Inspector George Gently (TV Series) Gently in the Blood (2009) User Reviews

A bit clumsy but quite intriguing

[grantss · 7/10 · 24 July 2022]

An intriguing murder mystery in the Gently series. Like many of the Gently episodes there's a moral theme to this and this time racism is the topic.

The lesson is a good one but feels a bit clumsy in execution, like the plot is contrived to fit the message. This leads to many twists, to the point that they seem gratuitous.

Still very watchable though.

A quality episode with hidden depths.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 1 August 2018]

This is another episode in this fantastic series that again proves me wrong for not watching them when they were originally transmitted.

This episode is so rich, so fully of quality, and so full of content. It's true that at times it's an uncomfortable watch as it deals with some rather dark stuff. Attitudes, perceptions and society in general were thankfully very different in the 60's, those features play a huge part in this episode. It deals with gangs, race wars, hatred, secrets and lies, even transvestism, none of which are topics that would have been well addressed in 60's Britain. Even the closing scenes showed the widespread prejudice prevalent in society at the time.

Shaw is a class act once again, Ingleby has grown on me somewhat by this point, their dynamic is an interesting one. Particularly good performances from Tariq Jordan and Andrew Lee Potts, both were excellent.

A few moments of humour, a welcome change, as we've not had many laughs to date. All in all I thought this was brilliant, a great mystery, but so much more.

Not so gentle blood

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 25 May 2018]

As a huge fan of detective/crime/mystery series, there is the admission that it took me a while to start watching 'Inspector George Gently', worrying as to whether it would appeal to me for "can't put my finger on it" reasons other than being young at the time and not being as knowledgeable of the period. Getting into the show eight years ago and continuing to watch it without fail, it turned out to be simply wonderful and actually became a favourite.

After a very solid, if still settling, start in "Gently Go Man", it felt like 'Inspector George Gently' started to hit its stride with "The Burning Man" and that continued with "Bomber's Moon". The show hit a high point here with "Gently with the Innocents" and the high point standards returns with "Gently in the Blood". There is a lot here already that is particularly good about 'Inspector George Gently' and it definitely makes one want to carry on watching.

"Gently in the Blood" is one of my favourite episodes from 'Inspector George Gently'. It is indicative that the show has found its feet and hit its stride. Namely because of it being another episode containing one of the show's most harrowing, saddest and most poignant stories, that me appropriately emotional and angry.

However, "Gently in the Blood", like the rest of the show, looks great, often beautiful. It is strikingly filmed and the scenery and period detail are atmospheric, handsome and evocative, a lot of work and care went into re-creating the period and it shows loud and clear. The music is stirring and haunting, dynamic with what's going on and never intrusive.

The writing has a lot of thought-provoking intelligence and balances subtle humour and drama very well and executing both individually just as well. The direction is alert and accommodating and the story, despite having an air of familiarity at times and not as rich as other stories for other episodes, is easy to follow and absorbing with a good deal of suspense. "Gently in the Blood", and 'Inspector Gently' in general, is very interesting for how British law was like in the 60s and how much it's changed and come on compared to now.

Love the chemistry between Gently and Bacchus, one of the most interesting and well-contrasted detective/crime/mystery drama pairings (perhaps the most interesting since Morse and Lewis). The two couldn't have more different personalities and how they gel and clash entertains and intrigues. Both are fascinating characters already, and became even more fascinating as the show progressed.

Can't fault the acting, the continually brilliant performances from Martin Shaw and Lee Ingleby here and throughout the show are career highs for both actors. All the support is good, particularly from Andrew Lee Potts.

All in all, brilliant. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Interesting but hard to watch

[ctyankee1 · 8 August 2015]

A bunch of Arabs that hang out in a bar are at war with a bunch of other men. Mostly it is in regard to legal passports being sold by someone who works in the passport office and the heads of these two groups sell them and make a lot of money.

The men are like gangs that hate each other. The Arabs don't want anyone in their bar that is not the same race unless there is some sort of money deal going on. There is a talk of discrimination in this. episode. Buildings that say no Arabs, no Irish, no dogs etc.

A girl named Maggie has a baby. She is not married and the baby looks black. Later we find out the father of the baby is an Arab. Nobody seems to know who the father is only Maggie. Her boyfriend does not believe it is his baby. The baby they used in this story looks black not medium color like an Arab.

A lot of things come out in this episode, love, secrets, hate, hatred toward other races, violence, rape and more.

Tough to watch at times very tender at other times. Youtube has some of the seasons and episodes to watch for free.