Law & Order: UK (2009–2014) User Reviews

Why did it get cancelled?

[zenmateisshite · 9/10 · 16 June 2019]

The UK version of L&O was great. It was a bit more gritty in London than NYC. Walsh was excellent. I mean you feel as if Ronnie is indeed a DC.

Not sure why some reviews say the writing was not good; there were some excellent episodes like I Predict a Riot, which is as good or better than the original.

I don't care if it is itv or sky or c4 or the BBC but please bring back this show. D Wolf crime drama in London is a perfect concept.

very good

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 15 February 2021]

Dick Wolf's creation of Law and Order has long tentacles. The UK version copies the format of the original and holds up beautifully.

The stories are involving, and the acting is superb. Jamie Bamber is adorable with a capital A; and Bradley Walsh is brilliant as a recovering alcoholic cop who has been through a lot of pain. On the order side, the originals were Ben Daniels, Freema Agyeman, Harriet Walter, and Bill Paterson are great. Later, Peter Davidson and Dominic Rowan, also very good, take over.

Highly recommended.

Two brilliant performances keep your mind off the inaccuracies..

[ianlouisiana · 7/10 · 9 February 2010]

Let me from the start declare the breadth of my ignorance of U.S. cop shows.I have never seen the original "Law and Order" nor any of the "CSI" or "NCIS" series nor any combination thereof. I came to "Law and Order - U.K."with no preconceived ideas,no knowledge of the format therefore nothing to compare it with. The first thing that struck me was the ludicrous juxtaposition of the separate functions of the police and the C.P.S. In England the police are not the lackeys of the Proecutors,they do the investigating,compile the evidence,submit it to the C.P.S. in a so - called "Soup Report".The function of the C.P.S. at this stage is to decide whether there is a realistic chance of getting a conviction i.e. a 75% or more likelihood of convincing a jury of the accused's guilt. If this criterion is met a prosecution may go ahead presuming it is in the Public Interest to do so. The C.P.S. do not investigate - they prosecute.They rarely consult officers of such low rank as D.S.Brooks.Rarely see victims or their relatives,grieving or otherwise.Never plot revenge if a villain gets a "Not Guilty". The real life consequences of such a verdict are diametrically opposite to the ones in "Law and Order - U.K." The Prosecutors are philosophical and blase - it is the police who get outraged.And who can blame them if all their hard work for months has counted for nothing;the painstaking gathering of evidence,the coaxing of witnesses,the arrogance of the "No Comment" interview,the distress of the victims,they see all of this made worthless by some obscure technical point of law or the machinations of a weasel lawyer and they are mightily annoyed. That D.S.Brooks should smile and shrug it off is quite unthinkable. I knew a D.S. of about his age who would throw his papers on the desk in disgust and stomp out of the court whenever he lost a case.That's how much it should mean.Brooks should offer more than a wink and a smile and a "That's life",he really should.He and his oppo seem do to a lot of walking too,don't the C.I.D. run to motors nowadays?I suppose it's an excuse to show the scuzzier side of Sarff London,but I bet he still claims his Car Allowance..... Despite all this,"Law and Order - U.K." is compulsive viewing.Two reasons.First the inspired casting of Mr Bradley Walsh and Mr Bill Paterson,the only believable characters in the show.They act their respective juniors off the screen with absolutely no effort.And secondly the care with which the minor parts are cast.Too often these are the province of "resting" soap veterans,but L & O has a habit of using new faces that is very refreshing. It's entertaining if you don't know how the system really works,annoying if you do,but Messrs Walsh and Paterson are worth an hour of anybody's time.

An excellent start

[brumbino · 9/10 · 23 February 2009]

My concern prior to watching this was that the pace and the story wouldn't adapt well to the UK style - The Bill is quite plodding and small scale, but I was pleasantly surprised that, whilst intimate, L&OUK was paced superbly and kept me gripped 'til the end.

The only real gripe is that the DAHDAH's aren't used much....and that titles at each end seem out of keeping with the show: I suppose I'm used to the US version after so many years...

On the Law side Jamie Bamber, using his native accent, was fracking good, but Bradley Walsh was the absolute surprise hit for me: he's an ex-professional footballer (soccer star) who is known as a bit of a naff comic and when he's acted before you see BW not the character - not in this though...

The Order side familiar actors are again viewed as the characters rather than 'oooh he/she was in...' I think this is testament to a great, tight script More of the same please!

Gritty and compelling series

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 6 March 2011]

I will always have a fondness for the US Law & Order shows, and at first I was not sure whether I would like Law & Order:UK. I thought it wouldn't be paced well and wouldn't adapt easily either, a concern I see is shared by other reviewers. So it was a surprise when it worked superbly. It is grittier than the US series and some of it is even more compelling.

At the start there were some slight problems in the dialogue and acting, with some of the writing a tad lumpy and the characters not as well explored as they are now which affected some of the support acting as was to be expected, but it has gotten much better over time. The writing is intelligent and thought-provoking now, and I love the acting of Bradley Walsh, Jamie Bamber and Harriet Walter. The support characters aren't explored as well as the leads, but are acted very well and they and their stories maintain interest.

The pacing is quite good as well, it goes at a moderate pace without feeling too quick or slow. And the story lines are just great too, they are compelling and induce thought and I loved the format of half- police investigation and half-trial and that both parts of each episode are written excellently with the courtroom scenes marginally better in terms of acting.

The camera-work is what makes the show grittier than its US counterpart, while the lighting and locations have great, atmospheric shades to them and the music never feels over-bearing and the main theme is very memorable. Overall, this is a gritty, compelling and great series. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Not bad at all

[tonycarr · 8/10 · 4 March 2010]

Like an earlier poster, I've never watched any of the bewildering array of either CSI or Law and Order series. In fact, I haven't watched a US cop show since NYPD Blue and I haven't seen a US courtroom drama since the days of dear old Perry Mason so I have no idea how this UK version compares and nor do I care.

All I know is that this is an entertaining and engrossing drama. The stories feature different crimes, not just murder after murder and the good guys don't always win. Bradley Walsh is a revelation, Jamie Bamber is virtually unrecognisable after playing Apollo and Bill Paterson has never turned in a bad performance.

Excellent stuff

Fantastic Law & Order Series

[catfanatic888 · 9/10 · 26 January 2020]

I am an American do I have seen the original series which I love also but this is terrific too. One of my favorite actors, Jamie Bamber is on it along with a top notch complete cast. The stories are very similar to ours but I like the creativity that is used to put a twist on them. They are all very interesting and intriguing. If you're a Law & Order fan, you will love these exciting UK shows.

Not as great as the original, (it wouldn't be though would it?), but def worthy of another look...

[li72 · 7/10 · 23 February 2009]

Law & Order: UK is another franchise of the long running Law & Order series. All of the classic elements of L&O has been kept including the classic introduction speel and even the dunk-dunk noise between scenes. Why fix something that's not broke?

The pilot has its good and bad points, most of which are intertwined. I'm impressed with the acting over-all, particularly that of Ben Daniels, Bradley Walsh and Jamie Bamber. Freema Agyeman appears to be the weak link. I'm probably biased though, I didn't like her (limited) acting style in "Doctor Who" or "Survivors" - hopefully I'll be proved wrong in future episodes. There was an extraordinarily odd moment with Bradley Walsh who was SMILING, (in what I assume was an effort to appear caring and sympathetic), when the mother was bawling over her dead baby. Lordy.

I actually really like the shaky, continually moving camera work, which gives a gritty, realistic feel to the show, whilst helping to give energy to dialogue-heavy show. However, the type of film used makes the show seem like every other cheap British staple (e.g. The Bill, Casualty or Eastenders). Maybe this was supposed to add to the show's gritty feel but it just didn't work for me.

The worst elements of this show is that it seems to mangle our "UK" law (actually being the law of England and Wales, specifically contained within London) and stretches the validity of how courtrooms work. But it is only a TV show, and I ain't no lawyer so whatchagonado???

I definitely think its worth tuning in again to see how this show pans out. Potentially, Law & Order: UK could be one of the best shows in the UK, combining some excellent actors with thoughtful insights and though-provoking issues.

Or it good go a bit Pete tong, but you won't find out unless you keep watching...

Brilliant

[akizme · 10/10 · 24 October 2010]

Well, as a die hard fan of most of the Law and Order franchises (save for the Los Angeles declination), I must say I got hooked from watching the very first episode on (BBC America ya'll- Friday nights at 9pm or at Comcast on Demand).

Just like the US version, a lot of the stories are based on news items that make it big in the UK. The treatment is gritty and captures your attention and it is always fun to listen to British slang (which I must admit sometimes escapes me completely and I must rely on general context to try and guess what they are saying, but I am not complaining as it makes for a little bit more flavor).

The acting is really, really good across the board. I like all the characters, and I am especially engrossed in the procedural side of the stories, as it is very interesting to me to see how it is done (albein in a serialized fashion) overseas. I think the cast is across the board good and they all work together really well.

So, all told, this Law and Order/UK has gained a loyal follower.

Watchable, hardworking, decent, but not a leap forward in crime drama

[LouE15 · 6/10 · 28 May 2009]

The makers of this show should have recognised that the UK audience has kept pace with high-end US police and legal shows, and its expectations have risen in common with the US in the time since the L&O franchise first began. US shows like "The Wire" and "Damages", the UK's "Prime Suspect", France's excellent policier "Engrenages" ("Spiral" in the UK) and Swedish export "Wallander" have all considerably raised the bar: in the policing and detecting and legalising, in the character development, there's more of the believable real-life criminality, more development of the complex psychological forces that motivate all sides. You can't then expect an audience used to these shows to be happy to "start at the beginning".

So "Law & Order: UK" doesn't feel like a step forward, coming off a bit uncomplicated and unchallenging, and for me now, that's just not good enough. OK, so the show doesn't make grand claims to be groundbreaking TV, just good old fashioned entertainment – but it's so very old fashioned! I've seen user review comparisons with long-running UK police show "The Bill", which isn't complimentary. "The Bill" is like a nursery skiing slope for programme makers; so a machine and smooth and skillful as the L&O franchise ought to be able to easily outstrip it. That's arguable, so far.

Having said this, there's a lot to like (plus it's always nice to see British actors gainfully employed). I like the pairing of Bradley Walsh (a very pleasant surprise he turned out to be!) and Jamie Bamber (great in "Battlestar Galactica"). I like the law element, and the way that Freema Agyeman sort of takes care of (the sometimes rather emotionally unstable?) Ben Daniels. There's a particularly moving and strong episode about sexual assault. But I don't feel I'm getting much insight into the legal knowledge necessary to bring a case to prosecution (skimping on consultation perhaps); and I was underwhelmed by the moments – surely among the most dramatic in law? – when it becomes clear, for example, that the police trail has gone cold, or a case is no longer viable for prosecution. L&O should take notes from "Engrenages" on how to make the contrast of the different departments – police and law – interact and sometimes clash excitingly. The drama lies – doesn't it? – in the way 'the system' makes a conveyor belt and a lottery of personal accident, people's wishes, innocence and guilt.

It's still watchable and entertaining and I'll be watching as each episode airs – but if this makes it to a second series I'd like to see more challenging scripts, longer story arcs that allow for complex exploration of the uncomfortable truces between law and order, and chaos and crime, that the police and judicial world actually live with. I'd also like to get a little bit more inside the heads of the slightly under-drawn protagonists. I don't see much (after the first episode) of the dry, gallows humour that might successfully differentiate the UK show from its US parents. If I wanted to be soothed and appeased with inoffensive no-brainer eye candy I'd watch Agatha Christie or the never-ending "Midsomer Murders" (for my sins).

underrated wish they still made this.

[ib011f9545i · 8/10 · 10 July 2020]

I am watching these again,sadly the drama is not made anymore. The only thing I don't like about it is that the stories are remakes of American stories. But I love the complicated plots and the acting. The cast in each episode is good. The regular cast are excellent. Bradley Walsh plays cop Ronnie Brooks a great character. This is gritty and educational.

ellenbronx

[ellenbronx · 12 July 2011]

We have become huge fans of L&O UK through DVD--we have seen 8 episodes so far and we're very eager for additional seasons to be released in the NTSC format (right now, subsequent seasons are only on PAL). Even though I live in NYC, the outer boroughs are often treated as second class citizens by our cable companies and we do not have access to BBC America, where the series is shown stateside. The rapport and dialogue between the detectives is realistic and entertaining, and it has been a treat to watch the British court system at work (we had to look up the rules/options re: wigs/robes) and are curious that some statements permitted by the attorneys would surely have earned sustained objections in our courts (of course, this is also TV's stretch) The gritty camera-work and neighborhood locations are effective, the adaptations of US episodes have worked beautifully and the acting across the board has been fine. More DVD's please!

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

[J. Ryan · 6/10 · 3 March 2009]

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?

Truly awful

[Kmclellan · 1/10 · 2 February 2010]

Before I start, it should be noted that Bradley Walsh and Jamie Bamber regularly provide good performances. In fact Bradley Walsh should be commended as he always provides something more than just the script in every scene he is in.

The start of a second series has shown an improvement in the police procedural half of the show but rest of the show however is seriously let down by poor scripts and an Americanisation of the English legal system. Since when do barristers have time to go around conducting their own investigations? The whole show comes across as having English accents and London locations substituted into American scripts. No other effort seems to have been made to make the script either English or believable. And there lies the second biggest problem of the series: the unBritishness of the moral issues championed in the show as well as how they are both perceived and handled. When watching the original Law and Order shows that these scripts were taken from one can dismiss the situation and reactions of the actors as being American through ignorance and enjoy the "foreign" show. However, when the _exact_ same show is presented in a familiar setting one realises how ridiculous it really is.

As someone who enjoys Law and Order, and who wishes British shows were more fast paced and American at times, I keep trying to give this show a chance. Unfortunately, a second series in and it is still unbelievable.

Love it so far

[mabuffie · 10/10 · 19 June 2009]

I have been a long time fan of Law and Order (USA) and also a fan of Law and Order CI - but not a fan, however, for the past few years of L and O's SVU which has gone completely haywire in my opinion - trying to outmatch CSI's graphic special effects and violence – and just not working. The regular L and O was getting a bit dull, but seems to have had a kind of rebirth with some new actors the past few seasons, but even so, it's pretty tired, I think. I found Law and Order UK a refreshing change -- equal to (maybe even better than?) and yet different enough from the regular L and O to make it really compelling. Law and order (USA) has always made the justice system its main target and the various story lines wind through their way through the US legal system showing its strengths and weaknesses. The legal system in Britain is very different from the US system, of course, which makes it even more interesting. Like New York, London makes a great backdrop for the series. All actors are strong except for Freema Agyman. I have never found her to be a particularly strong actress. I wish they had chosen someone with a sharper edge - someone "real" and less like an actress simply playing a bleeding-heart role. Agyman plays it way too soppy and wide-eyed -- which makes her very annoying. Bradley Walsh plays Ronnie Brooks perfectly, (right now Bradley IS the show) and who can complain when the amazing Harriet Walter (I wish she was in it more!) and Bill Paterson (ditto) show up on a great show like this? Ben Daniels is also very good as Senior Crown Attorney, James Steel. I loved the two episodes I've seen so far. Top notch!

A world united by the "Doink Doink"

[schappe1 · 9/10 · 11 March 2009]

I just watched the premiere of "Law & Order: UK" on U-Tube, (hopefully it will appear on my local cable outlet before long: per Wikipedia, Dick Wolf would like to show it on NBC). I've loved Law & Order for years but also enjoy the British cop shows so this new program unites two great traditions with plenty of know-how.

The premiere is based on episode #40 of the original series, "Cradle to Grave", first shown 3/31/92. Per "Law & Order: The Unofficial Companion" by Kevin Courrier and Susan Green, which came out in 1998, "Cradle to Grave" was "written during a period when the Upper West Side of Manhattan was undergoing massive renewal. There were several landlords who were notorious for hiring thugs to throw little old ladies out on the street with their belongings and then trash the building so they couldn't get back in. And the city did not have the capacity at the time to cope with how much of it was happening. You were sickened every day with wonder as to how anybody could do this." One poster decried the use of early L&O scripts of the UK series, saying that one of the aspects of the original show that he liked was the "ripped from the headlines" relevancy of it. I'm sure this type of thing continues to go on anywhere in the world where urban renewal is taking place and that the writers of L&O-UK would not have chosen this episode to adopt unless it was just as relevant to London in 2009 as it was to New York in 1992.

One difference appears to be the climate. In the original, the baby froze to death because the heat was turned off in the winter and the temperature in the building was 20 degrees Fahrenheit, (which is about -7 Centigrade). In the UK version, the baby died of gas inhalation. I guess the Gulf Stream required the script to be altered a bit.

I was pleased to see that the "Law & Order" style was retained: the hand-held camera, the jump cuts, the no-nonsense dialog, the sardonic humor and the concentration on the case, which we follow in it's, (unnaturally rapid), progress through the courts. It was recognizably L&O but adapted to the British system of justice, complete with those adorable wigs they still wear in court. The cast was good, although American ears will have a tough time following the cockney-style dialog of the cops, (are the US cops as impenetrable to British ears?).

There has been some comment about the unlikelihood of ex-athlete and comedian Bradley Walsh in the "veteran cop" role but I think he does OK. You will note that the most beloved of the veteran cops on the original L&O was played by Jerry Orbach, a legendary Broadway song and dance man. I'm sure that's what they had in mind, although the veteran cop in "Cradle to Grave" is Paul Sorvino as Phil Cerretta, (a much underrated performance).

I really like Ben Daniels as the prosecutor. He really hits all the right notes. Posters have compared him to Jack McCoy, (Sam Waterson), but "Cradle to Grave" is a Ben Stone, (Michael Moriarity), episode. I like Jack/Sam but Ben/Michael has always been my favorite prosecutor.

Dick Wolf has suggested that if this new series is a success, there could be a "hands across the water" cross-over episode. I'd love to see it. He also is thinking of extending it to other countries. He's talking about a Muslim version: Law and Order: Cairo. I'd suggest one in Jerusalem, which would have to deal with multiple religious and legal traditions, or Mumbai, (a perfect follow-up to "Slumdog Millionaire"). Maybe we could have a Law & Order: Bejing to see how cops and lawyers try to find justice in a non-democracy. Maybe someday the whole world will be united by hearing that "doink doink" and by a greater understanding of each other's legal and moral traditions

Why cancelled.

[drob1012 · 10/10 · 9 June 2022]

Such a great show it replaced my favorite tv show Kavanagh QC which was absolutely brilliant. I honestly would love to see a continuous of both these shows. So sorry my review for me is asking from the creators to recreate a good show with today's drama. Every episode was fantastic. On my last episode watching slowly because I know it's the last- but it definitely has rebirth potential Brilliantly done great acting and informative on the justice system of the Uk.

Storylines

[downseath · 9/10 · 22 May 2020]

For Law and Order addicts, you will recognize many of the storylines from the US edition. Still fun to watch...

Spoiler

[aliciap-69640 · 7/10 · 29 December 2021]

Why do they ALWAYS lose?? I don't understand, it's like guaranteed they will get a "Not Guilty" verdict the first go 'round for every single episode. I guess it's okay and I'm going to watch it but not great how predictable it is. Hopefully the following seasons get better.

Almost.......

[wkozak221 · 9/10 · 12 November 2020]

I prefer this over the American version. Cast, stories, location, etc. This has spoilers. I really disliked when James and Alisha left. Very upset they killed Matt off. I still like the series. It was well done. George took an active role. He did not sit like Schiff barking out orders. Plus the cast was smaller. They didn't rely on famous guest stars. Also, they drank AFTER they were done working. Great version. The one minus? I can't find the complete series on region 1 dvds.

Wonderful cast... poor writing.

[tadaia · 15 August 2011]

As an American I've been a fan of the original since it's beginnings. As soon as I had access to watch the British version I watched seasons 1 and 2 back to back. My first impression was one of admiration for the casting. Frankly I'm not so bothered that the characters are based on like types of the original. What did unnerve me was how poorly the show seemed to be written in comparison. It's really neither compelling or entertaining.

I'm not a police officer or a lawyer but I've seen my share of shows centered around such characters. The writing of L&O UK seems almost embarrassingly simplistic and predictable. As well, does the prosecutor (who should be one of the show's champions) ever give the audience the satisfaction of winning a good case... other than the ones he probably shouldn't win? It's almost laughable and the show seems oddly negative and depressing in that respect. My other half lost interest in the 2nd season, and now only sticks a head in the room to giggle and ask if Steele has actually won a decent case yet. Perhaps it is true to English law, but if so I'd hate to live in a society where the only "victims" that seem to get justice are the criminals that claim to have been "victimized".

One of the things that's always made the original L&O great is that Jack is not only dogged and highly principled, he is brilliant! The character James Steel has the first two qualities but is sorely lacking in the third. Frankly I'm amazed that he still has a job.

I'll continue to watch for a while with hope that the writing will improve. If not perhaps I'll just stick with the original going forward.

functional transplant

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 11 July 2015]

This is the UK version of the popular American TV show. It's a police and legal procedural dealing with both ends of the prosecution. It takes place in London. The police side is anchored by senior Detective Sergeant Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh). Matt Devlin (Jamie Bamber) is his younger partner and has been replaced with others. The legal team has also changed over the years.

The Law & Order franchise was losing steam in America by the time it made the trip across the Atlantic. There isn't anything particularly new or special. In fact, many of the episodes are copied from the American show. It's a functional show but one that feels like a copy with different accents. This needs to dive into British society much more. It needs to be ripped from the headlines of the London tabloids.

L and O fan enjoying UK

[robertamberg2002 · 10/10 · 17 July 2010]

I am a big fan of L/O, particularly L/O and L/O CI. I find the UK version extremely interesting and exciting. The nuances between the US and UK criminal systems are fascinating as are the similarities. The differences in the Miranda warnings, the demeanor of the attorneys (barristers) in court, the defendant in the docks all make for a great education on the legal systems. It is great to have a Lennie Briscoe type character in Bradley Walsh. The understated humor is terrific. The rest of the cast is first rate also. Really getting attached to them. When is the second season coming out on DVD? We are planning a trip to London in October and can't wait to visit the Old Bailey.

Also looking forward to L/O LA. Dick Wolf is amazing.

Entertaining enough but filled with horrifying inaccuracies.

[pjdickinson-27822 · 7/10 · 30 September 2021]

It's quite entertaining but the legal stuff bears no relation to reality and most of the medical, technical, forensic and subject specific stuff is nonsense and it seems to have been written by people who have never read up on any subject. However, once you decide to disengage your brain it's an easy way to let 45 minutes go by.

The Jury is Still Out!

[scorpiocat63 · 5/10 · 8 March 2009]

I haven't yet decided, as a huge L&O fan, if this stands up to scrutiny. Firstly, the characters. Bradley's seems an Anglicised version of the wonderful Lenny Briscoe, and Bill's seems entirely based on Jack McCoy. The acting has been of a better standard than I expected, and the 'formula' has been followed.I agree with Greg Noel and maybe some others that the plot for the second episode was directly lifted from the original episode of L&O "Born Bad", and the first episode also seemed strangely familiar in plot.

Having just seen episode 3, it's another complete copy of an episode from the original series.I had hoped that it was not going to be a regular occurrence. As it would appear that this is the case, sadly I will be turning off, until there are newly written episodes, instead of rehashed ones.I really,really hate repeats, and this is almost as bad as a repeat!