Public eye truly is a masterpiece & Alfred Burke’s portrayal of Frank Marker is a master class of outstanding acting. Thank you for this excellent appraisal.
I only discovered this about 2 years ago, It started being shown again on Talking Pictures and I've become a little obsessed with it, No Murders, no excitment or violence, just simple cases showcasing human interactions in a refreshingly humdrum depiction of reality.
If anyone is interested in catching this show, as of September 2020 it is being repeated on Freeview C81 Talking Pictures starting with Series 4 (1969), often referred to as 'The Brighton series'. What a shame so much of this excellent programme was wiped..
Realism is an enduring feature. In one episode, it's lunch time and Frank is about to read some paperwork in his office but first he prepares his lunch which appears to be two slices of bread on a plate. He starts to unwind the lid on one of those flat tins of fish with a key. The key proves hard to turn so he looks around and picks up a screwdriver which he uses to lever the key. With the fish accessible, he puts two fillets on a slice of bread, places the other slice on top and proceeds to eat while reading. I can't believe that they scripted such a scene, let alone filmed in one take. It was probably improvised. They brought their character to life and the production values meant you would unhesitatingly commit an hour of your valuable time to watch.
Along with Callan, my favourite TV program as a youth in 70s, glad it's back on freeview (talking pictures chan 81 every Thursday at 9pm). Also these programs had wonderful intro music, sleezy smokey jazz clubs.
I'm convinced that Public Eye was the inspiration for detective Colombo. The down at heal, the white coat, the old banger, no missus, at least not visible.
One of my favourites since discovering on Talking Pictures channel and it feels cosy because of the small everyday things like putting the kettle on and offering biscuits, making a sardine sandwich and borrowing tea from the antiques shopkeeper. The Christmas Special was on last week and that is my favourite episode.
Great intro/description for anyone visiting the show for first time. Frank was a truly 3 dimensional character and he doesn't even ask you to like him as other long running TV characters would expect.
No over the top unrealistic martial art fighting, no sex scenes, no speeding car chases, no over the top macho posturing, no dangerous stunts,no CGI , no flash cars and designer clothes, absolutely brilliant masterpiece no wonder it ran for ten years ,its great to see a world before it went mad , with computers, cell phones videoing everything and a general breakdown in society
I've just discovered this series on Talking Pictures and started watching further episodes on You Tube. Fantastic performance by Alfred Burke, deserves far more recognition for such a understated yet powerful portrayal.
An excellent drama, better than the nonsense of 2021, that’s for sure....one of my favourite scenes is when Markers offered a chunk of fruit cake, and sweet Sherry...Marker nods, eats and drinks, and comments “Very sweet! Very rich! “ Brilliant, I also liked the pretty blonde girl in the antiques shop, she was always a nice distraction.
@@abbafantasiano, the actress who played the shopkeeper in the antiques shop was Brenda Cavendish! Tessa Wyatt did appear in a 1969 black & white episode ' The Comedians Graveyard'
I've just begun watching this series, which I was aware of back in the early to mid 70s but too young to watch. At the time I was never sure if it was a 'This Week' styled documentary, going by the title. But i've seen two episodes recently, Unlucky For Some and The Fall Guy and it is compelling viewing. Thanks for your excellent overview.
Many thanks - I hope you continue to enjoy the series. It’s well worth pursuing. I watched it originally simply because that was my parents’ choice, but I grew to admire it myself as I got older. I bought one series and then I had to have the complete set!
Thank you for this excellent guide. I'm settling down to appreciate what you have eloquently explained was deeply-planned drama where the quality shows over half a century later.
Dear Stuart. Just stumbled across this. A short but incisive analysis of why this series is so great. Weirdly, at the time I discovered the box set and devoured it, having never heard of the series before, I had been given a short book about "Existentialism", a philosophical topic that I was vaguely aware of, but knew nothing about, and the series, its main character, and the things it is interested in, are definitely connected. Thank you for summing it up so perfectly.
Hi Michael, Thank you for your kind words - they are much appreciated. I saw the series when I was very young but didn’t forget it and I was delighted to receive the box set one Christmas. I’m delighted you agree about the connections with existentialism - once you know about it, you start seeing it everywhere so it’s reassuring to know you see it as well!
@@fernie150 I read Philosophy as an undergraduate and am now a criminal lawyer, prosecuting and defending. Frank Marker and Burke really resonate with me and I have, late in life, realised that I am an existentialist, so I was floored by this beautiful little piece, and the coincidence of ideas. However I never studied Existentialism, and it is only as an older man, that I have realised how it, Marker, Burke and some kind of Grade of existentialism are connected. This really resonated with me. So much so, it was a bit uncanny, to be frank
@michaelprocter2745 Hi Michael, I’m very flattered to read you enjoyed my wee video. I also studied philosophy as an undergraduate (Plato, Hume and Locke) but I was introduced to existentialism in my first year of reading French (I went on to teach French for 35 years) and later studied the Enlightenment. In my view, the series encapsulates social interaction, impact and responsibility and I think Frank Marker appeals to many who share his values and who are willing to put principle and humanity above ambition and advancement. It clearly holds a special place in the minds and hearts of many and is proving popular once again with TV re-runs and the posting of episodes on TH-cam. Quite extraordinary for a show of its age, but the that’s due to the quality and insight of the writing and performance. Thanks again for taking the time to get in touch!
Yes ,Wiping was pretty much normal practice from the 50s, 60s '70s & untill around 1983 when video tape became more easier to store, ABC , Yorkshire, ATV , Thames ( who produced Public Eye & Callan from 1968 onwards) were all guilty of wiping & re using video tapes for other programmes. It was the BBC ( who had wiped lots of valuable productions untill around 1979/80 belatedly realised the value of archiving old shows, especially for the 'home video ' market that was about to take off in the early 80s. Series recorded on 35 & 16mm film tend to survive , such as ITC series like The Saint, The Protectors & Man in a Suitcase etc as the were made with export in mind, to the US & Australia
Was only 10 when public eye finished but watching the show now yes its dated slightly although no where near as much as some similar shows BUT Alfred Burke was simply superb in the role....I now know who Trevor Eve based shoestring on
Another deeply Existentialist series is "The Fugitive", starring David Janssen, whose Dr Richard Kimble is another introverted but highly principled protagonist.
I was not aware of this show until recently it’s my favourite I love the characters especially Frank Marker. I was too young or not born to have seen these shows originally & I do not watch television 📺. Yet I am drawn to these old Uk tv shows such as Public eye, Budgie, Softly Softly task force & Callan. Oh not forgetting Thriller & Armchair Thriller.Such a wonderful timeline & great entertainment & excellent subject matter not forgetting the wonderful actors such as the charismatic Alfred Burke
I was fortunate enough to grow up with these shows, but Callan and Public Eye were undoubtedly my favourites, though I also enjoyed the ITV adventure shows of the time.
As a callow youth, I hated this drab, boring man and his show, because he wasn't The Saint or James Bond (etc.). Now that I have grown-up (just a tiny bit) I love the realism, Marker's character, and AB's acting - as someone else said, seemingly effortless. A great show from a great team. Thanks for the reflections. If you haven't come-across it before, I recommend "Travelling Man", also by Roger Marshall.
I agree - this and “Callan” did little for me in terms of anticipation when I was young, yet I always became engrossed in the stories, in spite of myself. That must say something about the writing and the performances. I will certainly seek out “Travelling Man”. Thanks for taking the time to get in touch.
Remember watching this when it first came out, looking again on TH-cam think Marker was not quite with it, taken on a new case when he was investigating others, reason was he was is own man with no other staff.
I was wondering why I am so addicted to 'Public Eye' and this reference to existentialism perhaps explains why. Very good summary, reminds me of Ivor Cutler's voice, a pleasure to listen to. I am fascinated by the prosaic, humdrum details, like when Frank was trying to get the paraffin heater to work, the drab office, his unlikeable, waspish character and the tangled affairs of ordinary people.
Yes, I feel we should be bored or uninterested in the detail, yet it works! Frank himself is difficult yet he wants to do the right thing, but always on his own terms. Thank you for the compliment, though I had to search for Ivor Cutler on Google! Thanks for taking the time to get in touch.
Totally agree. Dour without being miserable, yet uniquely positive at times. Not sure it could be made today or who would play Frank. Many thanks for taking the time to get in touch.
Great video Sir. Good insight, lived through all this as a young man. So different now, would you answer the 60,000 $ question. Was things better then than now?
Thank you! I’m afraid I do tend to look back with nostalgia to what I regard as simpler and less manic times, but I seem to remember my parents saying much the same.....
I've been watching a lot of this recently. It's just telly. I enjoy it, granted. Its realistic (not that Xmas episode S06E06 I've just seen that was pure enjoyable panto). It's strange that I never followed any of it at the time it was broadcast - I recall it being on. I assume there was something particularly good on the BBC at the same time. I've been enjoying the period elements and the writing and acting ( although variable) has been great sometimes. Alfred Burke is consistently excellent. As far as TV PI's are concerned though I prefer the chap with the answerphone, that I used to watch regularly with my dad.. "At the tone leave your name and number....."
Interesting that when ABC tv started the Avengers it was shot on video in a tv studio, fairly soon they moved to shooting on 35mm film with bigger sets, giving it a very different look, but Public Eye originally ABC tv then Thames, always kept the studio video look, I wonder what it would have looked like on film with a bigger budget?
Hi John, I'm fairly sure I read that if another series had been made, that was the path the producers wanted to take and Alfred Burke was very keen not to go down that route, thinking it would ruin the "feel"/authenticity of the programme.
Thats interesting to know. Ive been watching Special Branch repeats, I had never seen the Derren Nesbitt videoed series, it looks so different to the Euston Films series with George Sewell.
The theme music was composed by Robert Earley, a pseudonym for Bob Sharples, a well-known bandleader and composer who worked a lot in television in the 60s and 70s.
SO! THIS WAS WRITTEN BY ROGER MARSHALL WHO? was from the N.EAST ??! CAN YOU ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE INITIAL PLOT ?!...FM IN JAIL FRAMED UP ETC PLEASE. IM 61 YRS AND IVE TAKEN TO WATCHING MORE AND MORE CULT TV ..THANKS
THANKS RICHARD !!! SOZ that I didn't reply earlier I had my hands on some TV NOVELS a lot of years ago still have some!? and always INTERESTED in any TV OR FILM RELATED BOOKS OR ORIGINAL SHORT STORIES ETC I.E. the short novels that IAN FLEMING WROTE : OO7 IN NEW YORK ...RISICO !!??? ETC MANY WATCH BOND ON FILM ...FEW have read any books or novels CI5 "THE PROFESSIONALS " DVD BOX SETS contain info books on TV SERIES and season 1 has original FORMAT WRITTEN by BRIAN CLEMENT ..THAT the TV series / characters were based and introduced WELL WORTH a read!
![[#SHORTS CLIP] ใช้ของของตัวเองไปเลยสิคะ l ซานิเบาได้เบา l One Playground](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ea_mTywx2p4/mqdefault.jpg)
Public eye truly is a masterpiece & Alfred Burke’s portrayal of Frank Marker is a master class of outstanding acting. Thank you for this excellent appraisal.
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, Frank Marker and Alfred Burke are a match made in Heaven.
I only discovered this about 2 years ago, It started being shown again on Talking Pictures and I've become a little obsessed with it, No Murders, no excitment or violence, just simple cases showcasing human interactions in a refreshingly humdrum depiction of reality.
If anyone is interested in catching this show, as of September 2020 it is being repeated on Freeview C81 Talking Pictures starting with Series 4 (1969), often referred to as 'The Brighton series'. What a shame so much of this excellent programme was wiped..
I wish they would run it again. I may buy the DVDs as a Christmas present to ME!
For some reason l was always drawn to this show , it had a vibe I'm enjoying watching it again.
Glad to find I'm not the only one.
One of my favourite shows - Alfred Burke played the character of Frank extremely well
TRUE INDEED.
Realism is an enduring feature. In one episode, it's lunch time and Frank is about to read some paperwork in his office but first he prepares his lunch which appears to be two slices of bread on a plate. He starts to unwind the lid on one of those flat tins of fish with a key. The key proves hard to turn so he looks around and picks up a screwdriver which he uses to lever the key. With the fish accessible, he puts two fillets on a slice of bread, places the other slice on top and proceeds to eat while reading. I can't believe that they scripted such a scene, let alone filmed in one take. It was probably improvised. They brought their character to life and the production values meant you would unhesitatingly commit an hour of your valuable time to watch.
Brilliant, also the scene where he's cutting up cardboard for inside his shoe 😂 just excellent!
It's beautiful.
Love it!
Along with Callan, my favourite TV program as a youth in 70s, glad it's back on freeview (talking pictures chan 81 every Thursday at 9pm). Also these programs had wonderful intro music, sleezy smokey jazz clubs.
I'm watching this on tptv what a great series no violence no swearing just good acting a pleasure to watch thanks for uploading this ☺️
I am just discovering this excellent series. Thank you for your thoughtful and perceptive analysis.
I'm convinced that Public Eye was the inspiration for detective Colombo.
The down at heal, the white coat, the old banger, no missus, at least not visible.
Yes, I also thought that. The way Marker often returns to a client before leaving to ask just one more thing. Definite a steal by Columbo.
I read somewhere that the Columbo makers acknowledged the mac "borrow".
One of my favourites since discovering on Talking Pictures channel and it feels cosy because of the small everyday things like putting the kettle on and offering biscuits, making a sardine sandwich and borrowing tea from the antiques shopkeeper. The Christmas Special was on last week and that is my favourite episode.
I totally agree - these little things add to familiarity and engagement. Thanks for taking the time to get in touch.
Yes, I love the Christmas episode from 1972 too....everyone frustrates Frank in that episode!!
The small touches... like him trying to glue his damaged cup together. Just excellent.
alfred burke made this show, a great and underrated actor.
Great intro/description for anyone visiting the show for first time. Frank was a truly 3 dimensional character and he doesn't even ask you to like him as other long running TV characters would expect.
No over the top unrealistic martial art fighting, no sex scenes, no speeding car chases, no over the top macho posturing, no dangerous stunts,no CGI , no flash cars and designer clothes, absolutely brilliant masterpiece no wonder it ran for ten years ,its great to see a world before it went mad , with computers, cell phones videoing everything and a general breakdown in society
Couldn’t agree more. Thanks for taking the time to get in touch.
I've just discovered this series on Talking Pictures and started watching further episodes on You Tube. Fantastic performance by Alfred Burke, deserves far more recognition for such a understated yet powerful portrayal.
Couldn’t agree more!
An excellent drama, better than the nonsense of 2021, that’s for sure....one of my favourite scenes is when Markers offered a chunk of fruit cake, and sweet Sherry...Marker nods, eats and drinks, and comments “Very sweet! Very rich! “ Brilliant, I also liked the pretty blonde girl in the antiques shop, she was always a nice distraction.
That was the lovely Tessa Wyatt, ex wife of Tony Blackburn
@@abbafantasiano, the actress who played the shopkeeper in the antiques shop was Brenda Cavendish! Tessa Wyatt did appear in a 1969 black & white episode ' The Comedians Graveyard'
I'm not going to post any fancy words about this series from my youth, Only that I thought it was brilliant. Hope that word isn't to fancy !
I've just begun watching this series, which I was aware of back in the early to mid 70s but too young to watch. At the time I was never sure if it was a 'This Week' styled documentary, going by the title. But i've seen two episodes recently, Unlucky For Some and The Fall Guy and it is compelling viewing. Thanks for your excellent overview.
Many thanks - I hope you continue to enjoy the series. It’s well worth pursuing. I watched it originally simply because that was my parents’ choice, but I grew to admire it myself as I got older. I bought one series and then I had to have the complete set!
Thank you for this excellent guide. I'm settling down to appreciate what you have eloquently explained was deeply-planned drama where the quality shows over half a century later.
Thank you for your kind words - do let me know what you think. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!
Dear Stuart. Just stumbled across this. A short but incisive analysis of why this series is so great. Weirdly, at the time I discovered the box set and devoured it, having never heard of the series before, I had been given a short book about "Existentialism", a philosophical topic that I was vaguely aware of, but knew nothing about, and the series, its main character, and the things it is interested in, are definitely connected. Thank you for summing it up so perfectly.
Hi Michael,
Thank you for your kind words - they are much appreciated. I saw the series when I was very young but didn’t forget it and I was delighted to receive the box set one Christmas. I’m delighted you agree about the connections with existentialism - once you know about it, you start seeing it everywhere so it’s reassuring to know you see it as well!
@@fernie150 I read Philosophy as an undergraduate and am now a criminal lawyer, prosecuting and defending. Frank Marker and Burke really resonate with me and I have, late in life, realised that I am an existentialist, so I was floored by this beautiful little piece, and the coincidence of ideas. However I never studied Existentialism, and it is only as an older man, that I have realised how it, Marker, Burke and some kind of Grade of existentialism are connected. This really resonated with me. So much so, it was a bit uncanny, to be frank
@michaelprocter2745
Hi Michael,
I’m very flattered to read you enjoyed my wee video. I also studied philosophy as an undergraduate (Plato, Hume and Locke) but I was introduced to existentialism in my first year of reading French (I went on to teach French for 35 years) and later studied the Enlightenment.
In my view, the series encapsulates social interaction, impact and responsibility and I think Frank Marker appeals to many who share his values and who are willing to put principle and humanity above ambition and advancement. It clearly holds a special place in the minds and hearts of many and is proving popular once again with TV re-runs and the posting of episodes on TH-cam. Quite extraordinary for a show of its age, but the that’s due to the quality and insight of the writing and performance.
Thanks again for taking the time to get in touch!
Good review, Stuart.
It was a unique show.
What a shame they taped over the earlier episodes!
It certainly is! And they did the same with Callan, another classic from the same period. Thanks for getting in touch.
Yes ,Wiping was pretty much normal practice from the 50s, 60s '70s & untill around 1983 when video tape became more easier to store, ABC , Yorkshire, ATV , Thames ( who produced Public Eye & Callan from 1968 onwards) were all guilty of wiping & re using video tapes for other programmes. It was the BBC ( who had wiped lots of valuable productions untill around 1979/80 belatedly realised the value of archiving old shows, especially for the 'home video ' market that was about to take off in the early 80s. Series recorded on 35 & 16mm film tend to survive , such as ITC series like The Saint, The Protectors & Man in a Suitcase etc as the were made with export in mind, to the US & Australia
Was only 10 when public eye finished but watching the show now yes its dated slightly although no where near as much as some similar shows BUT Alfred Burke was simply superb in the role....I now know who Trevor Eve based shoestring on
Thank you for putting into words what I feel about the program. 'I could never' ( there would no eddie shoestring without Frank Marker
Thanks for your kind words - much appreciated.
Another deeply Existentialist series is "The Fugitive", starring David Janssen, whose Dr Richard Kimble is another introverted but highly principled protagonist.
I was not aware of this show until recently it’s my favourite I love the characters especially Frank Marker. I was too young or not born to have seen these shows originally & I do not watch television 📺. Yet I am drawn to these old Uk tv shows such as Public eye, Budgie, Softly Softly task force & Callan. Oh not forgetting Thriller & Armchair Thriller.Such a wonderful timeline & great entertainment & excellent subject matter not forgetting the wonderful actors such as the charismatic Alfred Burke
I was fortunate enough to grow up with these shows, but Callan and Public Eye were undoubtedly my favourites, though I also enjoyed the ITV adventure shows of the time.
Thank you Stuart.
Excellent analysis. Wish they had aired this program in the States. So glad I am able to view some episodes of this program on YT.
Thanks for getting in touch, Susan, and for your kind words. Hope you manage to find a way of viewing the whole thing.
As a callow youth, I hated this drab, boring man and his show, because he wasn't The Saint or James Bond (etc.). Now that I have grown-up (just a tiny bit) I love the realism, Marker's character, and AB's acting - as someone else said, seemingly effortless. A great show from a great team. Thanks for the reflections. If you haven't come-across it before, I recommend "Travelling Man", also by Roger Marshall.
I agree - this and “Callan” did little for me in terms of anticipation when I was young, yet I always became engrossed in the stories, in spite of myself. That must say something about the writing and the performances. I will certainly seek out “Travelling Man”. Thanks for taking the time to get in touch.
Excellent video, Stuart. Thank you very much. I'd never seen the show until just this last few months. I absolutely loved it!
Absolutely the best thing to come out of the 1970s.
Agreed, though I liked Callan as well…
love Public eye.
Remember watching this when it first came out, looking again on TH-cam think Marker was not quite with it, taken on a new case when he was investigating others, reason was he was is own man with no other staff.
I was wondering why I am so addicted to 'Public Eye' and this reference to existentialism perhaps explains why. Very good summary, reminds me of Ivor Cutler's voice, a pleasure to listen to. I am fascinated by the prosaic, humdrum details, like when Frank was trying to get the paraffin heater to work, the drab office, his unlikeable, waspish character and the tangled affairs of ordinary people.
Yes, I feel we should be bored or uninterested in the detail, yet it works! Frank himself is difficult yet he wants to do the right thing, but always on his own terms. Thank you for the compliment, though I had to search for Ivor Cutler on Google! Thanks for taking the time to get in touch.
great bit of t.v and never been anything like it since. Dour brilliance.
Totally agree. Dour without being miserable, yet uniquely positive at times. Not sure it could be made today or who would play Frank. Many thanks for taking the time to get in touch.
Great video Sir. Good insight, lived through all this as a young man. So different now, would you answer the 60,000 $ question. Was things better then than now?
Thank you! I’m afraid I do tend to look back with nostalgia to what I regard as simpler and less manic times, but I seem to remember my parents saying much the same.....
Well said
I've been watching a lot of this recently. It's just telly. I enjoy it, granted. Its realistic (not that Xmas episode S06E06 I've just seen that was pure enjoyable panto). It's strange that I never followed any of it at the time it was broadcast - I recall it being on. I assume there was something particularly good on the BBC at the same time. I've been enjoying the period elements and the writing and acting ( although variable) has been great sometimes. Alfred Burke is consistently excellent. As far as TV PI's are concerned though I prefer the chap with the answerphone, that I used to watch regularly with my dad.. "At the tone leave your name and number....."
Interesting that when ABC tv started the Avengers it was shot on video in a tv studio, fairly soon they moved to shooting on 35mm film with bigger sets, giving it a very different look, but Public Eye originally ABC tv then Thames, always kept the studio video look, I wonder what it would have looked like on film with a bigger budget?
Hi John, I'm fairly sure I read that if another series had been made, that was the path the producers wanted to take and Alfred Burke was very keen not to go down that route, thinking it would ruin the "feel"/authenticity of the programme.
Thats interesting to know. Ive been watching Special Branch repeats, I had never seen the Derren Nesbitt videoed series, it looks so different to the Euston Films series with George Sewell.
Yes, very different. I can certainly see Alfred Burke's point - video seems to lend immediacy to the proceedings.
Who played the trumpet !
Who are the musicians.?
The theme music was composed by Robert Earley, a pseudonym for Bob Sharples, a well-known bandleader and composer who worked a lot in television in the 60s and 70s.
So the musicians came from a Bob Sharples band? I,m interested because I am a jazz musician myself.
I assume so, though I can't confirm it. I find the theme haunting, a bit melancholic and very memorable.
I wonder if they were session musicians in the studio for this one gig.Anyway it was a top performance by top musicians.
Frank spends half his professional life lying...in the pursuit of truth and justice.
SO! THIS WAS WRITTEN BY ROGER MARSHALL WHO? was from the N.EAST ??! CAN YOU ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE INITIAL PLOT ?!...FM IN JAIL FRAMED UP ETC PLEASE. IM 61 YRS AND IVE TAKEN TO WATCHING MORE AND MORE CULT TV ..THANKS
This Wikipedia article has some good info, including general background: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Eye_(TV_series) . Hope that helps.
Ok thanks STAURT I'll check it out!!
@@russellmay7347 You can also read about why Marker was imprisoned in the novelisation, Cross That Palm When I Come To It, by Audley Southcott.
THANKS RICHARD !!! SOZ that I didn't reply earlier I had my hands on some TV NOVELS a lot of years ago still have some!? and always INTERESTED in any TV OR FILM RELATED BOOKS OR ORIGINAL SHORT STORIES ETC I.E. the short novels that IAN FLEMING WROTE : OO7 IN NEW YORK ...RISICO !!??? ETC MANY WATCH BOND ON FILM ...FEW have read any books or novels CI5 "THE PROFESSIONALS " DVD BOX SETS contain info books on TV SERIES and season 1 has original FORMAT WRITTEN by BRIAN CLEMENT ..THAT the TV series / characters were based and introduced WELL WORTH a read!
then there was callan...
Indeed! For me, Public Eye and Callan were the two stand-out TV dramas of the 60s and 70s.
i think that "Breaking Bad" and BBC's cop show "Between the lines" also managed to powerfully address existential issues..