Detective Cheif Inspectors (DCI's) from across the pond

All you will see here are shows worth watching.
What you won't see here are the countless shows that didn't make the cut!
We watched 1-2 episodes of lots of mediocre shows so you don't have to :)

BBC murder mysteries are very well done.  If you  haven't watched them before, it will open up a whole new world of great TV for you to enjoy. 

Endevour 

I'm starting out with the best of the best.   This show is set in the 60's in Oxford.  It premiered in 2012 but is actually a prequel to Inspector Morse (1987) showing  a young Endevour Morse when he just started out as a constable.  He is a complex character and full of integrity. The shows are 90 minutes so each one is like watching a movie. P/7S

Inspector Lewis

In the 1987 Inspector Morse show, his young sidekick is Lewis, so it's a also a spinoff.   It follows the same format as Endevour.  You will love Inspector Lewis and his sidekick Hathaway.  It is full of great storylines that hold your interest. P(Britbox) / 9S

Broadchurch

Set in a beautiful town in Dorset, England.  DCI Hardy and Detective Miller are and interesting duo.  The shows format keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you glad you can binge watch the whole season.  The ….. isn't solved until the end of the season.  N/3S

DCI Banks
Good solid stories with a good cast.  DCI banks is quite stubborn and determined but likable, as is his assistant.  The murder is solved over 2 episodes so the story is nicely developed. P/5S

KEY:   N ~ Netflix     P ~  Prime   H ~Hulu   #S ~ # of seasons  

If something is on a special channel on amazon (i.e  britbox , acorn, etc) it is cost effective to subscribe for a month to watch a show, as appose to paying for the episodes

Turn of the Century

People often find it refreshing to experience a story that is set in a time completely different from our own way of life.  Like when I was a little girl, Little House on the Prairie were my favorite books and then TV show.  And Jane Austen is today. 

KEY:   N ~ Netflix     P ~  Prime   H ~Hulu   #S ~ # of seasons  

If something is on a special channel on amazon (i.e  britbox , acron, etc) it is cost effective to subscribe for a month to watch a show, as appose to paying for the episodes

Here are some great shows set in late 1800 or early 1900.

Dr. Quinn 

At a time when women doctors were unheard of, she brings hope and healing to a small town.  Dr. Quinn is a bit of a dichotomy, a very strong women with a soft and gentle touch, she can't help but have an effect on everyone she comes in contact with.  The quality is a bit out dated, since it was released in 1993, but worth the watch.   P but $10 a season / 6S  

When Calls the Heart
So hoke because nobody looked that polished in the early 1900's!  It sure is clean cut, but watching this makes you feel good, like eating warm apple pie.  It stars lots of people you recognize and makes you believe it would be wonderful to live during this time.  N /5S 




Anne with an E

This is a modern take on Anne of Green Gables.  I thought it was going to be for kids, but it is very mature.  I really enjoyed the first 2 seasons, and the 3 not as much.  But if you're looking for something light and easy to watch this is it.  N / 3S

Lark Rise to Candleford

I saved the best for last!  This is one of the shows, you can say I kind of mourned when it ended.  It is quite realistic and you get the feel like what it was really like to live, in a tiny Hamlet in England.  It charming and funny and totally enjoyable to watch.  H / 4S

Small Town Life

All of these great stories have one thing in common, they are all set in a town were everyone knows everyone.  It makes for a plethora of really great story lines.  We call these Dramadies, a light hearted drama.  

KEY:   N ~ Netflix     P ~  Prime   H ~Hulu   #S ~ # of seasons
If something is on a special channel on amazon (i.e  britbox , acron, etc) it is cost effective to subscribe for a month to watch a show, as appose to paying for the episodes

I like to put them in some kind of order, so since some of these go way back, I'm putting them in order oldest to newest...

GILMORE GIRLS:  Although Lorelai and Rory are the stars of this show, the towns cast of characters are so interesting, you'd want to live there because you'd never be bored.  I watched in 2000 when it came out, but since I have time I'm watching it all over again.  There's also a bonus, 10 years after the series ended, they did a follow up 4 part series and you get to see where they are now. N / 7S  



The next 3 are all the same premise.  The main characters, all doctors, through a strange set of circumstance, end up in a tiny town.  

EVERWOOD:  This starts with a sad story and lots of drama, but its a feel good show from the very beginning.  I watched it when it came out in '02 in my 30's.  Recently I started it again, and was sure it wouldn't be 'mature' enough for me now, but it was just as good the 2nd time.  You won't be disappointed.  It was also nominated for 2 Emmys and stars Chris Pratt.  P / 4S  

HART of DIXIE:   Zoe Hart, a NY Dr., inherits a tiny practice in an even tinier town. Her name may be in the title, but lots of stars here, the best one being Mayor Lavon Hays.  It takes place in the south, so the town itself, is like a character.  Southern Charm is what this is all about.   N / 4S

DOC MARTIN:  I saved the best for last.... Another Dr. ends up in a tiny town with a tiny practice but that's were the similarities end.  When I started watching this a few years ago I said 'Doc, where have you been all my life?" I can't believe I didn't know about it until 11 years after it started!  Good news, its still on, bad news, like many BBC shows, it doesn't have a season every year.  9 Seasons:  H /1st  5S  and P (Acorn) 4S  (its worth subscribing for a month to watch)

Shows that Make Time Fly By

If you're looking for something that will almost make you forget that you're stuck inside, you're in the right place!  

Top 8 in reverse order...

KEY:   N ~ Netflix     P ~  Prime   H ~Hulu   # of seasons
If something is on a special channel on amazon (i.e  britbox , acron, etc) it is cost effective to subscribe 
for a month to watch a show, as appose to paying for the episodes

8. FATHER BROWN Kurt and I are always saying, 'if there are this many murders in such a tiny little hamlet, is there anyone left to live there?'  Its so small he rides his bike to the crime scenes.  He's such a kind soul and so good at solving mysteries, you can't help but love him.  Dramady/ Mystery / P ~ w/Britbox 7S  This is still running now. 

7. BURN NOTICE This is one of those shows you may have never heard of.  Who doesn't love a great spy story?  But since he's been "burned" and can't be a spy, now he helps people with his crazy 'crew'.  Lots of action and also on the lighter side.    
Action / P & H / 7S

6. SUITS Not your average courtroom drama.  A show about lawyers except all the drama happens in the office and not the courtroom. The characters are witty and so very likable.  Donna's the bomb, and you love to hate Luis.  warning: a bit more vulgar then I like Drama / P / 9S

5. SHERLOCK There's a reason why everyone waits years for a new season to come out!  It's some of the smartest TV you've have ever seen.  So good in fact, we've watched them all 2x.  Guessing you've seen it already but if not, I put it on a list to remind you. Mystery / N / 4S

4. DR. BLAKE MYSTERIES  This has 2 of my favorite elements to a great TV crime show, a complex main character and a person with a job that should NOT involve solving murders.  It's set in the 1950's & Australian.  Mystery / 5S / we watched this on one of the 3 but not available now accept Britbox - but would be worth a months subscription to watch it.

3. BOSCH  Fact: an Amazon original that was going to be canceled after the 1st season, then 90K people wrote in & gave it 4star reviews!  Can 90,000 people be wrong???  Mystery / P / 6S

2. BLUE BLOODS  I resisted because there was no way it could have been as great as everyone said?!  You only need to watch 1 show and you'll understand why its been on for 10 seasons and why you'll wish you were part of the Reagan family.  Drama / P (1-6) & H /10S

 1. LONGMIRE  Clint Eastwood meets John Wayne, need I say more?  Love that it's set in Wyoming and also highlights Indian reservation life.  You will wish you were Walt's friend, even though he's a man of few words. The mysteries are great and the story lines even better. Crime Drama / N / 6S