Todd Brotzman (Elijah Wood) & Dirk Gently (Samuel Barnett)
Credit: BBC America/Netflix/MovieSteem
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (2016 with Samuel Barnett in the title role & Elijah Wood as his sidekick) – after having seen half of the first series, I can confirm that it is, as described in Wired, “... nothing like the books – but it’s still a blast!”
Next piece of good news – there will be a season two!
Previously reviewed on these pages, with trailers, panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2016, references to the previous TV series, & the books at: https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/10/dirk-gentlys-holistic-detective-agency.html
BBC America: “‘Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency’ Will Return to BBC America for Season Two”, http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2016/11/dirk-gentlys-holistic-detective-agency-will-return-to-bbc-america-for-season-two
What’s on Netflix: “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency Season 2: Netflix Renewal & Release Date”, https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/dirk-gentlys-holistic-detective-agency-season-2-netflix-renewal-release-date/
All incarnations highly recommended – books, original TV series, plus the 2016 TV series. / Holistic Detective Agency new Dirk Gently nothing like the books still blast makings new cult favorite favourite crammed with weird ideas gore crazy set pieces few charming moments enjoy it stop thinking of it Douglas Adams adaptation BBC America show premiering based book duology Douglas Adams also created Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series basic concept holistic detective named Dirk Gently breezes around getting into weird situations ties all the threads together mixture of luck intuition TV show little in common Douglas Adams tone Douglas Adams Adams’ absurd wit stands out new show how American it all is new version Dirk Gently only British person U.S. city full of Yank archetypes snarky cops tattooed cultists badass bodyguards creepy shut-ins serial killers writer Max Landis wrote all eight episodes used Douglas Adams basic idea jumping-off point gonzo storyline creepy kidnappers indoor shark attacks bizarre diseases show will be about something completely different Douglas Adams books throw slew off-kilter ideas reader cram billion subplots into every episode wild spree works on its own terms don’t ever try to compare it work of the master first few episodes series delightfully perverse Electric Monk first Dirk Gently novel character save you the trouble of having to believe something believing it for you Douglas Adams creations often illuminate something of the weirdness and futility of humanity’s attempts to make sense of the universe clever storylines about Samuel Taylor Coleridge Norse mythology BBC America version rockstars bikers standard TV archetypes second Dirk Gently TV series in the past five years the first had minuscule fraction budget of this one aired minor UK channel written Misfits creator Howard Overman couple of Doctor Who writers new version throws a million dazzling science-fiction conceits at the viewer 2012 Dirk Gently show more of a weird detective show watching both Dirk Gently shows comparison Doctor Who Douglas Adams pilfered elements two Who scripts /
