REBUS

[ChrisB]

Forget the old Rebus ( although I hold a huge fondness for Ken Stott), this is Rebus with a wow factor. In fact, apart from the characters' names and location, it is another (BBC on a huge roll this year with first class drama) superb police drama. Watched two so far....another binge worthy series. Added interest as son lives in Edinburgh, so we're forever saying "Been there, been there, don't know this place, don't fancy going there...

[Lord Rother]

Oh good - I never actually got all that far in the book series for some reason, but I will definitely give this a whirl.

(No adverts is a bonus!)

[robertff]

Yes, we've watched a couple so far, pretty hard hitting stuff and not for the squeamish (my wife isn't too keen) but I think it's pretty good.


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[Darkness_Fish]

I've read all the books in the Rebus series, with the possible exception of anything released in the last couple of years. I remember when the first series was created, I thought that John Hannah was really miscast, and he even said so himself later. At that point, I thought Ken Stott was the ideal choice, but when he got the role, he just didn't seem to embody the character at all, there was something really lacking.

This new series is much more promising. It doesn't appear to follow any single one of the books, there's a real mish-mash of characters and plots from across the years. Rebus is much younger, but he's possibly captured the cynicism and dark humour well, he seems a much better fit. I'm only three episodes in, my main concern is that they seem to be trying to cram too much in, as if they're convinced it won't be picked up for a second series. They could slow it down a bit and give the characters time to develop and breathe. The worst aspect is that they seem to have killed off the fact that he's a music geek, which is unforgivable. That's Rebus's main super-power.

[ChrisB]

Although I think the series is first class (now on episode 5), I, too, picked up on the lack of music. Not even in the car, where I was expecting at least a couple of Jackie Leven tracks

[Jimbly]

He did mention music when Shiv asked what he liked but not past a certain time. There looked to be 4 album covers on the wall in his flat, not sure what they were.

I thought it was very good but needed a few episodes to fully develop, six rushed it a little.

Good cliffhanger for a second season.

[Santa C]

pretty hard hitting stuff and not for the squeamish (my wife isn't too keen)

Please elaborate




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[ChrisB]

A few torture scenes featuring a blow torch, pincers etc, but nothing compared to listening to I.S.B.

[Neil Jung]

I have only seen the first episode but it reminded me more of the recent very gritty Irvine Welsh Cops series than the Ian Rankin books, all of which I have read.
The same characters are in it, Siobhan, Cafferty, Christie, the guy from internal affairs, the Saab which is in much better condition than in the books! But the language and violence were quite a surprise!

[robertff]

A few torture scenes featuring a blow torch, pincers etc, but nothing compared to listening to I.S.B.

Or COB





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[Hugh]

I have only seen the first episode but it reminded me more of the recent very gritty Irvine Welsh Cops series than the Ian Rankin books, all of which I have read.
The same characters are in it, Siobhan, Cafferty, Christie, the guy from internal affairs, the Saab which is in much better condition than in the books! But the language and violence were quite a surprise!

They also speak in the same up and down accent in both series that I’ve never heard anyone in Edinburgh use.

[robertff]

Quite liked it to begin with but thought the over acting and the rather dubious storyline in the last couple rather spoilt it.

All set up for a second series I guess.


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[Samoan]

No one and nothing comes close to The Real Rebus (Stott) especially the finale of an episode plagued by his continually failing to start car which he ultimately torches, steps calmly back from and phones the police to report as stolen.

[robertff]

No one and nothing comes close to The Real Rebus (Stott) especially the finale of an episode plagued by his continually failing to start car which he ultimately torches, steps calmly back from and phones the police to report as stolen.

Yep Ken Stott certainly had more potentially threatening demonic aggression about him. The new guy seems tame by comparison.


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[ChrisB]

Opening post "Forget the old Rebus". Can't compare them. A bit like saying Basil Rathbone was a better Sherlock Holmes than Benedict because he was truer to our idea of him. However, I'd definitely forget John Hannah. How was HE ever a Rebus?

[copehead]

Forget the old Rebus ( although I hold a huge fondness for Ken Stott), this is Rebus with a wow factor. In fact, apart from the characters' names and location, it is another (BBC on a huge roll this year with first class drama) superb police drama. Watched two so far....another binge worthy series. Added interest as son lives in Edinburgh, so we're forever saying "Been there, been there, don't know this place, don't fancy going there...

]

They've got Rebus more right than with Stott or John Hannah

he is an ex para who applied for the SAS FFS neither of those two look like they could fight their way out of a wet paper bag.

But I dislike the mix and match of having a younger Rebus with Malcom Fox and Shiv

I understand why they set it all in the present day but had the younger Rebus, I just don't like it.

But I will watch it. I was at college in Edinburgh and I love it and go back regularly

[copehead]

I've read all the books in the Rebus series, with the possible exception of anything released in the last couple of years. I remember when the first series was created, I thought that John Hannah was really miscast, and he even said so himself later. At that point, I thought Ken Stott was the ideal choice, but when he got the role, he just didn't seem to embody the character at all, there was something really lacking.

Stott is a fine actor, he just looks like a fairly louche actor, not someone who'd been in the Parachute regiment 15-20 years before.

I totally agree with your post, Rebus is a big, hard man slowly going to seed

So the present casting of Rankin No Relation is better, still not 100% like the Rebus in my head, but better.

[Hugh]

I though Alex Norton would have made a good job of it at the time Stott did it.

[robertff]

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[copehead]

I though Alex Norton would have made a good job of it at the time Stott did it.

Thhe Taggart era Norton looks the part, a hard man going to seed