, and it also deals with broader social issues that trouble society now.

I hope DCI Banks can continue for many years to come.

The stupidest pair of coppers in universe

[jebiga · 6/10 · 22 October 2018]

But not intentionally.... so stories are fine classic bbc. Banks and Annie are just plain stupid. If there are three bad decisions they could make, they will pick fourth, miles stupider than the first 3. But all in all watchable, with bit more effort could have been a good parody.

The books are in a different class

[inquizitors-845-455978 · 2/10 · 3 February 2014]

I first discovered DCI Banks by Peter Robinson whilst recovering in hospital from life saving surgery. They were an essential part of my recovery - against the odds. Since then I have read every novel.

The TV series is however a different kettle of fish. Shallow characters abound and major characters are just not portrayed in the intended manner. The one black character, Winsome, who is such a vital character in the books with her IT skills has been dropped altogether. Her replacement? That rather nice lady from Doc Martin. Why? I have no idea.

Annie Cabbot talks down to her superior Banks in a way the character invented by Peter Robinson would never do. Apart from the fact they had an affair she is obviously very much a supporting officer in the books. She is also now a mother which is also poles apart from the original character and her lifestyle.

This is typical bubblegum TV and reduces Banks to the level of most crime series whereas it has the advantage of some superior story lines to be a major TV series. It should be another Morse or Lewis.

Steven Tompkinson? Great lightweight TV actor but not as DCI Banks in my book. I know that TV rewrites some excellent crime stories, I suppose Frost is a prime example, but Banks is my greatest disappointment by a mile.

Loved it

[tlwhitecdn · 9/10 · 29 July 2018]

Like just about every British program I watch this was outstanding. Love the characters and the scripts. Sad it's not more than 6 series.

Excellent Series

[Lushlindy · 10/10 · 24 October 2015]

I really enjoy DCI Banks having read quite a few of the novels. Peter Robinson is a Canadian though he divides his time between Toronto and Yorkshire. For people who think Thompkinson is miscast I would say that there is nothing in concrete that an actor has to be exactly as described in a book. I think he's great in the role. I have only two quibbles about the series. I wish Banks and Cabbott would either get it on or leave it alone. All they ever do is sexually dither with each other and it's getting boring at this point because it has been going on for so long. No one ever mentions their age difference of course. I mean he must be nearly old enough to be her Dad but in television land that gets swept aside.Secondly I don't think Caroline Catz adds much to the program. All I can see is Doc Martin standing there with Portwen in the distance. I'm afraid Caroline has been typecast past a point. For some reason they have also decided to make her look old and harsh with that vampire lipstick and all black clothing.

An exceptional police series.

[tilokaudaman · 9/10 · 29 September 2020]

This is a dark, realistic police show in the tradition of Prime Suspect. It is beautifully acted with compelling character development and fascinating crime scenarios. DCI Banks himself is an intense and relentless advocate for justice - not always likeable but certainly the kind of guy you'd want on your side in the pursuit truth.

Hate Annie Cabbot!

[kunnslha · 8/10 · 5 May 2021]

This was an amazing mystery series.. but the character of DS Annie Cabbot wasn't well written, she was irritating and smiled all the time for no reason even in the matter with such deep seriousness!

It's either the writer who didn't wrote the character well or And.tea Lowe who was so bad an actor.. with all other actors doing their best she was the worst of the all.

She was just so annoying and irrating and irrational all the time!!

DCI Droopy

[poinla37 · 6/10 · 23 November 2020]

First season was quite enjoyable. Then came DI Morton, probably the most interesting character of them all. Then Win disappeared all of a sudden. Then it became really annoying and boring, Banks making his Droopy face everytime and being undecided about his love for the blonde b.... who should just have been kicked out of the team already. No clue if I'm watching a love drama or a mystery/crime series anymore.... Also, Banks doesn't really stand out as a DCI, he doesn't really shine as a team leader.

Excellent From Start To Finish

[TK32 · 10/10 · 19 May 2019]

This is another excellent show in the vein of Shetland. I am glad I got to watch the series from start to finish. Each season was fresh with a new and interesting plot. I could go on, but most everything has been covered in the other positive reviews.

The real cliff hanger!

[tbobinsky · 7/10 · 7 June 2018]

To be clear, I thoroughly enjoy British detective stories and I enjoy the DCI Banks series. I have the last four episodes of the final season to go. However, I keep waiting - and here comes the cliff hanger - for Banks and the writers to address the unresolved issue of relationships in the work place. Will my concern be alleviated in the last four episodes? If I were to guess, I'd say the answer is no.

Like the show

[salttoearth · 8/10 · 8 May 2018]

I really like the show except for I do not like the blonde chick she's always doing stuff and she gets away with it when she was telling the painter about the killings she would've been fired if it would've been anybody else but she just keeps on doing whatever she wants throughout the whole show which actually makes the show suck but she's in everybody else's but but that's OK give me a break if she would've been out of the show I would've given it 10 stars

gets better with time

[ifyasaiso · 7/10 · 1 February 2016]

I've started watching this from the second season onwards. The main characters seem to care too much and their expressions are what you expect from actors, not from real detectives. I have just viewed the first season, where it is obvious the characters still need to grow in their role.

However, the actors get better in their role as the seasons progress. I feel that the story is worth watching the series regardless of the acting.

I like how the characters seem to become less flat while the series progress. I am not sure how I feel about the relationship developments between the characters. I'm sure it's complicated...

If you want to watch 'real' detectives, go and see Rizzoli and Isles. If you like detective stories, you are good to go with DCI Banks.

What Happened?

[kathebaud · 3/10 · 23 April 2015]

I have read ALL of Peter Robinson's DCI Banks books, was looking forward to seeing the series but oh, the disappointment. Where is his personality? The bad boy image and behaviour that had him carpeted at least once every episode. Where is the tension between him and Annie? I don't mean the aggression that is shown in this series, the sexual tension you get when old lovers have to work together. Where is the scenery, the moors, the rock walls that Gristhorpe made while talking to Alan? All great atmosphere and it's all gone. This DCI Banks is a wimp of a man, who overacts to the point where it's embarrassing. Why does he speak so slowly? It's disconcerting and distracting. And not a characteristic of Banks. That alone would be enough for me not to choose him for the part. And Annie is a would be ball-breaker who comes across as an unattractive, spiteful slapper. Did anyone actually read any of the books? This is what gave you the idea for the series, correct? SO why, HOW could you make such a complete mess of it?

I wish I had not seen it at all.

Why Haven't I Heard about this Show?

[louiseransil · 10/10 · 21 June 2019]

DCI Banks is an unknown gem of a series. Wonderful characters, intriguing stories, moody tone with lots of emotion. Once I found it, I watched six seasons in two weeks.