Monday, March 14, 2011

ICONS OF TV CRIME FICTION





Watching the superb Danish television series The Killing I wonder if Sarah Lund's 280 euro sweater will join that exclusive group of iconic items that have become part of TV crime fiction folklore.

Columbo's raincoat
Inspector Morse's Jaguar.
Maigret's pipe.

Is The Killing the best TV crime program since The Wire or Spiral?

12 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Norman - You're quite right. There are those iconic crime fiction items from television. It will interested to see if that sweater joins the group...

I wish we got The Killing here. I am reduced to hunting for it on DVD.

8:05 AM  
Blogger Dorte H said...

That sweater is indeed famous. And I can´t see Oxford spires without remembering Inspector Morse. I even went to one of his favourite haunts one night, only to be told that the cook had a day off.

I won´t comment on The Killing though as long as you haven´t seen the whole thing.

9:18 AM  
Blogger Uriah Robinson said...

Thanks Margot, we will have to make sure we don't give away the perpetrator, and spoil your enjoyment, when this great series is over.

9:19 AM  
Anonymous Janet Rudolph said...

I haven't seen it either. Hope we get it. I'll ask our 'local' PBS station. We have several, and one does search out these crime fiction dramas for us.

9:35 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yes, I love The Killing. The best thing on telly for ages, crime or no. The 2 eps on a Sat night is a masterstroke by the Beeb

10:04 AM  
Blogger Maxine Clarke said...

The jury is still out on the killing as far as I'm concerned, as the last few episodes have not yet been shown in the UK. But for me, so far, it is better than both The Wire and Spiral (previously the best two crime series i've seen) apart from the unnecessarily gratuitous depiction of the teenager's terror (verging on torture porn) in the start. The devestating effects of her death, and the committment of the police who are determined to investigate it come what may, do not need that to convince us of the seriousness of the case.

10:08 AM  
Blogger Simon Clarke said...

I agree ,Norman,about The Killing.
Interesting interview with Sofie
(Sarah Lund)--in yesterday's
Observer. The actors did not know
who did the murder --until they
were given the script for episode
20--so they too did not know
right until the end.

11:52 AM  
Blogger Uriah Robinson said...

Maxine I always record it which allows me to fast froward through the introduction until the new episode actually starts.
I am pleased we agree about The Wire, but I was fairly certain you would be a Spiral fan.... Pierre Clement prosecutor extraordinaire. ;o)

Simon that is a simple but clever idea and probably why the acting is so good.

12:02 PM  
Blogger Bernadette said...

Although The Killing aired here last year I missed the first two episodes on TV so didn't watch as it aired but then I received the first 10 episodes as a gift with my subscription to a local online news outlet. The only problem with that was that I had to immediately purchase the remaining 10 episodes and I watched them over the course of a single weekend. Gripping drama indeed. Having never managed to get into The Wire I'll say it's on par with spiral at least (even minus the cute French actors).

3:25 PM  
Blogger Kiwicraig said...

What about Magnum PIs Detroit Tigers baseball cap, Hawaiian shirt, sunglasses and jandals?

Or just Tom Selleck's moustache?

Then there's the pastel t-shirts and suits from Miami Vice

Ah, the 1980s - what a golden era of cheesily rewatchable TV :-)

3:34 PM  
Blogger Uriah Robinson said...

Bernadette oh Josephine Karlsson in Spiral can take my case anytime.

Craig-How about Callan's model soldiers? A bit before your time but Edward Woodward and Russell Hunter [Lonely] in Callan and Alfred Burke as Marker in Public Eye set a very high standard with shows that had a budget of about £7 an episode.

2:48 AM  
Blogger Mediations said...

Have you seen this?

"After breathing new life into ITV's Sunday night schedule with the hit period drama Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes is planning to reinvigorate the image of Agatha Christie with a film adaptation of the whodunnit Crooked House."

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/fellowes-to-give-agatha-christie-the-downton-treatment-2247772.html

2:40 AM  

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