DVD Corner

Vexed Series 2 DVD Review

“Vexed” is a likable comedic police procedural.

In the second season of “Vexed” (which is made up of 6 hour long episodes), the grouchy, laidback, pervy D.I. Jack Armstrong gets a new intelligent, efficient, fast talking partner (D.I. Georgina Dixon) whose work methods greatly differ from Jack’s. Throughout the season, the two take on vases involving the corpse of a car salesman, a murdered university student, a missing solicitor, a murdered cook TV show contestant, a dead school headmaster and a robbery. Other key moments involve Georgina’s father Peter and Georgina and Jack going undercover separately.

Having not seen the first series of “Vexed,” I can’t comment on how the departure of Lucy Punch’s Kate Bishop character affects the show. I can say that Miranda Raison’s character Georgina Dixon is a delight though. While the quirky, mismatched partner procedural genre has become old hat now with hits like “Castle” and “Monk,” “Vexed” shows that there is still some life in the genre. Granted, there’s not much originality here, but the show is far more lively and entertaining than the usual lifeless procedural that attempts to strive for realism. I could do without the pop songs though.

The real reason the show works at all is because of the chemistry between Miranda Raison and Toby Stephens. Stephens, whose work I admired in “Die Another Day” and the James Bond radio dramas, shines as a carefree Detective who trudges through his job. Sure, he’ll see the job through, but he doesn’t live and breathe the job like many other detective characters we see. Miranda Raison’s character, on the other hand, is the polar opposite as she is positively giddy and serious about her work. She may have a life outside of her work, but you can tell that she takes her work home with her.

Video/Audio:

Presented in widescreen, “Vexed” is a decent looking BBC series. It’s not the glossiest show out there, but it’s certainly far from the most visually bland one as well.

The Dolby Digital Stereo track is flat, but acceptable.

The only extras are Acorn trailers and a near 2 minute behind-the-scenes photo gallery (not a still gallery).

Summary: Is “Vexed” a great series? No, but it’s a perfectly watchable TV series that is far better than the average procedural thanks to the playful banter and humor between the two lead characters (and even the often oddball suspects). Worth a watch.

July 11, 2013 - Posted by nicklyons1 | DVD review | Miranda Raison, Toby Stephens, Vexed Season 1, Vexed Season 2 DVD Review, Vexed Series 2 DVD Review