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Conflicted cop drama another brilliant export from BBC | January 27, 2006

Anyone who has watched BBC America's "Bodies" or "Teachers" knows what those viewers who tune in to "Conviction" at 9 p.m. Monday will discover: BBC television is more original, more engaging and more entertaining than most of what is produced on this side of the pond -- even when the concept is nearly identical.

"Bodies" is a more realistic portrayal of doctors than "E.R." These docs are intensely flawed: They don't always save the day, and they don't even always want to. "Teachers" didn't portray its young protagonist, Simon, and his group of teacher friends with typical TV character righteousness. Simon was still a child himself, without the nobility of David E. Kelly's former Fox drama "Boston Public," in which everyone -- except the villain vice principal -- is in it for the nobility. These BBC dramas offer no real heroes and no real villains. There are shades of gray, much as in life.

Which brings us to "Conviction" ... Read the rest...

Posted by deann in Column | permalink