Saw this today, the first of a second series (UK - ITV) of this more modern iteration of Van Der Valk (repeats of the Barry Foster originals can be seen on Talking Pictures TV). This VDV (Marc Warren) has a whole team of detectives, as befits the modern age, whereas Barry Foster only had one assistant, sometimes nobody.
The team have some nice lines, and interactions with the moody, almost monosyllabic VDV, and the director gives them all things to do to help the story along. Nicely acted, and you get pen-pics of character, the director tries to keep things moving, but as with many 2 hour shows, the pace is a problem, and in THIS one, the plotlines (3 victims of a serial killer, will there be a fourth?) are just horrendously convoluted, with clues from literature, philosophy, etc.
Other reviewers are I see quibbling about "accents" - well, in the original, Foster didn't have a Dutch accent, neither did his boss, or wife, and that didn't detract from the enjoyment. I see one reviewer (Carmen) lashes out at one team member, and the actor, "terrible, always eating or drinking", and mentions Jack Frost as a proper copper. This is ludicrous!! -- many cops in such shows have been slobby characters, or living in a culture-free zone -- (Hill St Blues comes to mind) and Frost (David Jason) was forever trying to stuff down a sandwich, or pork pie, looked like he'd slept in his clothes, was hopeless at paperwork, and had a desk covered with a jumble of files and assorted bits of paper (just like mine!). Some episodes featured him losing files or bits of paper with key info scribbled on them!! Some Irony that Frost is mentioned as a paragon?! In this the actor puts that across perfectly well, doubtless just as directed!
I'd agree with the Dragon review - Decent but boring. Solidly done, actors doing a good job, Warren is a different VDV (now single, and promiscuous) but has some good lines, and a few moments of inspiration to help solve the case. But 2 hours is a lot of time to fill, and like the more modern versions of Maigret, Gambon, and then Rowan Atkinson, the shows were far longer than the original one-hour ones, and it wasn't always that easy to keep the pace going.
10 out of 12 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink