The Sweeney - Complete Series 1-4 Box Set | British Crime Drama DVD Collection | Perfect for TV Show Enthusiasts & Classic British Series Fans

I loved the Inspector Morse TV series with John Thaw as Morse. I had not been aware that this program THE SWEENEY had even existed. Then last year when Thaw's co-star on that program died I was reading his obituary and noticed that he had been in this series and his co-star had been John Thaw. A young John Thaw, before his hair turned white!That was very exciting to know. Growing up in the US during the 1970's I had my favorite detective shows like the Rockford Files but I had never even heard of The Sweeney. I ordered this complete set and have been watching it ever since. Recently I reached the midway point in the series and decided that I have now seen enough to review it.Of course John Thaw as Jack Regan is magnificent and George, his sidekick, is really great too. There's violence and campy 1970's soundtrack music. The clothes and the haircuts are hilarious. Lots of flared pants and ridiculous shirts. The bad guys often have these absurd sideburns.There are great car chases and a lot of footraces, usually with George running down some thug. The criminals in these, British gangsters, are fantastic. Some of them have girlfriends who are classic, too. One really cool aspect is that in some episodes Regan fails to apprehend anybody, they got away with whatever crimes they committed and then escaped. That lends a sense of reality to the proceedings. Regan is a hard drinking, chain smoking guy with a failed marriage. Brilliant and determined. John Thaw is so masterful in this role.These DVDs were issued many years later and some episodes feature interviews with some of the guest stars who appeared on the show. Those are quite entertaining and informative.My partner isn't fond of violent TV shows. She reluctantly began watching these programs with me and now that we are halfway through them she is beginning to admit that they are really fun and she likes them almost as much as I do. That's a good thing, we still have plenty more to watch!