GBH has no lack of excellent dramas to watch, so how do you decide where to start? By calling upon what I’m calling our Drama Concierge service, of course! For this set of recommendations, we go to Drama Newsletter reader Stan, who says:
My wife and I enjoy light-hearted mysteries and have watched several over the years: e.g., Monk, Death in Paradise, Murdoch Mysteries, Midsomer Murders, etc. Any suggestions in this genre would be greatly appreciated.
Lucky for Stan and his wife, this also happens to be one of my personal favorite drama categories, so I’ve got a hefty list of recommendations. Most of these are, as usual, available for members via the GBH Passport member benefit online and on the PBS App, or airing on GBH in the coming months. I’ve also included a couple of non-GBH shows (shocking, I know, but I won’t tell if you won’t!) that are just too good to pass up.
Professor T
Obviously I had to include this one because it reminds me so much of Monk (and because it’s kind of a two-for-one with the addition of the PBS remake). I find the English version is a little more lighthearted than the Belgian original, but both are excellent, and available on GBH Passport.
Luna and Sophie
We’re getting this new-to-us German show on GBH Passport at the end of March. It follows best friends who are detectives, and based on the extremely charming previews this show nails the lighthearted and fun crime show brief.
Frankie Drake Mysteries
I’ve recommended this show before, and I’m sure to recommend it again. Frankie Drake has such gentle vibes that sometimes I honestly forget there are murders! In a similar vein, I also have to include a show I’ve written about several times, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, which we’ve frequently aired on GBH 44. If you like digestible crime and a 1920s setting, these are the shows for you.
Poirot
You thought I forgot about everyone’s favorite gentleman sleuth? Mais non! David Suchet’s unmatched portrayal of the eponymous detective returns to GBH 44 on March 24 at 9pm, and I honestly can’t think of a better example of light-hearted mystery.
Rosemary & Thyme
A show that follows two friends who design and restore gorgeous English gardens would already have piqued my interest, but since these two also always happen to stumble on (and solve) a murder in their travels, they are an absolute lock for this list. Alas, we don’t have this one in our catalog, but it can be found streaming with an internet search.
Psych
Not our usual fare, but as it’s one of my all time favorite shows, I’m making an exception. Psych could be described as a goofy American Sherlock Holmes, and follows best friends who open a psychic detective agency (the “psychic” is actually just very observant). Again, not one of our programs, but can be found streaming with a quick internet search!
Not excited about anything on this list and need something new to watch? Don’t fret: we’ve got loads of dramas ranging from charming to sumptuous that are streaming right now as part of the GBH Passport member benefit. Send an email to GBHDrama@wgbh.org or tweet at me or GBH with the hashtag #DramaConcierge and a few words about what you’re craving, and if you’re lucky, I might put together a list of personalized recommendations just for you, like this one.
