Product Details

• Actors: Owen McDonnell, David Herlihy, Ruth McCabe, Sean McGinley, Matthew McNulty
• Writers: Barry Simner, Rob Pursey
• Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Acorn Media
• DVD Release Date: February 1, 2011
• Run Time: 278 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B004AV5H3U
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,659 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Single Handed: Set One" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

A lone cop fights crime and corruption in rural Ireland

"Don’t miss it." --The Observer (U.K.)
"Absorbing . . . multilayered and intelligent" --The Irish Times

"Powerful, charismatic performances" --Evening Herald (Ireland)

Murder and intrigue on Ireland’s remote coast

When Garda Sergeant Jack Driscoll (Owen McDonnell) returns home to the windswept west coast of Ireland, his father—and predecessor at his new post--warns: "Out here, it’s a team of one." As chief law-enforcement officer in this insular community, Jack soon learns the hard truth in those words. Small-town life presents challenges he never faced in Dublin--among them, winning the respect of the villagers and escaping the shadow of his father (Ian McElhinney, Little Dorrit), whose methods relied more on pragmatism than principle.

In these three feature-length crime dramas, Jack investigates a beautiful immigrant’s murder, a child’s abduction, and a teenager’s baffling drowning. Complex characters rife with moral ambiguity and internal conflict populate this gritty series set against a landscape of epic beauty and isolation.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The IRISH LANDSCAPE is as compelling as the SUSPENSE, December 16, 2010

By 

Harold Wolf "Doc" (Wells, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Single Handed: Set One (DVD)

Edge-of-the-seat suspense. Scenic Irish coast makes the eyes salivate. Fresh new star, fantastic series. Irish country crime is just as riveting as London's. I was astounded and surprised.
Filmed in the Tully Cross & Connemara, arguably the most beautiful part of Ireland, you can smell the peat burning as you view bogs, mountains, lochs, pubs, Guinness, Connemara ponies, & rainbows. But the crime in this deliciously visual district is far from pleasant. An emotional suspense with intrigue as high as the Cliffs of Moor. You'll love the filmed rural beauty and be shocked by the corruption.

3 episodes, each 92 min., YES they DO include SUBTITLES
1- Home
Sgt. Jack Driscoll (Owen McDonnell, a real Galway lad) is transferred back home from the Dublin Garda. He replaces his da. A carbon monoxide death investigation leads to suspicious findings. Further evidence leads to more sinister activity. There is a web of secrets & deceit that Jack discovers. A surprise end.

2- The Stolen Child
A small child is missing and 2 violent uncles may make their own law. Jack's Dad is subject to a tribunal for past "police work." There is yet many local secrets that hinder investigations. Jack's new 1-month sleep-in romance is Dr. Maggie (Caroline Catz-'Doc Martin'& `The Vice') Excellent work by Catz.

3- The Drowning Man
Jack is too late in pulling 17 year old O'Malley from the bay. As always, one investigation leads to something bigger. And, as always, another romantic involvement of Driscoll becomes an issue. That issue involves yet another. High-high suspense finale! So peaked, it becomes a thriller.

Ian McElhinney (Little Dorrit) plays Jack's dad, the former Garda Sergeant Gerry Driscoll. He is a local native, a good-old-boy type, who "turned a blind eye" in the past, and fought local crime "by any means necessary". Can Jack end that legacy which goes against his morals, but is so rooted in the community? David Herlihy plays Garda Finbarr Colvin, the cop assistant handed down by dad, and used to the older cop's ways.

Bonus material: I recommend you read through this prior to viewing the 3 episodes.
Text for all: prod. Notes; O.McDonnell (Jack) notes; Catz (Dr. Maggie) notes; & Produces Alan interview.
This series contains course raw language unsuitable for children (even if they may hear those words used at home).

Ah, lookit, blimy fine Garda suspense.
`Tis `nuf fer all, mind.
In English that means "Wonderful, buy it."
One of the best Irish cop drama mysteries ever made.

36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Miss This One, December 3, 2010

By 

Desta Elliott "djelliott" (Niles, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Single Handed: Set One (DVD)

Single-handed is gripping drama that puts most US TV to shame. This one definitely goes on your must see list.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good if you like "edgy", February 4, 2011

By 

PartlyCloudy "Mike" (Decatur, GA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Single Handed: Set One (DVD)

Well acted, beautiful scenery, very strong story lines. However: the stories (especially the first and second episodes) are of the type that really irritate me: too many questionable characters among the "good guys", too much moral ambiguity, etc.

For comparison, I had this issue with some of the Inspector Lynley series episodes as well. I am more of a true "Cozy" fan: Inspector Lewis, Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders, etc.

So, dropping by one star was a personal preference. Many folks would love it, I am sure! I felt I should at least provide the input. The 3rd episode was a bit more to my liking.