You're right, unfortunately I can't but help pick shows apart and chastise the writers, producers etc for poor work, clichés and downright stupid moves by the characters etc.

You know what I mean, going down into the basement and not switching on the light, or walking through doorways with the gun out in front of them at arms length.

Shows that have a clever cop (rare) with a dumb sidekick who inadvertently comes up with the evidence or killer. Carrie moment are another.

I do realise that most shows are dumbed down for certain markets of course.

I do rely a lot on gut instinct when I'm watching and it's surprising how many times I'm right. My brother in law (RIP) was even better at it, mind you he was ex CID and was responsible for catching one of Scotlands most notorious killers.

The brand new WPC on the team WILL solve the crime.

Her direct superior, a.k.a. "Sarge" is as thick as a Boxing Day turd, yet has somehow attained the reank of Detective Sergeant.  This can also apply to Detective Inspectors, but Detective Superintendants (who are pretty much 100% desk based in the real world) will be on the scene for "growling at junior officers" duty, but behave in a fatherlly manner towards our WPC when theres actually a 50/50 chance she would be fighting off agressive sexual advances and be subjected to sexist language all day long.

The higher up the command chain one goes the bigger numpty the officer, until we reach DCI level.  There will always be at least one PC/DC who is so thick he (it's always a "he") would never have got a job cleaning windows, let alone in the police force, although that mey be offset by the Met now we know a bit more about their (lack of) selection process.

As a musician, watching actors "play music" is usually a horrendous experience.  All that squeeling and screeching guitar work when they're gurning their way across the fretboard above the 5th fret, for instanc, or simply waving their hands up and down the fretboard with no relation whatsoever with the music itself.

Any more?

As an addendum, after  working for  being employed by BT for over 20 years, watching anyone on TV or in films attempting to operate any piece of telecommunication hardware by wiggling a few switches in no particular order and for no particular reason still drives me insane.  It all began with that switchboard at the Crossroads Motel... 

Dark Hearts - BBC iPlayer.

Hard hitting French drama following their Special Forces tracking down French ISIS dudes.

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0gfznqk/dark-hearts

I finished Dark Hearts yesterday - what a superb series this has been. The locations are just incredible - almost unbelievably it was shot on location in Iraq which accounts for the authentic look and feel; it's a glimpse into an entirely different world.

With the punchy storylines and fully committed performances I can't wait for another series - it should be on the way as it was set up with a cliffhanger at the end of this series.

If E1 of Dark Hearts is anything to go by - it's a no-holds-barred raw depiction of guerilla conflict - then the rest is going to be superb.

I agree, Mike. We enjoyed it very much.

You must Paul

Watched the last episode last night, the boss insisted we stay up late
Most enjoyable

They must have another series or 5

Confirmed - it's not often that every episode of a series has your heart beating faster, such is its intensity.  Outstanding performances, outstanding production values, very, very real.

I don't often give anything 10/10, but Dark Hearts gets it.