Rebus
When there's a successful television show the powers that be will do anything to expand the brand. The most common in recent years is to do a prequel series. Just look to the success of Young Sheldon and you know what I'm talking about. This reboot of Ian Rankin's surly Scot could be considered "Young Rebus" if you will, because most people associate the character with Ken Stott who was in his fifties when he played the role and Richard Rankin is only forty-two. I though will be pedantic and say that the OG Rebus, AKA the magnificent John Hannah, was actually four years younger than our new Rebus when he played him in 2000 and therefore they are just trying to pull the wool over your eyes and this isn't a "young" reboot it's more of a "gritty" reboot. Just look to the wannabe Jack Irish opening credits. Back to John Hannah. Because really everything goes back to John Hannah. I was a fanatic about Rebus back in the day. It filled the void left by McCallum. And despite claiming that when Ken Stott took over the role it was season two of the show, it was a full five years after John Hannah's last episode so I view it as an entirely different series. A series I just couldn't get into. Perhaps because my mom kept complaining that Ken Stott wasn't John Hannah. Same mom. Same. So I was intrigued by this reboot. I mean, as long as Richard Rankin didn't sing "Joy to the World" this was a very stable move for him to create a long-running series for his post Outlander career. Plus the first season is only six episodes long so I did a seven day free trial of Viaplay and got to see it at no cost to myself other than time. So what did I think of it besides the fact that whomever did the opening credits had watched Jack Irish one too many times? It was totally serviceable with not a single likable character. In fact most of the characters are too dumb to live. I mean, his brother is desperate to pull his life out of the shitter and does one stupid thing after another. You do not rob from drug dealers. You do not kill their bosses. There's just so much basic common sense that went out the window that I can't believe any sane person would view these characters sympathetically. As for Rebus? He just can't keep from making himself unhappy. He just wallows. And, like his brother, makes stupid decisions that put him in the crosshairs of the higher-ups. In other words, it is your bog standard disgruntled and dissatisfied copper which could take a few lessons from Dept. Q because at least there there's a few more relatable characters and no boxing club. Seriously, no show should be allowed to have boxing clubs or fight clubs ever again. It's been overplayed. But at least with the end of Outlander we'll still get our Richard Rankin fix as the show has been picked up for another season. Here's hoping it grows. And that the second season doesn't kill the only likable character. Again.
One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde
The Complaints by Ian Rankin
