Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
UK gumshoe drama delivers character and suspense.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
Private investigator Vincent Gallagher (Ray Winstone, The Departed) is no modern-day Magnum, but his own brand of gumshoeing is an enjoyable blend of drama, emotion, and suspense. VINCENT follows Vincent and his team of private investigators as they piece together puzzling clues in a variety of cases, including unsolved murders and secretive spouses. This middle-aged, slightly overweight PI is struggling through a recent break-up with his girlfriend, who, because of proximity, remains a presence in his life; add to that his difficulties with communication -- a major contributor to said break-up -- and various other mid-life crises, and the depth of Vincent's extremely flawed character is evident. In spite of Vincent's personal turmoil (or perhaps because of it), he's single-mindedly driven in his work. He empathizes with his clients, whose pain often reflects some aspect of his own unsettled existence. His dedication to his work, though occasionally leading to burn-out on, is great for his clients, who most times reap the benefits of his efforts.
Is It Any Good?
While Vincent lacks the fast-paced action of flashier shows like CSI, it more than makes up for it with a relatable character whose soul is as much under investigation as the clues he traces. Suspense fans looking for a little more character development than the typical primetime choices often provide will find a lot of that here. But parents should definitely take note of the violence, since it can be graphic and may upset younger viewers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the media portray private investigators. Is it a romanticized view? What do you think the life of a real PI is really like? How are the legal limitations for private investigators different than for police detectives? Do the PIs have more or less freedom in how they question suspects and gather evidence? Families can also discuss how the investigators follow clues and piece together the mystery. How do they decide where to start? How do they use reasonable conjecture to lead them to the next piece of the puzzle?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 10, 2005
- Cast : Eva Pope , Ray Winstone , Suranne Jones
- Network : BBC America
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 20, 2019
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