Shetland (TV Series) Episode #8.6 (2023) User Reviews

Kudos to Alison!

[gvgiordano-97575 · 9/10 · 7 January 2024]

It always hard when a lead character leaves a show. Douglas Henshall was the story of Shetland but Alison O'Donell played a strong supporting role to his lead. Watching this season, she deserves strong kudos for taking the lead. Her acting was strong, believable, and clearly well enough to hold the series together in a transitional season.

How Tosh messes with Ruth Calder remains to be seen. I would have liked to have seen Jamie Sives' Cal character remain in the show but appreciated how he was used to support the background intro for Ruth. Sives does another fine job in his role in Annika.

Looking forward to next season and the further character dynamic between Tosh and Ruth.

Wow!

[Mothership8 · 9/10 · 16 December 2023]

Well that was a stellar finale due to the fact of how well it was written and the wonderful cinematography. Oh and the excellent acting of all involved! I have actually enjoyed this season more than the previous ones with Doug - maybe different writers.

Now for the questions. When Ellen returned to her family property and she woke her young brother up and then they met in the barn - why did she send him back inside to grab first-aid kit and water? I just don't understand that part. She also tells him not to tell anyone she's there but then proceeds to also go inside and wake up granny for a chat? Then she nicks off again without her coat and without saying goodbye to her brother. Just stupid writing.

Anyway, apart from that small hiccup I really have loved this season and episode. Well done everyone. :)

Season 8 + Season 3 is top tier writing

[grgpptss · 8/10 · 18 January 2024]

Finally after the lackluster season 7 we go back to meaningful plot where every detail matters instead of throwing a bunch information on us the last minute for a character and presenting it as a great plot twist.

In this season you can really observe the writing attempt on the screen, as the story flows smoothly and all the strings meet together at the end of episode 5 which prepares you for the grand finale in season 6. The only drawback in my opinion that sets apart this season from season 3 (probably the best season of any TV show I have ever watched) is the murderer management that Shetland keeps on doing with most of each killers throughout the whole show - a character that is in the background the whole season only to be revealed in the end that he is the murderer. It makes it easy to find them so you are not as impressed by the plot twist.

Tosh Rocks!

[alexandercl-99575 · 8/10 · 29 January 2024]

I was very apprehensive going into this season knowing Douglas Henshaw left at the end of Season 7. Part of me said the show won't survive without him, the other part said give it a chance. I chose the latter, and for the most part I'm glad I did. Personally I'm really happy for Tosh as she took the bull by the horns and really showed she was always ready for the task. This season's storylines were quality and having Penelope Wilton and Dawn Steele star was a plus. However... I simply can't stomach Ashley Jensen's DI role. Snobbish, arrogant and outright incompetent. Strange how the producers felt she would be an asset. But aside from her, I'm looking forward to Season 9.

Good story to start with

[preppycuber · 7/10 · 7 March 2024]

It was an interesting story, but somewhere along the way they lost some of the energy.

I liked the mystery involved, some of the turn of events etc., but couldn't help think that there were many unnecessary plot points.

What's the point of bringing back up the story of the drowned child. At the end of it all it was still an accident. It served nothing.

Then there was the "blackmail" angle. What was that all about. At the end of it Heather just argued, it wasn't much of an extortion and she got away with it. That was just pointless.

Then what was that incident where Heather's son pretends to be distressed still from Ellen's death and then leaching money from Heather. What was the point of that.

I have never liked plot involving police officers who are not supposed to investigate something, forcing themselves into an investigation. That's such lazy writing.

I still liked it despite all the flaws. Alisson was good as always and she could carry this all by herself if and when they plan a new season.

Season Eight Review

[Pegasus-10 · 5/10 · 1 February 2024]

Granted that Douglas Henshall would be greatly missed, why didn't they even mention Jimmy Perez' absence in the early episodes?

Also granted that Ruth Calder was unlikable and like a loose cannon most of the time. The whole series was like someone took a bunch of plot ideas and threw them against the wall to see which ones stuck. Too many did, though.

Halfway through the whole chase of Ellen to Shetland was dropped, then we get the Norse cult stuff (huh? What happened to those people?), then the focus shifts to the Bains (nice to see Mrs. Hughes playing matriarch in her own estate), and the mystery of who killed Ellen (though who cares at this point) .

Since it wasn't established at the end, there is hope if another season is filmed, it won't include Ruth Calder as the DI. Tosh was good as a replacement, although she certainly let Calder get away with a few real zingers by keeping things to herself.

I just miss Jimmy Perez

[roger-877-490137 · 5/10 · 22 December 2023]

I guess in essence I just miss Jimmy Perez. I have read all the books by Ann Cleeves & I felt that Douglas Henshall portrayed a very believable Jimmy. So what happened? Why didn't they finish the show at the end of season 7 with Jimmy's departure? I was OK with this season up until episode 5 when, in my opinion, it all really fell apart. I just can't stand the DI Ruth Calder character. In all honesty how could somebody achieve DI level being so irresponsible & self centred.

Its sad to say that if there is another season & it continues to feature DI Ruth Calder then, I for one, will cease watching.

Astonishingly bad ending

[DrERH · 5/10 · 12 January 2024]

I did not predict how poorly paced, drawn-out, and implausible this season would end. Forget about missing Perez and company (which I do). The problems here stem mostly from a badly written murder mystery. Generally, I found terrible writing, unbelievable psychology, and dropped plotlines without resolution (drug dealing, blackmail, etc.). No way do I buy that the siblings had sex while mourning their father's death. It just doesn't jive with sibling incest realities or even good fiction. Beyond this, I utterly reject that the father (biological or not) would kill his daughter. Then the episode just went on and on, tying up too few loose ends too slowly.

I did not expect to love the show with a weaker lead and a grouchy new character, but I did think the writing would be solid. And it wasn't.