I first discovered DCI Banks by Peter Robinson whilst recovering in hospital from life saving surgery. They were an essential part of my recovery - against the odds. Since then I have read every novel.
The TV series is however a different kettle of fish. Shallow characters abound and major characters are just not portrayed in the intended manner. The one black character, Winsome, who is such a vital character in the books with her IT skills has been dropped altogether. Her replacement? That rather nice lady from Doc Martin. Why? I have no idea.
Annie Cabbot talks down to her superior Banks in a way the character invented by Peter Robinson would never do. Apart from the fact they had an affair she is obviously very much a supporting officer in the books. She is also now a mother which is also poles apart from the original character and her lifestyle.
This is typical bubblegum TV and reduces Banks to the level of most crime series whereas it has the advantage of some superior story lines to be a major TV series. It should be another Morse or Lewis.
Steven Tompkinson? Great lightweight TV actor but not as DCI Banks in my book. I know that TV rewrites some excellent crime stories, I suppose Frost is a prime example, but Banks is my greatest disappointment by a mile.
The TV series is however a different kettle of fish. Shallow characters abound and major characters are just not portrayed in the intended manner. The one black character, Winsome, who is such a vital character in the books with her IT skills has been dropped altogether. Her replacement? That rather nice lady from Doc Martin. Why? I have no idea.
Annie Cabbot talks down to her superior Banks in a way the character invented by Peter Robinson would never do. Apart from the fact they had an affair she is obviously very much a supporting officer in the books. She is also now a mother which is also poles apart from the original character and her lifestyle.
This is typical bubblegum TV and reduces Banks to the level of most crime series whereas it has the advantage of some superior story lines to be a major TV series. It should be another Morse or Lewis.
Steven Tompkinson? Great lightweight TV actor but not as DCI Banks in my book. I know that TV rewrites some excellent crime stories, I suppose Frost is a prime example, but Banks is my greatest disappointment by a mile.