Best way to approach this tv series is that its 100% based on psychopathology and the darkest side the human soul. its the broken human soul that compells extreme acts of depravity, violence .. there is no place this doesnt go... pedophiles, incest, beastiality, satanism, fundamental christians, child killers, oepidal complex,self harm, cannibalism, bondage, all kinds of fetish, drug users and of course the narcissitics psychopaths...all the sickos you can imagine, this goes into the glory details , doesnt skimp on the blood and guts and goes deep into their heads and turns out episodes that leave you guessing at the edge of your seat till the end... its a classic who done it detective mystery.If you like dry detective work, heavy drinking cop shows, gangs, drugs, shoot'em ups... you probably *wont* like this one as there isnt much tough guy, street cred, grit and fast draw action in this, instead its all internalised as dr hill discects crime scenes, profiles, interrogates and puts it together .. bad points? 1) sometimes its contrived as the good dr. who is wrong is somehow later shown to be right about with his analysis .. feels like they had to rework the plot too often. 2) sometimes unbelievable plots... the nick of time rescue is a bit cliche, they always catch the bad guy just before he cuts victims throat at eats him 3) some episodes are weaker that others...in weaker episodes it feels like the episode was written in reverse ie. they tried to write the story to fit the ending which makes the story unconvincinggood parts - too many, should just watch it if you like this type of show. only people who wont like this would be those who dont like the genre...

I really gave this a chance, watching the first two series almost to the end, but it got the better of me: I had the sense of having been there and seen it already. The slightly disheveled expert, a cross between Columbo and Mr. Hulot, the inept (Keystone) cops, the mocking sceptical cop who never trusts the hero who always proves right (shades of House MD), the "steely" policewoman who likes to say STAT and sh*t on every occasion and who gets promoted, God and screenwriters only know why, the incredibly simple solution at the end, full of Deus and Machinas.Contrary to some reviewers here, the graphic shots of mayhem and savagery were not off-putting, having been "tastefully" done, but it's obvious they were put in solely for effect, as if to say "look how cool we are, how Un-American!" but this show has all the markings of an Americanised show. For a much superior British police show watch "Waking the Dead".This got an 8.4 mark? Strange, my dear Watson, very strange.

Brilliant series. The third episode not quite as strong a story as the first two, perhaps has something to do with the fact that it was not based directly on the books of V. McD. Robson Green is a great talent, in spite of what his fellow Newcastleian had to say above. I've enjoyed his first rate performances in two other series I've seen, and can't wait to see how his character's flirtation with D.I. Jobson develops in future episodes. Comparisons with "Cracker" seem off the mark to me. Although its one of my favorites, the only things in common with "Wire..." are forensic psychologists profiling murderous sickos, and helping the police catch 'em. Note to the producers: Have Robbie Coltraine guest as "Cracker" character in a future episode assisting Hill and Jobson! Imagine all the fun they could have conflicting professionally, not to mention romantically, vying for Jobson's attention and favors! Brilliant!

This is a taut British crime drama very much in the "Cracker" mould. In this case, our lead character is Dr. Tony Hill. It features a crime-weary psychotherapist who is part profiler, part detective, part forensics expert. (Think "Cracker" meets "Inspector Morse" meets "CSI").There is a bookish, academic quality to Doctor Hill, without him being tweedy and standoffish (he's more human, and less lofty than Morse).Dr. Hill is well played by actor Robson Green, who played another complex Detective in the British miniseries "Touching Evil."In "Wire in the Blood" the stories and the crimes often unfold slowly, with just enough bits of clues and hints to make the slow development seem satisfying.WARNING: The crime scenes can get a bit grisly, but are never gratuitous. If you like the aforementioned "Morse" series, and enjoy the psychological gymnastics by Robbie Coltrane's "Cracker" then you will not want to miss "Wire in the Blood."