I have now seen three versions of the same Episode 1, the first British one, the first pilot with Colm Meany and the revised one with Harvey Keitel as Gene Hunt Naturally I prefer the British version as it is easier to pick up shades of meaning which I could well miss in the American version. I do prefer Colm Meany to Harvey Keitel as Gene Hunt. I think the New York cast are better than the Los Angeles one with the possible exception of Annie who is far too pretty. The New York cast seem more believable than those in the first pilot. I thought that the music in the New York episode was very well selected. I hope to see the sort of banter between the characters which was present in the original series and which NCIS does very well. Gene Hunt will be the problem for any actor. He is such a complicated character. Philip Glenister played him superbly in the British version. There's a feeling over here that political correctness may have gone too far in some respects. Gene Hunt's machismo, direct talking and one liners made a great impression when the series was first shown in Britain. The writers were not afraid to point out the flaws and prejudices in the character. Gene Hunt was,however, prepared to learn even if he could not fully understand what Sam Tyler was saying. I do hope that the American version will leave the rough edges which make Gene Hunt such an interesting individual.
