What's happened
The BBC has released a new adaptation of Ian Rankin's Rebus novels, featuring Richard Rankin as the iconic detective. The series, written by Gregory Burke, reimagines a younger John Rebus operating in modern-day Edinburgh. The show has received mixed reviews, with some praising its gritty portrayal and others questioning its necessity amidst a crowded field of crime dramas.
What's behind the headline?
What the papers say
According to Jack Seale of The Guardian, the new Rebus series starts promisingly with a gritty portrayal of the detective. Rachel Cooke of the New Statesman is enthusiastic, describing the show as a 'keeper' and praising its Scottishness and humor. Chris Harvey of The Independent highlights the pressure on Richard Rankin to stand out in a crowded field of Scottish crime dramas. Aidan Smith of The Scotsman notes the show's reimagining of a younger Rebus and its modern-day setting.
How we got here
Ian Rankin's Rebus novels have been a staple of the crime fiction genre since the first book was published in 1987. The character has been adapted for television before, with John Hannah and Ken Stott previously portraying the detective in ITV series. The new BBC adaptation, written by Gregory Burke, aims to reintroduce Rebus to audiences by focusing on a younger version of the character operating in present-day Edinburgh.
Go deeper
- How does Richard Rankin's portrayal compare to previous actors?
- What are the main differences between the new series and the original ITV adaptations?
- How has the modern-day setting influenced the story and characters?
Common question
More on these topics
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Detective Inspector John Rebus is the protagonist in the Inspector Rebus series of detective novels by the Scottish writer Ian Rankin, ten of which have so far been televised as Rebus. The novels are mostly set in and around Edinburgh.
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Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian, it is located in Lothian on the Firth of Forth's southern shore.
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Helen Walsh is an English novelist and film director. Her novels include Brass, which won a Betty Trask Award, and Once Upon a Time in England, which won a Somerset Maugham Award.
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Gregory Burke is a Scottish playwright from Rosyth, Fife, Scotland.