Zen (2011)

Last year we watched a lot of Wallander, the Swedish detective, to begin this year we saw Zen, an Italian detective. Except he's not really. He's Rufus Sewell and he speaks English with nary a hint of an Italian accent. Only the regular female characters are Italian, and then not all of them. This 3-part detective series was based on novels by Michael Dibdin (I've never heard of him either) which feature protagonist Aurelio Zen and are set in Italy. 

I've heard the TV series get some stick for having English actors in Italy, and some say it makes it inauthentic. I say this is a load of Rubbish. In the fantastic HBO series Rome, no one complained they weren't speaking Latin, and I've not seen Kenneth Brannagh's Wallander, but I'm pretty sure he's not Swedish - people seem to forget this is television drama - none of it is real! I have to say that I enjoyed Zen thoroughly, and not just because of the novelty of the beautiful Italian locations, mainly because of the light-hearted script and the impossibly smooth, well, zen-like nature of Sewell's handsome detective. 

Each episode involved an enquiry with a side order of corruption, and Zen is persuaded to have events turn out a certain way by his 'friend' in the ministry, although Zen usually, through no hard work on his part, lucks out and finds a way to satisfy everyone, especially this viewer. Zen is known for his conviction in a police force riddled with corruption, marking him out from his peers. He also gets the girl, the rather attractive Italian Caterina Munrino, although there was some doubt cast on her motives this hasn't panned out beyond her estranged husband turning up and shooting himself in the head. 

Even with such detective TV staples as a grumpy, shouty police boss, Zen the series manages to be a cut above usual fare. Like Sherlock Holmes last year, each episode was 90 mins and with only 3 of them, Zen didn't outstay his welcome. I'll be happy to return to Italy with him again. In fact, I'd be happy to watch Rufus Sewell exude cool in anything again. He's ace.

05/03/11 Update: The BBC has confirmed that they won't be bringing Zen back. But there's a chance he'll be back on a different channel.