Too many things wrong with this series. As it turned out, we feel that none of the characters are likable. With each episode we grew to dislike them even more. Sidney – a man who says he loves God, yet he wantonly behaves in a way that is most unfitting with a man of the cloth. An alcoholic. With all the scenes of him drinking, I'm surprised that he was not in a state of perpetual intoxication. How about the scene where he is guzzling the wine out of the chalice after the church service? Smoked like a chimney in winter. His sexual behavior was more of lust than of love. After a short while, I found him repulsive for a vicar. Most of the scenes with him with a woman, were animal. I find most of the kissing scenes disgusting. I liken it to two pigs fighting over the same turnip – embarrassing. How about the scene where he has this woman against the wall and is gnawing at her face (kissing?) while the love of his life is watching him. Give me the films of old, where a kiss was warm and tender and showed love and affection. Not these days. The way they kiss on screen, I am surprised that they don't draw blood.Amanda – at the beginning she and Sidney had what seemed to be a warm and affectionate relationship. Then she gets engaged to someone even though she is in love with Sidney and because he is not willing to ask her to marry him. She is constantly going to see Sidney even after she is married. From what I can gather, her husband is cold and withdrawn. Why shouldn't he be? She runs to Sidney every chance she gets, instead of trying to make her marriage work. Toward the end of season 3 she seemed to be turning into a shrew.Geordie – why couldn't they have left him alone. Instead they turn him into an adulterer. And the usual, when found out he is so sorry. If he wasn't found out, he would have continued his affair. How predicable! I really like this character until he cheated on his wife.Mrs. Maguire – sour faced who is wise about everyone else, but is taken in by her husband that was missing for ten years. Someone who sees all and knows all and still thinks that the people of the village need Sidney even after she sees how much he drinks and probably has a good idea of his sexual caring on. She was against Amanda at the beginning, but even though she knew it was wrong because Amanda is a married woman, she warmed up to her.Leonard – our token gay person who does not really care about getting engaged to a woman and then dumping her without the slightest bit of conscience bothering him about how he hurt her - no real apology there.This is more of a soap opera than a crime series or anything about religion. Sidney spends too much time without his vicar's collar. I love the scene where he and Amanda are out dancing and kissing in public. No shame at all, just lust. And when would the police allow anyone other than a police official to be in the room interrogating a suspect or prisoner?It is rather funny the way at the end of an episode, Sidney gives a little speech in church. Words to live by, but not by him. We all have faults and failings and a man of the cloth is supposed to set an example for his parishioners to follow, but this is not the case with this hypocrite. He is the worst of the lot.

This little old lady has stopped watching Grantchester. More than his collar is loose. Elsewhere I've noted that the author of the novels on which this series is based doesn't seem to have known any clergymen, but then I googled the guy and found out his father was the Archbishop of Canterbury!

I love period crime dramas. Loved Sherlock Holmes (with Brett) and Poirot (with Suchet). Liked some of Father Brown too, but like that series this one is flawed (unlike Holmes or Poirot). The main problem I have is that in a rush to cater to women and romance (I feel) they have thrown out some common sense. Mainly most things to do with Christianity. Quite odd for a vicar. And added instead emotional baggage to do with the war that conveniently pops up to make women swoon for the lead character. Otherwise, this could be a brilliant series. Series 2 seems to tone it down a bit and focus a bit more on the crimes and is therefore better. There were episodes in series 1 that I just gave up watching due to incredulity, thats why I can only give 5/10. Would have liked to have rated higher.I don't have any problem with romance and programs that cater to women (or even only for women). I have a problem with throwing common sense out of the window to do it - which is actually insulting to women (like saying women can only cope with Mills & Boon type romantic mush). I really loved Sharp and Hornblower, which were also popular with women. They also managed to pull off some strong female characters (given the male infested nature of the settings) without throwing common sense out and without the lead characters always trying to look sexy-moody.I'm beginning to think I either don't have any understanding of religion or this program is actually anti-Christian (I'm not Christian nor religious). This vicar, the hero, never consoles any of his flock or any victims of crime with the mention of god or religion. He just wanders around with a puppy-face. In addition, he is carrying on affairs with two women, one of whom is about to get married (so basically destroying that marriage without any serious intentions toward that woman), while having sex with a third. What a nice man. Forgive me for being dense but I thought some sins before Christ happened here. Now, this guy takes confessions, but he doesn't confess himself. Maybe after the war only children could be made vicars? Its all a bit sick and some people are lapping it up. He is the opposite of a hero.Fortunately, there are the real and quite gritty police, including Geordie (Robson Green), to save the day. And the period features are very well done. The police are made out to be nasty with their harsh treatment of the 'vicar', but I'm on their side. He often hides or makes off with evidence and police files - he needs to be in jail for that. I like that Geordie has a young family and they deal with the real-to-life version of that. The hard life that his wife has to live at home by herself.

There's no such regiment in British Army as Scottish Guards, but the Scots Gusrds has a long history. Scotch whisky has no e in name - that's for Irish and other whiskeys. Having lived in Cambridge for 2 months while working at Fulbourn Hospital in 1986, then spending odd periods there 1989 to 1994, working with Bridge adventure camps (set up by two Christ's College students) and British Antarctic Survey, then from 1999 - 2013, I loved the chance to spot old haunts, where I've cycled, kayaked, run and walked. I wasn't alive in 1950s, and have never been an Anglican, despite attending C of E primary schools in 1970s, yet I loved the feel of the series. Excellent acting, especially by leading men. Not bad to look at, either and Robson Green's Geordie accent is a happy reminder of years spent in Tyneside :-)