BRITISH CRIME DRAMA. “Legends.” / “Malpractice.” S1 and S2 / “A Taste for Murder.” / “The Bay” Season 5. / “Rules of the Game.”

“Legends” (Netflix) British crime thriller. A dramatisation of the true story of British undercover Customs investigators, relatively inexperienced, who infiltrated the drug world in the early 1990s. The cast includes Steve Coogan, Tom Burke and Hayley Squires.

        The fundamentals of the genre are well-served sans the action bombast and overwrought drama of most Hollywood thrillers. The narrative is clear-cut without being contrived. The dramatic tension is felt but not too hysterical. And the ensemble performance is remarkably restrained but they delivered the point across. 🎥💻📽

“Malpractice” (Hulu) British medical drama. Season 1 stars Niamh Algar as an embattled doctor embroiled in a medical scandal. Season 2 stars Tom Hughes as a psychiatrist under investigation by the Medical Investigation Unit (MIU) after a new mother commits suicide following a missed diagnosis. 

       Both in relatively short 5 tightly-written episodes, this smart interface of hospital drama and “Line of Duty”-styled police procedural work or investigative earnest captivates the mind more than it jars emotions. 

       And I must admit, I learned a lot about how the medical/hospital industry works, albeit in matters that we rarely pore deeper or pay attention to. 🎥💻📽

“A Taste for Murder” (Britbox) British crime drama. A widowed metropolitan police detective takes his daughter to Capri for the summer to stay with his in-laws, and as they struggle to overcome their grief he gets immersed in helping solve local crime.

       This is a wholesome, watchable police procedural in the backdrop of a stunning Croatian beachside town. 

       A well-orchestrated ensemble, led by Warren Brown as DCI Joe Mottram and Cristiana Dell'Anna as Police Inspector Lara Sarrancino. If you are looking for a TV crime series that isn't so heavy and isn't so light but entertaining, this is it.🎥💻📽

“The Bay” (Amazon Prime) Season 5, British  crime drama, originates from Morecambe Bay, which is on the north-west coast of England in the county of Lancashire.

       Something in this series keeps me glued, although the dramatic excitement subsided after Morven Christie left as lead, after two seasons. Marsha Thomason took over the slot but not as powerful and engaging. As DS Jenn Townsend, Ms Thomason would probably fit better in a romance/drama series. But Daniel Ryan as boss DI Tony Manning stays solid. 

       Season 5 follows DS Townsend, back from her father's death, investigating the murder of 23-year-old university student Hannah Dawson, found dead at a dock. The six-part series focuses on the team tackling a highly emotional, personal case within a deeply divided family while juggling personal lives. 🎥💻📽

“Rules of the Game” (Hulu) British drama. A sportswear executive deals with the fallout of an employee's shocking death in her company's office building. 

       This short 4-episode series is pretty much a less glitzy “Industry” without the silly, graphic sex scenes. With the kneading intrigue of daytime soap and salacious mystery of a typical British crime drama, this show entertains. And lead Maxine Peake, as the conflicted but defiant Sam, delivers a magnetic yet restrained performance. 🎥💻📽