There is much to love about BBC One’s crime drama Shetland… the shooting of the dimly-lit scenery is never less than gorgeous. The acting from the likes of Douglas Henshall, Alison O’Donnell, Mark Bonnar, Stephen Walters and Neve McIntosh crackles like burning embers, threatening to spark out of control at any moment.
And Volvo enthusiasts are pretty much guaranteed to get their licence fee’s worth when it comes to sightings of Sweden’s foremost estate car.
However, despite all this, viewers still managed to reel off a list of complaints regarding last night’s show. What a social media shocker!
And it seems that a geographical gaffe that wasn’t even part of the programme has raised the most ire among Shetland devotees.
In a tweet that otherwise contained far too much swearing to include here, one viewer noted how the “hapless” continuity announcer got the location of the show incorrect, despite the biggest clue about where Shetland is being in the title.
And that viewer was not alone.
Did @BBCOne just introduce #Shetland by saying “Now we head to the Highlands”? …Cause I’ve got some news for you…
— Lisa Ward (@sheltielisa) February 20, 2018
Er, @BBCOne continuity, surely if your show is called Shetland an set there, you’re not “heading to the Highlands”? (Highlands & Islands maybe, I suppose…) Or have I missed something?
— Martin Lamb (@martinlamb) February 20, 2018
Will someone please tell BBC1 continuity that Shetland is not in the Highlands? #northofwatfordgap
— Linda Isted (@Linda_Isted) February 20, 2018
Highlands? #Shetland, The islanders won’t be impressed with that intro BBC
— dennis clark (@nellslad) February 20, 2018
‘We head to the highlands..’
The continuity announcer on the iplayer needs a geography lesson. #shetland
— Chic Gibson (@chicgibson) February 20, 2018
#BBC1 #Shetland is NOT in the Highlands!! #gcsegeography
— Sophie Bain (@LSDBain) February 20, 2018
#BBC announcer: “now we head for the highlands” when introducing this week’s episode of #Shetland. Surely he meant #Islands – basic geography? Sorry I forgot, you sir, are from #London and therefore an #idiot when it comes to geography beyond the M25
— Ian Duncan (@IanADuncan) February 20, 2018
@BBC but your announcers don’t seem to realise #Shetland is not part of the Scottish Highlands
— Ned (@nedladuk2) February 21, 2018
And while the Beeb came in for some accusations of ignorance, one observer even seemed to think there was some kind of evidence of anti-tree bias…
There seem to have been a few too many trees in the first two episodes? And tonight the @BBC announcer said we were off to the “Highlands” (sighs) #Shetland
— Susanna Reece (@SusannaReece) February 20, 2018
Previously asked in a BBC interview about reactions to the show, Douglas, who plays Perez, noted how pernickety residents could be, suggesting a drama should be allowed a little creative freedom.
He said: “It’s interesting actually because when we did the pilot there were a lot of people on the island who had certain reservations, such as geographical reservations, things about accents and it was almost like they expected it was going to be a documentary.”
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And if you follow #Shetland on Twitter as you’re watching it unfold on the box, it is hard to argue with his point.
For instance, one viewers noticed one scene may have been filmed somewhere other than Shetland.
This farm looked familiar and a long way from #shetland Garvocks Farm
Greenock PA16 9NG https://t.co/6bKnsiMDzA— Jon Dunn (@jondunnf3) February 20, 2018
Similarly, the person tweeting for a local library joked Cassie had hot-pedalled over to the seal sanctuary at such a speed that she should probably consider gearing up for the Olympics.
Volunteering is very worthwhile. We’re especially impressed at Cassie Perez’s cycling 34 miles from Lerwick to Hillswick to get involved! #volunteering #dedication #rewarding #Shetland @wildathillswick
— Shetland Library (@ShetlandLibrary) February 20, 2018
Elsewhere, we had to turn to Wikipedia some big dusty books about law from the library to debunk a rebuke to Tosh’s suggestion the oil rig company should face charges of ‘corporate homicide’.
Corporate manslaughter, not homicide #shetland
— Mary Pirie (@ribe6760) February 20, 2018
Pushing our glasses up the bridge of our nose, it seems that the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 means corporate manslaughter only applies to the law of England and Wales. The charge remains corporate homicide in Scotland.
The lesson here: if you’re going to be pernickety about details, try to be pernickety in a generally correct way. However, covering our own backside, other legal advice is available.
Another legal eagle – a professor no less, so we’re not taking him on – had a few reservations about how police procedure was represented.
I’m loving #Shetland but gosh the Police do seem to have powers that don’t exist anywhere else in the UK – vans confiscated without warrants! What next?
— Prof David Wilson (@ProfDavidWilson) February 20, 2018
They’ve just exhumed a body in #Shetland within 24 hours!
— Prof David Wilson (@ProfDavidWilson) February 20, 2018
Possibly true. Not very useful for dramatic purposes though, eh?
It also seems the sarcasm in the next tweet regarding Tosh’s trip to Norway can be ruled out. Direct flights to Oslo from Shetland are available!
Making the most of #Shetland‘s direct flight to Norway there.
— Etherley Jackson (@etherley) February 20, 2018
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Also met with some scepticism was Malone’s ability to survive being buried alive.
Again, possibly fair enough – but it may be necessary not to kill off main characters… even if it was thoroughly daft Malone didn’t want to press charges against those who hurled him into his own grave.
Wow he survived the burial thing #shetland
— Etherley Jackson (@etherley) February 20, 2018
Oh come on!
Bog man now? #Shetland @BBCOne pic.twitter.com/bdh5fXVde8
— thats him!! (@whatshisname100) February 20, 2018
Thomas: “I’ll not be pressing charges.” #Shetland pic.twitter.com/QpYKqRlN0m
— BBC Scotland (@BBCScotland) February 20, 2018
And then there were the Volvo tweets. Loads of them. All banging on about ‘product placement’ and how clean Perez’s car is despite the mud and the rain and other details barely relevant to anything actually happening.
Is Perez’s potential pride regarding how spick and span he keeps his car dramatically interesting in the slightest? The following tweet responded best.
People who know or care about models of cars seem to be having a hard time with #shetland this week. I find it difficult to care – all I can tell you is that Jimmy Perez drives a dark blue estate. I think.
— DorsetGirl (@DorsetGirl1) February 20, 2018
So is this all pedantry or a vital issue concerning accuracy? Does it really matter or are blunders like this too irritating to ignore and ruin viewers’ enjoyment?
Let us know what you think by commenting on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix!