Murphy's Law: Complete Collection

Gritty London underworld crime. Ya gotta love that Northern Irish brogue in this earthy cop from Belfast. The DVD set includes the pilot of "Murphy's Law", continuing for years. Episodes are 90-minutes, feature-length cop/mystery/crime story; except for series 4+5 which run 50 min each. Each series has a primary plot that carries throughout with a few main characters. Thriller BBC episodes, action filled, finish with a twist unpredicted. And a number of times you'll belly-laugh at one-liners, usually spit by Murphy when he should have been silent. 5-stars for Brit-Mystery fans.

DS Tommy Murphy (James Nesbitt- "Bloody Sunday","Cold Feet","Walking Ned Devine") undercover cop with a haunting past, a rugged body that gets abuse, a mind a step ahead of people around him (be they the low-life he's undercover to investigate or other coppers), and he's FUNNY. His smart mouth, quick wit with a biting comment at the wrong time, gets him a fist or other injury. When he's close to a romantic moment, his verbal quaffs ice all inspiration.
DI Annie Gutherie (Claudia Harrison) is boss, beautiful, available--except to Murphy--who tries (bless his heart). Beautiful lass.
Carter (Del Synnott), another cop, is a regular as is Father McBride (Mark Benton) an old friend of Murphy's who tries to help, but usually compounds an ordeal. Later, Clarke (Sarah Berger) becomes the leading female cop.

All sets have subtitles, occasionally needed for accents. The Complete Collection has 23 (YES twenty-three) suspense episodes. See episode details in my individual series 1,2,& 3 reviews. Unrated, fights and murder scenes don't spare the blood. NOT kids stuff. You get death, brutal graphic scenes, upper-frontal views, nasty language, maiming, blackmail, smuggling, drugs, nightclubs, robbery, kidnapping, hangings, fighting, plus comedy. Vivid gritty violence.

Series 4+5 is really 2 three-episode miniseries stories and the longer Murphy's Law runs, the nastier the crime. 4+5 filmed in Ireland, 300 min total.
_ _ _Series 4 involves Belfast Brothers Johnston as they saddle up with even more ruthless crime scum in Leicester. One brother plans to marry into the Paki family to access money and team up for a major deal. Murphy goes undercover. a major violent action, nude dancing, and unbelievable bad odds that Murphy can get on the inside, get info, and out again alive. Also Murph is primary caregiver to his Alzheimer's Mom and shows a bit of uncharacteristic softness. Brian McCardie (Lilies) guest stars.
_ _ _Series 5 about sex traffic, porn, Serbian illegals smuggling which goes very bad for Murphy's undercover team. He must try to safely recover colleagues. An ugly situation gets worse & worse. Some naughty language and disturbing violent scenes. Repeat, not for kids or weak of heart. Murphy at his most intense.
Series 1,2 & 3 listings have their own reviews with episode synopsis.

Complete Collection a value!
Amazon price ($35.99 at time of this review) is amazingly low for the Complete 9-disc set this good.

Best line: "What do you get if you cross an insomniac, an agnostic, & a dyslexic? Someone who's been up all night wondering if there really is a DOG."

In Seasons four (4) and Five (5) of this marvelous British Murder/mystery series with a heavy Irish accent, the viewing audience gets a far more tense " Murphy's Law" on two (2) discs with three (3) interrelated episodes on each disc. Those episodes are really very well written and directed with the star performer, James Nesbitt, per usual, being outstanding just not as humorous as in previous seasons. I am sure the lack of "humorous banter" in Seasons four (4) and five (5) is mainly due to the fact that Murphy is going through some "not so fun times" in his own personal life , (his beloved mother is committed to a nursing home--to name one thing) plus the episodes are really gritty--not circumstances that are too frivolous with some characters that are very unsavory and with Murphy , as an "undercover cop" facing some extremely dangerous situations even his secret identity being "blown" (his dealing with that makes for some super tense viewing). All that I know is that Seasons four (4) and five (5) kept me highly entertained.

The seasons on these two (2) discs are the last of this series. I am very sad to see the last of Murphy's Law" because it has entertained me greatly as did these seasons.

Be advised that all of the episodes in these seasons are very good especially the last one on the second disc--Nesbitt's acting is overwhelming. What an ending.

Occasionally, an actor steps into a character who becomes indelibly memorable: Jeremy Brett as Holmes, John Thaw as Morse, Sir Derek as Cadfael, Dame Helen as Jane Tennison as examples. I believe James Nesbitt's Tommy Murphy deserves membership in that club. Although I have only watched most of the first two seasons, I am quite impressed with this series.

Murphy was a cop in Ireland who witnessed the killing of his daughter in a hostage situation. The scars of the experience drove him from his marriage, job, and country. He relocated to England, where he resumes his roll as a policeman, but is often called "Paddy," with a sneer.

Murphy investigates all sorts of crime, often under cover. His wits and his wit are impressive. Its different in a good way, although often bleak and unsweetened.

I recommend it, especially to Anglophiles, and by the way, it has subtitles.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 10 reviews  3.6 out of 5 stars