Judge John Deed : Pilot & Complete BBC Series 1 [2001] [DVD]

Judge Deed was one of the best BBC TV series ever and we are greatly enjoying watching it again

This is without doubt one of the best series I have ever seen and one I have been delighted to revisit with my daughter Alessandra, who is in full agreement.Judge John Deed who is excellently played by Martin Shaw, is compassionate and a maverick. He does stick to the guidelines as best he can, but if necessary, is determined to make the law work for the good and sticks his neck out to do so. And thank goodness he does, because someone needs to to allow law to evolve.Everyone has a flaw, even the brilliant Judge John Deed. His fatal flaw is womanising and this is because later on in the complete series, he loses the love of his life Jo Mills (the equally excellent Jenny Seagrove) to another man despite the fact that she knows he wants to marry her, and they are so well-suited. But she is well aware of his womanising and she is certainly not going to put up with that! And the viewer cannot help but think, for someone who is so intelligent, why does he behave so stupidly?My recommendation is once you have seen this series, you will definately want more!

I love Martin Shaw in whatever work he does, but I think Judge Deed is the most interesting.

A good start to a very good series. It makes the law interesting. It is a part mix of controversial cases and part spy thriller with all the machinations of government trying to pervert the course of Justice to suit their own ends. The antics of the Judges teenage daughter are initially irritating but later in the series this compassionate drive to look after the underdog forms the basis for a very promising advocate. Martin Shaw is 1st class as the tenacious judge but his womanizing throughout the series is a distracting irritation.

The BBC, beleaguered as they are from time to time, rarely fail when it comes to either documentary making or drama and with Judge John Deed, yet again they reinforce their stranglehold on this genre.This program is a huge step up from the long running but dated 'Crown Court' from the 70's and early 80's. Gripping, riveting, call it what you like, from intial broadcast in late 2001, each episode had me glued as few others have.Some of the storylines are very thought provoking indeed, which is not a bad thing, and the cast is superb, particularly the haughty yet divine Caroline Langrishe and the quietly delectable Jenny Seagrove. Martin Shaw, in the title role as the somewhat unconventional High Court Judge, is excellentMy only moan ( well more of a niggle, really ) is that the constant efforts by the upper echelons to either keep this maverick in check or engineer his removal as he repeatedly crosses swords with the establishment are a tad overdone. That said, it really is program making of the absolute highest calibre.I cannot believe anyone would be disappointed with this release - let's just hope the rest of the series is imminent.

Each episode can be enjoyed as a finely made single film concerning a judge who reflects upon the human frailties we all share and upon the way his interpretation of the law effects the outcomes. Martin Shaw is a compelling actor, one of many fine British personalities inhabiting each episode. The legal community of which he is a part is examined in fine detail. His enemies plot to bring him down through political manipulation, surveillance, family pressures and use of the Old Boys networks. The way he evades the pitfalls and fights back defiantly within the legal limitations is suspenseful and satisfying. As each episode comes to an end, I look forward to the next. It's the same feeling one gets when looking at the Sopranos, Breaking Bad, The Wire, Deadwood, Dexter, Justified or the Game of Thrones except that in Judge John Deed it's done without violence.

I guess the title should have read "If only ANY judges like JD . . ."Brilliant series, dramatised view of what judges SHOULD be like (maybe without the womanizing!).Those who don't find this realistic enough should rather see it as a comment on the judicial system, and on business - and industry corruption.Ok, some of it seems far-fetched, but much of it very close to reality. Leaders in big business are often that callous and greedy, and governments come to heel when told so because of the revenue the companies bring in. To the detriment of the rest of us.Warning: When you get hooked, there is no way out but to get the rest of the DVDs!Being a Martin Shaw 'fan' doesn't help much either.

I recall watching these wonderful episodes during their first transmission and have come to the conclusion that along with Waking The Dead, and Silent Witness, they are some of the best drama series produced by BBC Television for many years. Martin Shaw's portrayal as the Maverick Judge John Deed is amazing to watch. Moreover, ably supported by a wonderful cast, Jenny Seagrove, Caroline Langrishe and the veteran actors Donald Sinden and Simon Ward. Each episode is a story on its own, none of them seem padded out, watchable for the dramatic court room scenes which never fail to amaze. I am sure fans will buy this anyway, if you have not seen them yet, give them a try, you wont be disappointed.

Loved him as an actor since the early 1970's. He gets better looking with age. Never disappoints in any role he plays.

Alles war super,Danke :)

Excellent

Yes, Judge John Reed is a bit randy once in a while but truly you do not see anything happening on that front so all is clean as a whistle.We saw just now the first series and have ordered the rest of the series, waiting to arrive from a long way away the UK to Australia.Excellent storylines, intelligent and in short, brilliant acting.

Have not seen these yet. Was sent region 2 in error.