Zen (2 Discs)

Excellent series. Very disapointing that the BBC won't be making anymore.

Never mind the lack of Italian accents! Rufus Sewell carries the whole show. His character's life is a mess, always on the line, but he survives the numerous death threats. Oh, and the scenery is almost as spectacular as the lead man.

The BBC's vast experience both in international collaboration & literary adaptation has really paid off with 'Zen'; a detective series based on the novels of English crime writer Michael Dibdin. Although there are some differences between the novels & the television series, they are minor & serve to facilitate the adaptation from the written to the visual. The television characters are perhaps slightly softer than their written counterparts, a necessity of economy when one considers that each episode is only ninety minutes long. Despite that the characters are well-rounded, with Rufus Sewell doing more than enough to cement his place in what is bound to be remembered as a modern classic of television.

In addition to Sewell's excellent suitability for the role, he is surrounded by an equally impressive international cast. The direction, lighting & shot composition all contribute to producing a superb whole, & it would be remiss not to mention the wardrobe, who do a fine job of catching that Italian verve.

In essence 'Zen' is a hugely enjoyable series of tasteful whodunnits, which never reveal who really did do it until the end. At the time of writing, the real mystery is whether all eleven of Dibdin's novels will be televised - it would be a crime if they weren't.