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19 out of 20 people found the following review useful: Wonderful show, 29 March 2003 Author: lje32677 from El Cajon, California
The programming in the US is poor to be polite. So, we, as viewers look elsewhere. One of my favorite places is the BBC. Now on BBCAmerica there is an excellant show called "Waking the Dead". It is intelligently written, tense and the actors are wonderful. All of them. I had known, just a little about Trevor Eve(Detective Superintendent Peter Boyd) before, but I had never seen anything of Sue Johnston, Holly Aird, Clair Goose, or Will Johnson's work. It's a shame, because I can see they are all wonderful actors and actresses. Trevor Eve plays the head of the Cold Case Squad that investigates unsolved murders. I don't know if it's by plan or not, but Eve presents the character of Boyd as an arrogant, egotistical, yet an intelligent man with boyish charm. Boyd is also haunted by the disappearance of his 16 year old son. There was a fight and the son disappeared. Boyd doesn't know if the boy is dead or alive. This affects his job. Sue Johnston is Dr. Grace Foley, the profiler of the team. I didn't know anything about her. She presents Foley as a caring, intelligent woman. She is perceptive. She and Boyd have been friends for a long time and understands his pathos. When on a tyraid, Foley is the only one who will face Boyd down and make him back down. Holly Aird is Dr. Frankie Wharton. She is the forensic specialist and is anal about crime scenes. She even goes as far as requiring masks for the entire team when entering a crime scene. She is intelligent and will also face down Boyd if necessary. Clair Goose is Detective Constable Mel Silver. She is a fresh, eager detective who wants to be taken seriously. She is fasctidious in collecting evidence and tries to cover all bases. She also dislikes Boyd's patronizing attitudes as he often thinks, because of her young age that she can't do the job. She usually gets around it by forcing her way through his perceptions and doing what she knows is right anyway. Wil Johnson plays Detective Sargeant Spencer Jordon. He is an intelligent man who comes from the streets of London. All he's ever wanted to do is be a policeman. He is methodical and as he relaxes into his role, he is letting his imagination help him think about the crimes they come across.I recommend this program to all who would like to watch an intelligent, well made, tense and action/mystery/cop show. I wish some American actors would watch abit of British tv to seen how it's done. Don't get me wrong. We have some great actors here, but other than some primetime actors such as David Schwimmer, very few know what it's like or have the ability to get their teeth into something worthwhile.
12 out of 12 people found the following review useful: The Best Program on BBC America So Far, 3 June 2007 Author: Bob from United States
I'd give this series a 10 minus if I could. This series is so compelling, I lack the words to express it. And that's saying something for me.We just finished viewing season six on BBC America, and I say with greatest admiration that I hope it comes back for as many seasons as the producers, actors and writers wish. You have a willing viewer, here.I also wish BBC America would show the whole of each episode. Some of the jump cuts between scenes create periodic non sequitors. It appears as though parts of the narrative are shaved off to make room for advertisements.Trevor Eve may be one of the best actors I've ever seen.
9 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Message to BBC: PLEASE SEND MORE!!, 31 May 2003 Author: mightymezzo from San Jose, CA
I've been watching the series on BBC America. Turned it on part-way through an episode and haven't turned away yet. It is exceptionally well-written and well-acted and positively disturbing. Love it. I was especially impressed with the most recent episode, "Into Thin Air." Actually taped it and sent it to my sister the mystery buff, who doesn't have cable. She passed it on to our parents (who don't have cable, either). Mom wants to see more. If anyone from the BBC is reading this, PLEASE SEND MORE!
8 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Murder on all Levels, 1 July 2005 Author: sexy_pisces_gal from United Kingdom
Trevor Eveheads the cast in this gritty yet popular BBC1 series as Detective Superindent Boyd, an arrogant but effective leader of the Cold Case Squad, which investigates old, unsolved murder cases. Using modern methods and new technology that may not have been available during the original investigation the team aim to uncover lost information. Helped by forensic profiler Dr Grace Foley, (Sue Johnston) Detective Sergeant Mel Silver, (Claire Goose) Detective Inspector Spence Jordan, (Will Johnston) and assisted by their able forensics scientist Dr Frankie Wharton (Holly Aird) the cold case squad dig into the past, resurface, reconstruct, and discover the secrets that time had buried.
9 out of 11 people found the following review useful: simply a good a show by the BBC, 6 October 2003 Author: Graham Smith from Runcorn uk
Trevor Eve is is simply excellent,as is all the cast. Together they try and solve cases which have gone "Cold". The direction and script are wonderful,well put together and acted with so much heart. Those who haven't seen it yet,i recommend you do soon.
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful: The Start of Something very special indeed., 18 June 2001 Author: Powysw
Its usual for a tv fan to catch on to a series half way through and then catch the episodes that the few saw before the word got around. This is different I saw this pilot and was really impressed by the superb potential for a long series. Trevor Eve as the main charactor is a master of his art, his character has changed from the pilot to the now running series, he is now a grieving father who has never got over his son's death and he is a superintendant instead of a DCI. HGis charactor is more emotional than that of the pilot, his nerves are on edge and the sheer intensity of his performance leaved the watcher short of breath. This is Shoestring for the millennium! The pilot kicks off with the murder of a schoolgirl five years ago after a supposedly botched kidnap, the re opening of the case causes the killer to kidnap again and its up to Boyd to stop this girl becoming victim no 2. This week we saw the first of 8 episodes and what a stunner it was, Its rare that one is on the edge of ones seat these days, but this did it. Tomorrow the first story concludes. Watch this or you will miss a piece of TV history, in the same class as Cracker or Taggart in fact on reflection, i think so far this has the upper hand.
6 out of 7 people found the following review useful: Intelligent drama, 5 November 2002 Author: jhsteel from London, England
This is a wonderful drama series and I hope there will be much more in the future. Being a fan of CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) but also being a scientist and frustrated with the unrealistic portrayal of scientific procedures in CSI, I'm more impressed by Waking the Dead. Frankie strikes me as a thorough person and very professional, she knows how long it takes to analyse a sample of DNA, and its limitations. All the characters in the Cold Case Unit are totally convincing and fascinating people in themselves, especially Trevor Eve's character Boyd. This series continues to be very satisfying and has depths that are lacking in more superficial "murder mysteries". If only all the cold cases in this country could be sorted out by this lot - it would make life easier for many suffering victims of crime.
8 out of 12 people found the following review useful: Brilliant , well written and fabulously acted, 8 July 2003 Author: georgigems from United States
I wish someone would be able to find out if they did more than onepilot and 2 seasons of this show. It is by far one of the best thingsever on TV . The acting is just superb with Trevor Eve (who I haveadored for years ) heading a brilliant cast of relatively unknownactors. Ever part in executed with realistic sensitivity and thestories are timely yet not gory considering there is a lot of forensicwork afoot. As a die-hard fan of Adam Dalgliesh, I rank this show as my #2favorite from the BBC , tied with Inspector Morse.God! are these Brits fabulous or what?Anyone who finds out what's happening with this series in the UKfeel free to email me...I 'd love to know as I have seen everyepisode at least 3xs..
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful: WtD best drama around, 27 December 2004 Author: Lou from United Kingdom
I'd like to put out, how much i am addicted to Waking the Dead. To be honest with you i'm probably obsessed, i have never missed an episode, have them all on DVD and i still watch them. Trevor Eve is a great actor, who is so good at playing Boyd. Sue Johnston is amazing, she is my idol and she too plays Grace well. Wil Johnson is a good actor, plays Spence as if he is the cool guy, I don't know what to say about Holly Aird and Claire Goose apart from that I wish them luck in the future and that their characters will never be forgotten. The Waking the Dead, team gets better at solving cases and the story lines get stronger and better all the time, the writers push it to the limits and this is why i love the show, many others will agree. That is why it has been so successful. I hope the next series is going to be as good despite the loss of two strong characters.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Quality without an end, 18 September 2005 Author: PoliteP from Netherlands
Trevor Eve has come a long way from Shoestring to Boyd. The level of discussions mixed with the passion for the trade is not that unusual. However, the team of men and women of various ages and personalities is so much in the balance that even the worst crimes have more to offer than a mere solution. Cold case teams bring the hot pot to life again and many a criminal had better be stone cold him/herself before trusting that Frankie as the shopkeeper and the other as the forefront fighters won't find out. It is hard to choose between the episodes: one can only hope that more igneous criminals come to a fall. There is always another tree behind which they will not be able to hide.
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