Why do the Brits do mysteries so much better…

[UnseenParticipant]

than the Americans? And I’m not even talking about the Agatha Christie Marple/Poirot stuff.

I’m currently subscribed to BritBox in Amazon’s video space. I’ve watched programs of unparalleled excellence like Line of Duty (about what we Yanks would call Internal Affairs) and The Inspector Lynley Mysteries.

When I finally watched the last episode of the Lynley series, I had to grieve a bit that there were no more to watch, I had grown to like the nobleman Inspector Thomas Lynley and his commoner partner Barbara Havers, having watched their odd couple original pairing turn into a platonic love affair as time went by. I never saw anything like that on American TV.

I just started the DCI Banks series and it looks like it’s going to be a banger as well. And I don’t mean the British sausage. LOL

[Simon PayntonParticipant]

I’m glad you like our detective shows.  I don’t watch anything apart from Judge Judy and real-life cops nicking people.  But I know a lot of people are into these DCI dramas, I’ll try and get some recommendations.

[UnseenParticipant]

One thing I’ve discovered in watching British mysteries is the existence of numerous distinct local accents. A witness will say detect a Yorkshire or Manchester or London or whatever accent. Here in the states, we do have local accents but much fewer. Vast swaths of the country speak the standard Midwest accent you hear ubiquitously on the National and most local news broadcasts, even in areas with noticeable local accents.

Here we have some major delineations but very few city-associated accents beyond New York Cityese and Bostonese.

[Simon PayntonParticipant]

Unseen wrote:

One thing I’ve discovered in watching British mysteries is the existence of numerous distinct local accents. A witness will say detect a Yorkshire or Manchester or London or whatever accent.

Apparently it’s because of all the European countries that have invaded Britain in centuries or millennia past.  The Scottish accent is like Scandinavian (“braw” for “good”, etc.), the Northern English accent is like Old English which is a version of Saxon.  Welsh and Cornish are Celtic languages.

[UnseenParticipant]

@ Simon

Well, in the States there are only a few distinct city accents. New York and Boston among them. Elsewhere, the phenomenon of city accents is virtually nonexistent, though regional accents happen though regional accents do exist. But Midwestern is what the vast majority of Americans speak.

[Simon PayntonParticipant]

Unseen wrote:

Well, in the States there are only a few distinct city accents.

How about the movie Fargo?  It’s set in Minnesota and it claims that a lot of people in that area speak like Scandinavians.

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

How about the movie Fargo?

Oh yah Simon, you betcha they do.

[UnseenParticipant]

Interesting fact about the author of the Lynley mystery novels series, which are classic British whodunits. Elizabeth George herself is not British. Born in the American state of Ohio, she currently resides in the state of Washington.,

[_Robert_Participant]

Alfred Hitchcock did some great thrillers that some consider to be mysteries. He said the two were different, that mysteries (whodunnits) have little emotion, but thrillers are all about emotions.

I just rewatched “Vertigo” and “Rear Window”. Damn good flicks.

His cameo introductions and narrations for the TV series, “Presents” are awesome.

 

[Simon PayntonParticipant]

If you have a VPN, apparently that is how you can access BBC iplayer from the US.  There you should find lots of everything you are looking for.

Rebus is meant to be a good crime drama.

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

https://nordvpn.com/special/ for BBC

[UnseenParticipant]

@ Reg

So, now you’re shilling for a VPN Service. I’ve tried watching programs in other parts of the world using faraway VPN servers with NO success. In the case of the BBC

BBC iPlayer may block access to users outside of the UK due to international rights issues. The BBC sells its original programs to other streaming services and TV stations around the world, and also buys content for local UK stations. BBC iPlayer’s terms of use also state that the BBC may block users who are detected to be using a VPN because they want to be sure the user is in the UK. (Chrome’s AI)

If I recall correctly, the BBC wanted my address and/or other personal information for verification.

A lot of websites nowadays can detect VPN traffic and block it forcing you to reveal yourself and your location. Frustratingly, one of my two banks does this.

• This reply was modified 5 months ago by  Unseen.

[Reg the Fronkey FarmerModerator]

I pay for BBC services as part of a bundle with my ISP but I know people in the USA that use nordvpn to get BBC. It is possible to get services using other methods but I won’t describe them as they can bring you towards the dark web…..where you don’t want to go.

[UnseenParticipant]

Reg the Fronkey Farmer wrote:

I pay for BBC services as part of a bundle with my ISP but I know people in the USA that use nordvpn to get BBC. It is possible to get services using other methods but I won’t describe them as they can bring you towards the dark web…..where you don’t want to go.

If you use a VPN to go into the Dark Web, the suspicion will always be you’re seeking illicit drugs or accessing kiddie porn.

[Simon PayntonParticipant]

Unseen wrote:

If you use a VPN to go into the Dark Web, the suspicion will always be you’re seeking illicit drugs or accessing kiddie porn.

Or a gun, … or poison … a hitman …

[Author]

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