Bergerac and Van der Valk reboots in the works?

[OceanBlue]

I had read several weeks ago that there is a second attempt to get a reboot of detective series Bergerac made (for Paramount Network), and I saw a listing on Geektown a few weeks ago for a reboot of detective series Van der Valk starring Marc Warren.

[OceanBlue]

On the back page of the new issue of TV Times magazine, it says that in the next issue is the Van der Valk revival (starring Marc Warren).

[OceanBlue]

Don't know if ITV are going to show all three episodes of the Van der Valk revival in one go, or show them over the rest of the year, but the first episode is being shown next Sunday night at 8 pm.

[Aclea]

Gave up on the first episode of Van der Valk because I just couldn't get into it: surprisingly heavy going and unengaging and felt a lot like Jean Reno's short-lived English language cop show Jo (where he was the only person in France who spoke with a French accent) only sorely lacking a leading man with Reno's charisma and screen presence to make the clichés watchable.

[OceanBlue]

Haven't read many details about this yet, but I saw something from doing a web search a few weeks ago that suggested that the Bergerac reboot is finally happening (last I read, there was talk about it but nothing had happened since then, until the recent update). If this reboot is indeed happening, filming is due to happen in locations including Jersey this summer, with there being six episodes in total, and it airing on Drama next year and available for streaming on UK TV Play.

[OceanBlue]

Since my previous post, some of the cast for the Bergerac reboot has been announced. Have read on the web that playing Jim Bergerac is actor Damien Molony. Charlie Hungerford is being played by Zoë Wanamaker (they're doing what they did with the Magnum, P.I. reboot (I hope they do a better job with the female Charlie, as on the Magnum reboot I became irritated by Higgins' sarcastic, smart-alec humour). Also in the cast is Philip Glenister.

[OceanBlue]

The latest I've read on the web about when the Bergerac reboot series is starting on U&Drama is that it will begin on the channel in February next year (no start date yet).

[OceanBlue]

U&Drama posted on their Facebook page yesterday or on Monday the UK start date for the Bergerac reboot: Thursday 27th February.

[OceanBlue]

Set the series premiere of the Bergerac reboot to record next Thursday night (airing on U&Drama at 9 pm - 10.05 pm).

Willing to give the new series a chance (watching the first three episodes). I know it won't be the same. I know they're using the same car John Nettles drove in the original, but I hope there are some nods to and homages of the original.

[Alexcap]

they did ask John Nettles if he wanted to do a cameo appearance in the reboot but he said no because he was retired.

[OceanBlue]

Decided to watch the first episode of the Bergerac reboot series via Sky's On Demand/Catch up TV service, but discovered (and this occasionly does happen with downloading episodes/editions of television series) there were no subtitles (ended up not watching the rest of the first episode). In some modern day series, you get actors talking at a low volume where it is hard to tell what they're saying. Am going to record a repeat airing, and hopefully there are subtitles.

[cutback73]

Watched the first 3 episodes. I think the story format of a suspect each episode is quite fun, but am finding Bergerac himself to be underwhelming.

Some of it is the character himself who has been written with the modern stereotype of 25 different hangups making it hard to get to like the character. Some of it is rose tinted glasses for the original. Some of it is because the actor is just not as charismatic as John Nettles.

There is a video on YouTube where both actors are talking in a cafe ("Bergerac meets Bergerac") which is worth watching - quite funny bit when discussing the old car). In that video, the new actor is so much more likeable and charismatic than in the show. I wish THAT was how they wrote the new Bergerac and not this depressing one.

My favourite character in the new show is the new Barney Crozier who is a much more interesting and less stereotypical character as written, I like the competitive dynamic with Bergerac. In the original, Crozier was very stereotypical. It feels like they've swapped around for the new version...

There is enough here for me to continue watching. I DO want to find out "whodunnit" (although I think I've guessed who and why) so I must be invested in it sufficiently.

It would be fair to say the series has been better than I expected.

If there is another series, I hope they tone down the depressing stuff and allow the character to grow.

[OceanBlue]

Have read on U&Drama's Facebook page this week that the Bergerac reboot has been renewed for a second series (due to air next year).

[Eidolon]

One of the things that was enjoyable about the original series was the recurring character of Philippa Vale, who constantly outsmarted Bergerac and the Jersey police. I wonder if they're going to have a character like that in the new version.
There were three rather good 'folk horror' episodes in the original run as well, something that the new series would probably never consider doing.

Aren't the dvd releases of the original series cut or something, if I recall right?

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Eidolon

One of the things that was enjoyable about the original series was the recurring character of Philippa Vale, who constantly outsmarted Bergerac and the Jersey police. I wonder if they're going to have a character like that in the new version.
There were three rather good 'folk horror' episodes in the original run as well, something that the new series would probably never consider doing.

Aren't the dvd releases of the original series cut or something, if I recall right?

I'll try and explain this as best as possible, as my memory is part-rusty on some of it:

1.) Yes, the recurring character Philippa Vale (aka 'The Ice Maiden') was one of the best things about the original series (a few months ago, watched a recording of an airing on Drama (now U&Drama) of the feature-length Christmas special they guest-starred in, "Treasure Hunt" (one of my favourite Christmas specials (entertaining and it didn't feel padded out).

[Show spoiler]Their last episode I think involved an Olympic athlete (this was after she went to and was released from prison. "Treasure Hunt" ended with one of my favourite scenes, that was the epitome of that part-romantic relationship Jim and Philippa had in the original series).

I liked their witty sense of humour and it was entertaining how she outsmarted people at times.

2.) Off the top of my head, I can definitely remember one episode that had a supernatural/folk horror story (the first Christmas special they did, "Fires in the Fall" (one of my favourite episodes), where the guest stars included Barrie Ingham and Amanda Redman). There may have been one early in the eighth or ninth series, called "The Dig" (didn't like that episode much, a bit dull and

[Show spoiler]it was around the time Jim moved to France).

3.) As far as I'm aware, the first and sixth series of the original series were re-released on UK DVD with previously cut footage put back in. The runtimes through the series are a bit all over the place. It doesn't surprise me if music clearance issues caused problems with the DVD releases. Some music tracks can be heard though at times (like Best Years of Our Lives by Modern Romance).

4.) One frustration I have with the original series is how some main cast and recurring characters were dropped from the series with no explanation (one of the very few who did get written out of the show with an explanation was

[Show spoiler]one of Jim's girlfriends, Susan).

5.) I did read something recently where an observation has been made that Barney Crozier was a stereotype character in the original series

[Show spoiler](yes, they were career hungry with climbing up the ranks in the police force,

but "stereotype" has never crossed my mind and I didn't think they were one-dimensional).

[Eidolon]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I'll try and explain this as best as possible, as my memory is part-rusty on some of it:

1.) Yes, the recurring character Philippa Vale (aka 'The Ice Maiden') was one of the best things about the original series (a few months ago, watched a recording of an airing on Drama (now U&Drama) of the feature-length Christmas special they guest-starred in, "Treasure Hunt" (one of my favourite Christmas specials (entertaining and it didn't feel padded out).

[Show spoiler]Their last episode I think involved an Olympic athlete (this was after she went to and was released from prison. "Treasure Hunt" ended with one of my favourite scenes, that was the epitome of that part-romantic relationship Jim and Philippa had in the original series).

I liked their witty sense of humour and it was entertaining how she outsmarted people at times.

2.) Off the top of my head, I can definitely remember one episode that had a supernatural/folk horror story (the first Christmas special they did, "Fires in the Fall" (one of my favourite episodes), where the guest stars included Barrie Ingham and Amanda Redman). There may have been one early in the eighth or ninth series, called "The Dig" (didn't like that episode much, a bit dull and

[Show spoiler]it was around the time Jim moved to France).

3.) As far as I'm aware, the first and sixth series of the original series were re-released on UK DVD with previously cut footage put back in. The runtimes through the series are a bit all over the place. It doesn't surprise me if music clearance issues caused problems with the DVD releases. Some music tracks can be heard though at times (like Best Years of Our Lives by Modern Romance).

4.) One frustration I have with the original series is how some main cast and recurring characters were dropped from the series with no explanation (one of the very few who did get written out of the show with an explanation was

[Show spoiler]one of Jim's girlfriends, Susan).

5.) I did read something recently where an observation has been made that Barney Crozier was a stereotype character in the original series

[Show spoiler](yes, they were career hungry with climbing up the ranks in the police force,

but "stereotype" has never crossed my mind and I didn't think they were one-dimensional).

Susan had a somewhat dramatic exit from the show. It was a shame to see her go, she was a good character.
There were definitely three supernatural episodes, one of which was a loose reworking of Devil Rides Out, something made all the more obvious by the casting of Charles Grey. One episode, The Dig I think, had Jim being attacked by a giant invisible Eagle at one point. They'd go pretty well in a folk horror set from Severin, but will probably get continually overlooked.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Eidolon

Susan had a somewhat dramatic exit from the show. It was a shame to see her go, she was a good character.
There were definitely three supernatural episodes, one of which was a loose reworking of Devil Rides Out, something made all the more obvious by the casting of Charles Grey. One episode, The Dig I think, had Jim being attacked by a giant invisible Eagle at one point. They'd go pretty well in a folk horror set from Severin, but will probably get continually overlooked.

I can't remember that about Jim being attacked by a giant invisible eagle. It's been some years since I watched the eighth series on DVD, so my memory of "The Dig" is rusty (going back to the start of my post from yesterday). "Fires in the Fall" does have some supernatural elements in the plot. Hadn't seen the show do something like that beforehand.....however, after checking Charles Gray's filmography on the IMDb, he guest-starred on the show much earlier than I thought (Series 4's "What Dreams May Come?").

An example of 'that character didn't get written out of the show. They just disappeared' is with Diamante Lil. They first had an inn/restaurant before later opening a nightclub, then not long after "Fires in the Fall" they disappeared.

I felt it got a bit confusing with Jim's accomodation when he wasn't living at Charlie's mansion. When Susan debuted, he had that cottage out in the countryside, then there was an apartment on the coast (but that might have been Susan's).