Plot: What’s it about?
Vincent Gallagher (Ray Winstone) used to be a detective in the police department, but these days, he heads up his own private investigation team. He is a great investigator, able to piece together clues and track down his targets, but his personal life isn’t that smooth. He tends to be a poor people reader, so he sides with the wrong people at times, not to mention his wife just left him for another man. He allows his personal life to penetrate his cases at times, such as when he sympathizes with a man who is being cheated on, but misreads the situation and things turn sour. Gallagher leads his small, but talented unit as they investigate all sorts of problems, some more complex than others. Can Vincent put the pieces of his own life back together, while also helping others, or will he have to sacrifice his own stability in the process?
I had caught parts of episodes of Vincent on BBC America, but this release is the first chance I’ve had to watch a full episode. As a fan of police dramas and detective shows, I looked forward to this two disc collection and as it turned out, I was right in expecting Vincent to be a solid show. With a plethora of similar shows, Vincent needed to stand out and it does just that, with the twist that the lead isn’t a police officer or detective, but instead a private investigator. This opens up a lot of new potential, since the guidelines of police conduct do not have application. That means Vincent can go places other shows can’t, which means things have a fresh spin and that is important. This also a more personal experience, since the lead becomes emotionally involved in most of the cases, so there is depth to the characters. This first season of Vincent is quite good and Ray Winstone carries the show well, so I give Vincent: Series 1 a solid recommendation.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. These episodes look good, but I did notice some flaws at times, which lessen the experience. I saw some grain in places and also compression issues, but in both cases, the errors weren’t too bad and by no means a distraction. Beyond that, the episodes are clear and clean throughout this first season. I found detail to be solid, though a little off in darker scenes. The colors look natural, if a little drab at times and contrast is consistent. In the end, I would rank the visuals above average, even with the flaws.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included stereo soundtrack is by no means remarkable, but the material sounds fine. The only real presence comes from the music, but it does sound good and adds some life to the mix. The main focus is where it should be, on dialogue and the vocals never suffer in the least. So while not memorable, the audio here is up to snuff.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes no bonus materials.
