First broadcast in 1993, NYPD Blue was created by Steven Bochco and David Milch, the team responsible for the magnificent, mould-breaking Hill Street Blues, which had featured both of NYPD's principal stars, David Caruso (Detective John Kelly) and Dennis Franz (Detective Andy Sipowicz). Here, their partnership takes up most of the screen time, a break from the ensemble feel of the earlier show (though he's the boss, James McDaniel's Lieutenant Fancy, for instance, is a peripheral figure). But there are familiar Bochco themes. Tough-but-put-upon cops struggle with their own problems as well as the criminal element: Kelly is going through a divorce, while Sipowicz is fighting alcoholism, though these are as nothing compared with officer Janice Licalsi's dramatic means of escaping her involvement with the Mob.

Although fast-cut and street-sharp, NYPD Blue arguably betrays a right-wing bias: the villains are invariably irredeemable scum, too often let off the hook by a slack and excessively liberal judiciary, with victims of crime often forced to take desperate measures of their own. The fate of one 4B (a young David Schwimmer), however, acts as a warning against vigilantism. Unleavened by much of Hill Street's humour and with plots more designed to keep the pulse racing than reflect social realism, NYPD Blue is simmering, downbeat, compelling viewing that edged mainstream American TV nearer to the knuckle than it had previously dared to venture.

On the DVD: NYPD Blue, Series 1 has a number of special features, including a making-of documentary in which creator Steven Bochco explains the lengthy negotiations he had to undertake with the network in order to get the show aired in anything like its original form. "Cast Blotters" is a feature about the characters and players. There's also a short piece on the love interest in NYPD Blue and biographies of the cast and programme makers. --David Stubbs

I bought NYPD Blue on DVD despite having never seen a single episode. I love watching cop dramas like The Shield and wanted something else that I could enjoy on the same level.

Although NYPD Blue looks pretty dated now, none of the action or drama is diluted and it recieved much acclaim from both sides of the Atlantic when it was first screened. Audiences were hooked by the gritty realism of cases worked by detectives of the 15th precinct. The show also delves into the main characters personal lives and we learn about Kellys marriage break up, Sipowicz's battle with alcoholism and Martinez's pain caused by his junky younger brother. This personal touch is a nice contrast to seeing the detectives tough impersonal approach when dealing with homicides, drugs, corruption and mobsters.

NYPD Blue is gripping TV and paved the way for Law and Order, CSI and The Shield with it's uncompromising approach.

Great series, well cast and fantastic to watch with one big snag, the camera work. Many people saw it as a way of being 'realistic' at the time, but in fact it looks like the camera man was either of his mind on class A drugs or seriously alcoholic. It sways all over the place, and the characteristic sway down then up and settle starts to get you so angry after a while you simply cannot look at the screen without feeling rather psychotic. I would love to actually buy this TV, but sadly the only way I think I could put up with it would be blindfolded. Shame as in every other respect a brilliant cop drama.

I watch NYPD Blue whenever it is on and i like to solve the crimes as i watch. I also like watching the characters watch out for each other.

Season 1 of NYPD Blue is quite simply one of the best cop shows ever and is a must have on disc...Buy it simply for David Caruso & Dennis Franz..yes the other characters are good but it is these two that make it..in particuar David Caurso really stands out here & it is so annoying that he didn't give us 2 or 3 season of Dec John Kelly to enjoy.....I won't go into stories but i loved the dvd's.....A must have..

Compelling, Superb, Gritty. Denis Franz simply shines as the morose sipowicz, but this was surely David Caruso's finest hour, of any film or tv performance as the heroic john kelly.

Is this is a realistic portrait of the midtown precinct pre-911? I dont know, much was made of the phrase 'reach out' being false. I dont care, its superb prime-time us tv at its best. Its kicks Law and Order into touch, no question.

On the other hand, my girlfriend calls this NYPD Boring, and cant stand it. You decide...