Detective/Forensic shows.

[mentalguru]

Got a favourite? In terms of the US shows I really like 'Cold Case' because of the different time periods. I find that interesting, especially since there are definite different social situations and things which have changed throught the 20th Century (and early 21st even). Sometimes can also surround big historical events. The only one to ever really make me cry surrounded the event of Martin Luthur Kings Washington speech though (the name of the episode escapes me), but it was pretty powerful.

I also watch a lot of British detective shows sometimes, and while Midsomer murders is good (its a near modern classic), I just recently saw an Inspector Lewis episode called "Life Born of Fire." Once again got the odd tear jerk, especially because of the guy who committed suicide in the church and Lewis' partner (a former priest) and the fact he knew the guy as a kid and yet kept secrets from his partner which kind of blew up in his face.

Most (British) shows seem to always have at least three murders though. But this time it wasn't the formula of 'someone finding out', but someone out for revenge for those they felt responsible for the suicide (as well as what else the killer did themselves). Even though the guy who had killed himself wasn't the kind to want revenge very much (destruction of the statue not withstanding) and this was pointed out. I plan to watch more or this show, if I can. I really like the dynamic between Lewis and his partner. It's interesting in its own way.

So anyone got a favourite detective/Forensic show? I can like CSI sometimes, but it sometimes kind of bugs me sometimes with the fact the forensics are also acting like detectives (um... that isn't how it works, neither in America or here, though I might be mistaken on that), and Bones is kind of going down hill I feel myself.

Any recommendations though?

[Bampot]

I never got into the actual prime time show ones, but I'm obsessed with actual criminal cases. My TV is set to the ID (Investigation Discovery) channel for most of the day. My dad is the same way, but he also enjoys shows like CSI. My mom thinks all of it is sick and it usually scares her.

[mentalguru]

Mm. We don't really have a channel like that over here. Sounds interesting in its own way though. But then you do get documentaries by the BBC the odd time, and we also have 'Crime Watch' over here.

It could get scary though and I can understand that, but (in fiction) it can produce interesting stories. I don't mind if I sometimes figure out what happened before we're told- it kind of shows how things slot into place sometimes.

Of course, I have yet to come across an episode where the case was 'unsolved' but there you go. There's probably one out there though (probably showing 'whodunnit' to the audience but not those investigating though).

Some of the things can be freakish though. I guess also in the fiction too its because the crimes are actually possible.

Granted, a sign of a good episode is one which makes me feel upset or a little bewildered (you know the episodes where the crime is solved but you're not immediately sure what to think about it all the same.)

Obviously, there are some sick ones though which do squick me out all the same. Those which oiver do it by trying to be 'shocking' that it becomes a bit unrealistic even in of itself. (There's been the odd Misomer one which has raised my eyebrows to a different plane of existence in not a good way).

[sgtyayap]

In my opinion, there are ONLY two US shows that aren't outright awful in every second, those being the original Law and Order and NCIS. Law and Order, unlike Law and Order: SVU, actually acknowledges that there's more to crime than sex. I also like NCIS because, for once, it's NOT just about the crimes being investigated. I even like the occasional jokes being pulled between the detectives in that show.

[RandallBoggs]

Monk would count I think. Very entertaining and funny.

Oh also Death Note. Anime yes I know, but it is essentially a detective/suspense/partly supernatural series and is quite good. Your able to see both sides of the antagonist and protagonist (in this case reversed) and their pitfight against each other's intellect and stradegy to catch one another.

[mentalguru]

Monk sounds interesting (though a little over the top from the plot synopsis I found), but I trust they handle it well if your recommend it.

Ah, I've watched some of Death Note, it's kind of interesting how the guy gets such a god complex so quickly in such a short time, and yet his high opinions of himself and thinking that he's so clever mean he sometimes risks getting caught because of it.

Basically I guess your ego can get you killed. Or caught. Or almost caught anyway (I haven't watched it all).

[RandallBoggs]

Really? Over the top? Well generally it's a comedy crime, but the orcastration of how it's done is pretty good, and the touching scenes involving Monk and his late wife Trudy are great. I'd think you'll like it.

I actually scored several volumes of Death Note for a sale at goodwill, so I've gotten back into it again. I also find it interesting they place LIGHT as the protagonist and L as the antagonist. At it's base, it's a reflection on how "good guys" and "bad guys" are suggestible. Light KILLS people using the Death Note, in the NAME of justice. Yet when the police try to catch him, he kills THEM when he's able to, and he's clever enough to do so.

*nods* The ending is a good twist. You can actually see the madness in Light. It's also a good show of the mirror between two different selves people have. The positive one and the negative. Together they make a person, but it's not like the scale can't be tipped...

[Theophilus Hatta]

Let's see... US... I like 'Castle'- mystery writer meets homicide cop and relationship runs on UST, much better than it sounds. (Plus, it has Nathan Fillion which is cause for joy itself). 'Fringe' is a partial forensic show, I really like the crazy science and parallel universes...

We have a channel called 'Sleuth' which is just made of detective shows, mostly reruns. Mostly, I watch Monk mathatrons on it. XD

On the UK side, there's always 'Life on Mars' and it's not-quite-as-good sequal series 'Ashes to Ashes'. They are more straight up cop shows with mind-screwy elements then detective shows.... hmm... I don't seem to be able to find a non-time-travel cop show XD I wonder how the American Life on Mars finale turned out....