Durham County (2007–2010) User Reviews

strong start weak finish, cos they changed the director on episode 5

[Rob-O-Cop · 6/10 · 15 October 2009]

I was really enjoying this series, detailed non obvious crime drama with a great visual flare and above all an interesting and believable script, till the 5th episode and then it seemed to change unexplainedly. Suddenly the actors were saying and doing things which seemed contrived and out of character. Suddenly we get these groaner moments that defy belief in the situation and importantly the characters. and if you check the director in the IMDb its that the director changes for episode 5 onward.

in the second series it made the jump to completely implausible and in a tense crime drama you can't have that. Ray, a mentally unstable patient awaiting trial on murder and rape charges is allowed to wander around in a large room un monitored and to interact with one of his victims??? who came up with that piece of fantasy?

kinda disappointing after such a strong start, interesting characters and intriguing script.

Somewhat intriguing

[caiged · 6/10 · 17 June 2007]

The plot of Durham County is one of those that will leave you scratching your head in confusion and frustration at times. It has a very quirky, off beat sense to it and it's hard to compare against a benchmark. At times it feels as though the writers of Twin Peaks got together on a lazy Sunday afternoon, put their heads together and came up with the plot for Durham County.

One thing about the series is that it's weird and puzzling and you can see that right from the first minute. Thankfully there are only 6 episodes because by the end of the last episode I was ready to punch my sofa cushion in frustration.

There are ups and downs to the series and it leans slightly more towards the downside a little. The upside is that it is short and for the most part does not succumb to anything typical. That makes it unique. There are no good guys here- just bad, badder and worse. The writers blur the lines neatly between the heroes and the villains, leaving it up to the viewer to decide if the character is good or bad. Acting is quite good by all the principal characters, helping to bring out a variety of emotions from the viewer's point. The downside is that the ending is not satisfying enough and leaves you wondering if it was worth watching in the first place. The plot does stumble around a bit and could have used some tightening.

All in all it starts out well but starts to lag in the third episode onwards leading to a disappointing finish.

cool Canadian murder TV

[SnoopyStyle · 8/10 · 23 August 2013]

Detective Mike Sweeney (Hugh Dillon) is on the hunt for murderers. His wife Audrey (Hélène Joy) is suffering from the diagnose of cancer. He suspects his childhood rival Ray Prager eventually involving the children of the two struggling families.

It's got some of the best visual motif in a strictly Canadian TV production. It takes the everyday suburban landscapes like electrical towers and turn them into something creepy. That's the first impression from the show. This show lasted 3 seasons with 6 episodes each. Sometimes the pace does lag a little. Sometimes the story gets complicated especially trying to keep track of the relationships of the minor characters. The acting is acceptable with some standouts like Hugh Dillon, Helene Joy, Laurence Leboeuf, and Louis Ferreira in the first season. It's cool crime drama.

Compelling and genuine

[mereenuh333 · 10/10 · 13 September 2012]

I started watching this TV show on Netflix two nights ago and I'm hooked! I'm almost done watching all three seasons. The people in the show feel authentic and real. Laurence Leboeuf is also one of my favorite actresses. The first couple of episodes are so dark and sinister I almost couldn't stomach it, but I'm glad that I did. The family has its problems like any other does. Watching them deal with their issues, though, is really interesting. Some of the characters are broken and scarred, but I think that's what makes this show so real. People hurt, you know? Durham county shows you what people can do to other people and the after effects.You should definitely watch this show. After a couple episodes you'll almost have to keep watching. I wish they'd make a fourth season!

Durham county shows great promise

[rubydreamer · 13 May 2007]

Now like most Canadians out there were terrified to start watching a Canadian television series since they don't always last very long and we are grateful when they do. Though usually were stuck with lame comedies like Little Mosque On The Prairie (don't get me started on that cheese) and Corner Gas (sorry, but not funny). I love The Movie Network because so far they've come out with shows i've really enjoyed. Slings and Arrows was probably the best example of that. One of my favorite shows ever. The movie network is kinda like our HBO.

Last week I watched the series premier of Durham County. First of all the setting creates such a spectacular backdrop for the show. If you were expecting some happy suburb where the sun is always shinning then I suggest you turn the channel to Desperate Housewives. In Durham County the sky is gray and the view from the backyard is of a electrical plant (I don't quite know the right terminology. The show opens with a the strange sight of two school girls getting murdered in a forest of some sort. Then it cuts to our very first glimpse of Mike Sweeney, a homicide detective who moved with his wife and daughter to Durham after the murder of his partner in a drive-by shooting. His wife we soon guess is a recovering breast cancer patient. This is revealed when she is getting ready for a welcome-to-the-neighbourhood party and uses wigs and fake breasts. Their teenage daughter Sadie is typically rebellious but I like her in the way that that's not all their is to her character so far.

We are introduced the neighbours, Ray and Traci Prager and their teenage son Ray Jr. We sense immediately that there is something wrong with Ray Sr. He is a very intense man who can be loving to his wife one second and violent and demanding the other.

The set-up I think is great. I can't write a proper review right now, but i'm really exited to see what happens. I'll definitely be watching tomorrow's episode or taping it. The premise is great, the characters so far intriguing and a strange mysterious atmosphere that I love. SO WATCH IT!

Meh - Afternoon soap meets '24'

[oldwilli · 7/10 · 30 June 2008]

Based upon the 2007 comments about suspense between episodes, when the series replayed in 2008 I recorded all six episodes so the missus and I could watch it all in one Sunday afternoon sitting. This felt very much like an afternoon soap opera with a murder twist that stole some bad plot lines from '24'.

First of all there were just too much bad history with Mike in this town for him to have moved back there - any sane human would have found a job where there was less history. Then there was so much bad blood between Ray and Mike. In a small town where you have a history, wouldn't you check out the neighbors before you buy a new house - even if it is a bargain? Then comes the '24' factor. HERE BE SPOILERS! We stopped watching 24 because there were just too many scenes where a danger/effect could have been averted if the character just did as they were told. ("Wait for me here and don't move", "Stay in the car", "Call me right away if he/she ..." and so on.) Same thing here - Mike tells his wife to avoid Ray because he's a crime suspect. What does Audrey do? She invites Ray into the house and let's him wander, she accepts a gift of lingerie from Ray, she asks Ray to do a home chore that Mike said he would do even though he's too busy to get to it right away. And Mike is not without fault - if had admitted up front to knowing Nathalie and why he could have avoided suspicion and subsequent problems later. SPOILERS OFF

The too many loose ends that created the tension in the first couple of episodes became tedious in the remaining episodes. If this had been more than six episodes we likely would have given up and skipped to the ending which was far too quick and left too many issues unresolved.

After that rant, why did I rate it a 7? Most of the technical aspects were excellent. The filming, the pacing, the music and the acting was great - especially by Laurence Laboeuf playing Sadie. We really believed the actress was closer to the 16 years old or so of the character. The sound was generally good but there were a couple of scenes where I was glad the program was recorded as the character's speech was so muffled I had to back it up and turn on closed captioning to catch what was being said.

Overall, it was an OK viewing and if one has four or so hours to watch it ad-free I would say go for it but if it was a full season of 13 to 16 episodes the story needs more life and less "soap opera suspense".

Some of the best television seen in many years.

[rickl-9 · 10/10 · 22 May 2007]

This was one of the best pieces of television that I have watched in many years. The script is tight and the first few episodes have you at the edge of your seat wanting to know what will happen next. The characters are most believable and I hope that more of this type of programming will be aired in the future. This is definitely a quality production aimed at sophisticated audiences. Although the subject matter is difficult, it is not displayed with senseless violence. There is a combination of experience and youth on the acting roster and this provides further strength to the production. The locations have been well selected and the frequent return to the oppressive and impressive hydro towers adds a foreboding quality that assists the plot and the movement of the characters. The music is also extremely well done.

Intriguing first season, then goes off the rails.

[nidalloyd · 7/10 · 23 October 2020]

I found this series because I am a fan of Hugh Dillon. I have chronic pain and sometimes use suspenseful drama to distract me from my aching, throbbing, body. The first season had enough intrigue to work for me. This show really went off the rails in the second season, implausible characters and situations. The third was even worse. Adding wooden, bad acting by the woman who played Sabine. That character was really annoying. I also noticed that in Durham County Violent, Gory crimes are prolific, yet one police officer, maybe 2, go in to extremely dangerous situations without backup EVERY FREAKING TIME and come out unscathed. I like Sadie Character and she is well acted but that girl has some extreme damage and instead of getting help she just keeps making bad decisions and going in to dangerous situations. In the third season she is even sent in to horrible situations by her superiors who reprimand her and send her back again and again.

What a Fantastic Show!

[mariannelarsen0909 · 10/10 · 30 May 2007]

Durham County is a fantastic show. I can't wait for it each week to find out what's going to happen to Ray, Mike and the rest of the characters. The cinematography is brilliant, acting phenomenal, and directing amazing.

Right from the black and white with splashes of red opening shots, through each episode and to the final credits, I'm riveted by this show. It rivals some of the best TV dramatic series out there: Six Feet Under, the Sopranos, etc.

Kudos to the producers for getting this top-notch show on the air. Looking forward to the next season.

Marianne

Good story, but....

[peterg-pg-199-910996 · 6/10 · 12 July 2021]

I have read many of the reviews but I seem to be the only viewer who found it almost impossible to understand much of what the characters were saying. Much guesswork on my part. They just seem to mumble. A very depressing series.

Season 2 fails where season 1 succeeded

[duffy74-210-123110 · 5/10 · 29 January 2019]

I agree with your first reviewer who says that lines get blurred between good and evil characters. But that is what makes season 1 so interesting to me. The cop is a hot head and so is the real villain played by Louis. Season 2 picks up where season 1 leaves off, but since a different production company was involved, they chose to turn the series from an R-rated adult crime drama to a family-oriented G-rated soap opera complete with G-rated language. In fact, season 2 is mostly talk. I had to bale out of this one. Don't even know if they used the same actor for the part of "Ray". Way to screw up a captivating storyline. I give season 1 an 8 but had to downgrade overall since season 2 screwed it up so badly.

Deliciously Creepy

[hawsman2 · 10/10 · 26 May 2008]

I'm a guy who loves his creepy dramas and this is by far my favorite so far. It has so many elements working on so many different levels, but it's all presented so simply. It reminds me a lot of the show Dexter but more story driven and a little simpler intellectually. After watching thousands of episodes of CSI, I would have thought I was more than desensitized to anything T.V. could throw at me, but the entire first episode gave me chills. It's a bit grotesque and bloody but it's not unnecessarily so like most horror movies and crime dramas. It's a great back and forth chess match of a show, and you'll feel guilty for having such a good time with it.

And it's not just the violence itself. The characters set up the scenes easily and they develop themselves beautifully, the scenery and environments are great and they set up the atmosphere of impending doom, the effects cut the monotony and still makes you feel crazy. So great! Hurray! We can finally be shocked by murder again!

Terrible Series

[drnina64151 · 1/10 · 10 November 2018]

This guy was the worlds worst father, husband, and detective! The only thing that kept me watching wa Helene Joy.

A series not to be missed

[bossnz · 10/10 · 8 June 2007]

This show combines the best of British and American drama but with a distinctive Canadian flavor which clinches the deal. The actors are not pin ups but play their parts with genuine emotion.

Cinematography is spot on and the scripts and re-enactments done with chilling realism.Music selection is appropriate and the sound quality is superior to most network shows.

The only negative point if you can call it that will be the relatively short season for Series one which will rely on the overall market appeal in North America as to its continuation next season.

Not to be missed!

Don't be misled by the people who dislike this show...

[mediachick-62434 · 10/10 · 6 March 2020]

Durham County is a work of art. It's not a pretty one, but its beautiful. The production, camera work, and writing are excellent, as is the writing. But, beware. This isn't a network show. It's not even HBO. It goes deeper than that, and it gets pretty ugly, right out of the gate.

Reading the negative reviews here, it's quite clear that the people writing them have no idea what this show is about. It's taking a look at the depth of evil that could be on any suburban street. You know how you see on the news that someone has done something horrific, and their neighbors are on camera saying they can't believe it because "He seemed like a nice guy. Always waved and said hi..."? That. We don't know what demons someone is battling, what their underlying mental health problems or personality disorders might be.

What most people probably don't know is, Durham County was written and directed mostly by women. The creators are women. Strong, incredibly talented ones. And everything that happens in a scene serves a purpose. It's not glorified violence or done for cheap thrills. It's deep and intense, and best ingested with time in between episodes to reflect. Each one feels like a short movie, and there's a lot to process.

Someone here went on at length about how horrible Durham County is, and how Canadians should be embarrassed by it. We aren't. It's a masterpiece, and we're proud of it. When the show aired in the US it was watered down. The intro was changed, and scenes were cut. That's embarrassing. And, it had a negative effect on viewing.

Durham County is definitely not for the average viewer. It wasn't meant to be. But, if you like dark and intense, and are up for being challenged by being given an ugly look at humanity, you should definitely give it a try. It's deliciously a

This is.....

[sftrojan · 8/10 · 9 April 2019]

This is so disturbing on so many levels, it's brilliant! Triggers beware, but awesome!

Dysfunctionnal family

[laurentdelvigne-446-586973 · 4/10 · 8 November 2020]

At first I was expecting a mystery-crime TV series like the Scandinavian / British productions, but the series left me mixed feelings:

• unlikable characters
• dysfunctional family: lies and cheats, screwed up teens,...
• criminals are well played
• sometimes the series drag so slow

In conclusion a weird mix of crime stories with drama / psychological tones.

Suspense Filled Drama

[KatMovieLuver · 9/10 · 7 January 2023]

Murders and more murders happening in a Canadian small town. One of the main characters is the lead detective. He has a family of 2 daughters and a wife recovering from breast cancer.

The detective is a angry hot head and is not loyal to his wife. Great acting and all the characters are far from perfect. I grew to like the teenage daughter as the show moved on.

Lots of tension as the killer continues to taunt and get involved with the detectives family. There could be more than 1 killer though. Don't want to give too much away here in my review.

One of the better tv shows I have seen lately. If you like lots of tense intelligent drama this one is for you.

Ok

[Headturner1 · 5/10 · 27 August 2020]

I started this a while ago. Watched season 1 and gave up after a few of 2. I went back last night and couldn't remember where I left off so I just watched 3. It was ok. They contradict theirselves in the way the scripts written. Where as one second they say something and it's like they forgot that line was mentioned. The police procedure is ridiculous. Mike constantly walks thru crime scenes and doesn't use gloves when bagging evidence.I thought the first season had a creepy vibe( the big doll heads Haha) I want one. The third was more everyone was just weird. I have to say I was really impressed with Michael Nardone( I looked him up because accent ) and was surprised he is a Scott( with a heavy accent at that). I watch mostly UK shows and didn't recognize him. He made the show for me( acting wise) and that whole creepy " cousin" clan. Ok watch but imo a little tightening of the script/ editing and it could have been great.

I tried to like it

[barbie6982003 · 4/10 · 7 December 2011]

I LOVE dramas, and more often than not the more disturbing, the better. The Sopranos, Dexter, Cracker (UK), Taxi Driver, you name it, I've watched it and enjoyed it while everyone else in the house hides in the other room and just listens. I love watching the twists and turns and figuring out people's foibles. Not this program.

The antagonists are far too disturbing, and most of the protagonists aren't much better. The only people left are the innocents, and I guess I'm just not that into watching torturing innocents, whether of the physical or psychological nature.

I have to admit I only made it halfway through episode 2 and had to stop. A snuff film might be more watchable than this. If you're really into gruesome, and you really want to take some punishment, this may be the series for you. As near as I could see the series is well written. But this is a horror show, not a drama, not a mystery. Don't be fooled. I'm giving 4 stars based only upon the cinematography and the characters are written extremely well, because they are not people I am interested in knowing anything about, and that's how we should feel about people like that. I wish I could un-see it.

A Canadian Embarrassment

[wcole67-1 · 1/10 · 23 June 2013]

I've been watching this show on NetFlix for the past few evenings but finally had to quit. My take on the show....the men are all brutish and stupid, the women are all submissive and stupid, the police are all just plain stupid and the story line is awful.

The producers of this disaster obviously hate cops, men, and electricity and punch you in the gut with their negative bias.

This show is a Canadian production and if I were a Canadian I would be extremely embarrassed and annoyed how the average citizens of "Durham" County are portrayed in this show.... What a bunch of lunk-heads.

The producers of this awful television series have done a great disservice to the citizens of Canada.

No justice or revenge

[princellakh · 4/10 · 9 April 2019]

I kept waiting for justice or revenge as a reward for showing such sadistic violence against women and so far there is none. I think a man who love to hurt women wrote this scriptbecause its way too graphic. Lets see men get beat as much as you show women being murdered.

embarrassssing

[Cilica · 1/10 · 23 July 2020]

What do you have a young woman standing up for herself against bullies but she gets suspended....of course. Cop - Abusive father, horrible homicide cop, and husband who is a poor actor in this role. Just like the killer who ovver acts- so bad. I'm watching to see how bad it can get. The two main characters are the poor actors - the killer and the cop. Odd. The supporting actors seem to be decent. Story-line is misogynistic and in very very poor taste.

Implausible Soap Opera

[aphillips-43057 · 2/10 · 14 June 2020]

Don't know where some of the user reviews here came from. We watched the first two episodes in Season 1 (there are three seasons). We found them extremely irritating with a soap opera like plot. Completely implausible in every respect. Don't waste your time.

Just a warning

[mrcheminee · 2/10 · 4 December 2022]

The acting is fine. The filming pretty neat. The music is suitable. The whole production looks and sounds fine, but.

This thing is slow, very slow. The two main characters are very unlikable, which shouldn't be a problem (many shows do great with unlikable characters), but they keep focusing on what makes them so unlikable, not even the juicy stuff, and does this really slowly. So if you like to watch one guy having flashbacks of him cheating on his ill wife and another guy trying to controll his own wife for hours, you would probably like this.

I've read somewhere they got a different director for episode 5 which seems to have changed the tone of the show, but I don't know, I only just got past episode 3.

And I quit.

BTW, the plot summery om IMDB says the detective thinks his neighbour is the killer... This has not happened yet. I've finished episode 3, which means I am halfway season one. Watched 3 hours of slow drama, and what is described in the plot summary, hasn't happened yet.

Let that sink in.