Hinterland

I've been enjoying the new series of Hinterland, which is showing on BBC Wales at the moment. It's a solid police drama. The cases are intriguing enough and atmospheric enough to hold my interest. The cinematography and scenery are always stunning (my Mum was complaining the other day that it makes Ceredigion look a bit bleak and grey, but I've been to Aberystwyth enough times to know that the sun doesn't ever come out there). I love having a show on TV that attempts to reflect how bilingualism actually works in Wales. It's always fun spotting old Pobol y Cwm actors (my close neighbour Yoland Williams hasn't shown up yet, but give it time: we don't have that many actors in Wales). And Richard Harrington always puts in a strong performance as DCI Tom Mathias.

My one complaint, really, is that I'm kind of bored with brooding heroes tormented by the angst of a tragic past. They're a dime a dozen in this kind of show. I think I'd appreciate the show so much more if it subverted the genre so that instead of focusing on Tom angsting over having to do his job while wallowing in self-pity, it centred instead around Mared and Siân: these two sharp, professional women constantly frustrated in their efforts to solve cases by the emo antics of their superior officer!