"Law & Order: UK" (2009) TV series

User Rating:

(awaiting 5 votes)

Creator:

Dick Wolf

Seasons:

1 | 2

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

UK version of the long-running U.S. TV drama that tells the stories of two separate yet equally important groups: the police, who investigate crime; and the attorneys, who prosecute the offenders.

Plot Keywords:

Based On TV Series | City Name In Title | Place Name In Title

Cast

Bradley Walsh	...	DS Ronnie Brooks / ... (26 episodes, 2009-2010)
Jamie Bamber	...	DS Matt Devlin (26 episodes, 2009-2010)
Ben Daniels	...	James Steel / ... (26 episodes, 2009-2010)
Freema Agyeman	...	Alesha Phillips / ... (26 episodes, 2009-2010)
Harriet Walter	...	DI Natalie Chandler / ... (13 episodes, 2009)
Bill Paterson	...	George Castle / ... (13 episodes, 2009)

Also Known As:

Law & Order: London (Ireland: English title) (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

46 min (excluding commercials)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Kudos Film and Television

Quotes:

Narrator: In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups. The police who investigate crime, and the Crown Prosecutors who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "This Morning: (2009-02-20)" (2009)

It's okay, but do we really need another L&O spin off?

When the original Law and Order came out some 20 years ago, it was fresh, tough, gritty, and immensely entertaining. I remember watching it through college thinking it would inspire me to apply to law school and eventually become the next Ben Stone (Michael Moriarty was THE MAN when it comes to executive ADAs).

Personally, I think 20 years is too long a time for any series to run. Add a few diluted spin offs (L&O: SVU, L&O: Criminal Intent, L&O: Equestrian Unit, L&O: Truancy Unit) and the series starts to taste like water-down fountain soda. Still, it's a New York staple so I've grown used to seeing L&O production crews shooting around the City.

Which makes L&O: UK, just … weird. At first, it feels like a British parody, right down to the "doink, doink" sounds between scenes but with the odd London cockney accent. After a few minutes, you start to pick up the familiar L&O feel, the shaky cam, no nonsense dialogue – it's the police procedural show you've come to love, except it's in London. The cast is very competent. Having lived in London at one point, I can say that Jamie Bamber, Bradley Walsh, Freema Agyeman et al. successfully deliver the L&O brand across the pond.

There is nothing wrong with the show, except I have to question the reason for its existence. All L&O shows are exported to Europe, with the standard 1 year delay. I know Londoners have seen our original L&O. So does a local London flavored variation add anything new to the mix?