Silk: Season 1

First off, this is a view from the British system, quite parliamentary and filled with wigs and stiff judges. But behind the scenes, the British and American law firms are the same, doling out cases both for the defense and the prosecution, the in-house fighting still juggling for position, and the chess games moving into the courtroom. Which is where this series really takes off. Outstanding writing from Peter Moffat (who seems to have an extensive background in the judicial side of the court system), and even better acting, both good enough to keep this breakaway series fresh and a nice change of pace from the usual CSI-type dramas that flood both sides of the Atlantic. This is what happens AFTER the arrest, the planning of the trial and then the actual trial, as well as how each barrister deals with the pending results, often knowing that while they are right by law, the guilty party just might get off due to a lack of evidence for the jury. This tears at the lead actress, Martha, who values her moral and legal decisions and is torn by knowing the law and yet knowing how some are able to use that to get out of a crime. All in all, this first series (this ran three seasons but only season one is available in the US) is captivating with less soapiness then the covers leads you to believe. Give it a try...Maxine Peake's background (she plays the lead) mimics the role she plays, that of working her way up from a middle class background, part of the reason she was chosen in the auditions. As you'll discover, it was an excellent choice. One of the more overlooked BBC series, this is worth watching!

Thoroughly engrossing, with an splendid cast, every nuance pitch-perfect. I enjoyed this more than anticipated. The best stories are about more than they at first appear to be, their narrative weaves in complexities and moral issues that we all struggle with. "Silk" massively succeeds in moving beyond the confines ambition, the law, and workplace strife, to a larger story of life. Well done, can't wait for Season 3!

I really enjoyed this series and look forward to seeing it continue. It's interesting to see a law series that takes place in London. Things are different. Great acting. Interesting characters

HORRIFYING show. Main character, Martha, is supposedly smart but oblivious to DEVASTATING consequences of her actions. Example- spolier alert- Season 2, Episode 1- it was beyond obvious the key witness was going to be brutally tortured and murdered at the end yet she smilingly says to him, "you're free." Lots of savage violence and despicable human beings in this series who end up winning/going unpunished. Very disturbing to watch. An ugly series. Steer clear.

This is as usual an excellent British drama, lots of good story lines, I particulaly liked it as a former government attorney as it shows the hassel of getting cases the day of the hearing, and the lawyers dragging pull suitcases full of papers and stacks of paperwork on top! This is how real attorneys work here, too, and the us version of showing up with a little Gucci briefcase is NOT how you have to operate - this also explores real dilemmas and I hope there are a lot of follow-ups to this series - the actors are EXCELLENT

I watched this, then turned it off, then went back to it again frankly because I watch too much television and ran out of things to watch. The cast is appealing and the stories are interesting enough to hold my attention, but there is a lack of real tension in this series. I see how the plots create urgency, but I don't really believe it. It's a second rate show (which doesn't mean don't watch it.) I am a child of Law and Order, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, even Sons of Anarchy which I gave up on long ago. I am still hanging in there while GRR Martin blithely wipes out hosts of characters I care about because he needs reality in a show where a women is "the mother of dragons," a dwarf is the best soldier you've got and the dead won't stay down. GIVEN THAT. The pacing is a little speedy in Silk particularly given the lack of gritty details provided that might beef up the lives of these people and once you set a story in a world where everyone is physically and economically safe (which I'm all for. my life isn't like that) you'd better create danger that I buy. The conversations are rarely all that gripping. Yes, heroes by definition will win and that's why you watch the show, but sometimes when I'm not worried whether a hero will win I get a little peeved.

This show is fascinating. It's a little hard to follow the plot sometimes but that's not something that bothers me since if I like a show I'll watch it again a few times, and the plot will gradually become clear. The court routines (and lawyers) in England are very different than in the U.S., so that is fun to watch and try to figure out. I was a little puzzled by the "apprentice lawyers," since they seemed not to know very much law at all, but were thrust in front of judges anyway and had to rely on their wits, if any. That didn't seem very believable to me, but maybe that's the way it works over there.

This is just a wonderful series with great acting, a great sense of realism about challenges to women in the British legal system, and interesting story lines. Very compelling lead character.