Law and Order UK...
I watched Law and Order UK, the first two episodes, with commodorified and auriaephiala. And enjoyed both stories very much. It was depressing - both episodes where about murdered children - but each was extremely interesting, not formulaic, and each made intelligent points. Despite what I always see as the dryness of police-case stories, there was matter here for heart and head.
Also a whollop of attractive leads. Not just Jamie Bamber, the glamour-boy of the bunch, not much different from his strong-and-stoic role as Lee Adama. All of them. Including particularly Ben Daniels as James Steel.
And I liked it that Martha... I mean, Freema Agyeman... I mean, Alesha Phillips, saved the day. Again.
I also really liked Bradley Walsh as DS Ronnie Brooks, the rumbled old guy that these shows like to have. It's a stereotype, but it's one I usually like.
Since I was so impressed by the writing in the show, I looked up the credits. The show is created by Dick Wolf - he's new to me, but it seems he's the writer/creator of the American version, too. But then... the other writers listed are so very familiar names: Chris Chibnall, head writer for Torchwood. James Moran, who wrote Torchwood's "Sleeper" and the wonderful Captain's Blog. Catherine Tregenna - my favourite Torchwood writer, responsible for Out of Time and Captain Jack Harkness.
My impression was that Law and Order UK is better written than Torchwood, perhaps because Torchwood presents particular writing problems, possibly because it's more complex in concept. No, that's not it. And when Torchwood is well written, it's very well written indeed. It's just... variable.