TV Critics: Locked Up; Bucket; Born to Kill; Mind Over Marathon; The Detectives

“This is both a tremendously silly and fantastically taut thriller that carries itself at a breathless pace. I’m convinced enough to go back and start from the beginning, if only to see what they got up to in the laundry room before they tunnelled out.”
Rebecca Nicholson, The Guardian

“What distinguishes Locked Up from overheated Spanish telenovelas is acting that’s top of the range and a script so sophisticated that, even in subtitles, it crackles with wit. This captivating opener exhibited all the dramatic confidence and flair of more male-oriented – and more feted – American fare like Breaking Bad.”
Gerard O’Donovan, The Telegraph

“I want to adore Bucket. It stars Miriam Margolyes, and Margolyes is a national treasure (and knows it). However, the sitcom lacks a sense of place and when in doubt goes broad. It is amiable, which is exactly what it should not be.”
Andrew Billen, The Times

“Born to Kill’s killer combination of terrific acting and cleverly doled-out dollops of suspense keeps us not only watching but wanting more.”
Gerard O’Donovan, The Telegraph

“Such a brave depiction of mental health problems is rare on TV. There should be more shows like this.”
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail

“Series like this are a revelation for TV viewers, especially those reared on a diet of crime thrillers. Detectives, as this gritty show demonstrates, don’t catch baddies so much as trawl for the evidence to put them away.”
Matt Baylis, Daily Express