This is not my original observation, but reading comments on a review of the finale, one eagle-eyed viewer spotted something very interesting...
Danny Waldren's hit list from S3, which featured Fairbanks, Tommy Hunter and the two Murphys, also features a couple of names that appear in the line-up of faces we see on the boards in the final scenes at AC-12 in S4, specifically on the board relating to identifying the potential "H"...
To quote.. "One is Paul Haleton (from Danny Waldren's list) ...... who on Sunday was named and pictured as Det Ch Insp Paul Haleton. The other is Supt Susan Hyde-Albert (pictured on the board). On DW's list is Roger Hyde-Albert .... surely a relation with a name like that ....? Two key names for series five?"
― brain (krakow), Wednesday, 24 May 2017 12:56 (six years ago) link
Are we completely ruling out H from Steps?
― Warren's Treat (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Thursday, 25 May 2017 07:28 (six years ago) link
studiously avoiding thread but i just finished E1 and omg they don't play
― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 25 May 2017 07:47 (six years ago) link
And we all got one of these! 😀 pic.twitter.com/fNjhDEmDEh— Vicky McClure (@Vicky_McClure) May 24, 2017
― Chuck_Tatum, Thursday, 25 May 2017 07:58 (six years ago) link
just finished watching this and i have one important thing i would like to point out....that i have the right to be questioned by an officer at least one rank superior!!!― tpp, Saturday, 20 May 2017 06:28 (two weeks ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
that i have the right to be questioned by an officer at least one rank superior!!!
― tpp, Saturday, 20 May 2017 06:28 (two weeks ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
otm
― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 6 June 2017 08:03 (six years ago) link
maneet says "that's it.. i'm finished". hilton (or whoever hilton was answering to) must have had something on her. blackmail of some kind. either fabricated or not.
speaking of what maneet was up to it's surely extra evil to make it look like it was jamie breaching security when you're then going to turn around and get him to do the dirty work of delivering lakewell up to the executioner! talk about treating people disposably. who's the REAl racist eh?
― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 6 June 2017 11:08 (six years ago) link
omg why didn't I watch this series when it was on? Just binged s3 and s4. <3 it so.
― kinder, Wednesday, 23 August 2017 21:02 (six years ago) link
s4 though I don't get why they got a balaclava man to attack Arnott when he was about to question Husband Huntley about his knowledge of where Roz Huntley was on the night of Ifield's murder? Ultimately no-one in The Conspiracy would've cared much about that murder other than to keep the spotlight off Roz, and it's not like getting rid of one officer would've stopped that line of enquiry as they all knew about it.
― kinder, Wednesday, 23 August 2017 22:01 (six years ago) link
IT SEEMED TO MAKE SENSE AT THE TIME OKAY
― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Wednesday, 23 August 2017 23:48 (six years ago) link
Anyone else watching Bodyguard? Excellent first episode, the opening sequence was some of the tensest TV I've ever seen.
― the word dog doesn't bark (anagram), Thursday, 30 August 2018 11:58 (five years ago) link
Is that the scene where Keeley sings "I Will Always Love You"?
― mick signals, Thursday, 30 August 2018 13:50 (five years ago) link
ep 1 was great, bit meh about ep 2 but gonna keep watching
― kinder, Thursday, 30 August 2018 15:05 (five years ago) link
Agree about the tension at the start of episode one (not often our household is both glued to the screen in total silence), but it's tailed off somewhat since then.
― ailsa, Thursday, 30 August 2018 16:12 (five years ago) link
OK we got some more tension
― mick signals, Wednesday, 26 September 2018 01:26 (five years ago) link
Just caught up with the last episode and wow. Great twist at the end re the villain.
― the word dog doesn't bark (anagram), Friday, 12 October 2018 07:11 (five years ago) link
Are you meaning Line of Duty Series 4? I realise I can't recall the finale of that properly.
I want to rewatch the whole four series of Line of Duty before the fifth comes around next year, so all the wee details are fresh in my mind, ready for potential clues/red herrings/connecting of the dots. Hoping Jed Mercurio doesn't pull a Bodyguard on us though after all this build up.
― brain (krakow), Friday, 12 October 2018 08:53 (five years ago) link
No sorry, I was referring to the finale of Bodyguard. I revived this thread to talk about Bodyguard as well as LoD since it didn't seem worth its own thread.
― the word dog doesn't bark (anagram), Friday, 12 October 2018 09:52 (five years ago) link
I'm also considering a re-watch of all of LoD before s5 starts...
― kinder, Tuesday, 12 March 2019 14:02 (five years ago) link
I'm hoping to have time for the same. I think there's a few details in 1-4 that I missed from a single viewing.
― brain (krakow), Tuesday, 12 March 2019 14:08 (five years ago) link
I'm doing just that - just finished season 2.
― ailsa, Tuesday, 12 March 2019 20:59 (five years ago) link
i did this. S2 is my favourite. but generally over the entire arc the writing is amazing - sustained complexity. ok if the causal incidents sometimes feel a bit weird (S4), the games of three way cat and mouse, and individual motivations are incredibly well handled. JM’s use of the administrative framework, process and language of policing is great - it increases tension (the amazing interview scenes), can often be incorporated as a plot device - using the rule book to your own ends, and has a great aesthetic feeling. the way things are resolved through the unraveling of the most imperceptible of threads. the claustrophobia and desperation of the mouse, making ever narrower and risky evasions. all great. which is what makes the total wackness of the bodyguard a bit surprising.
― Fizzles, Tuesday, 12 March 2019 21:15 (five years ago) link
and of course hastings is all time. “No? I’ll give you no.”
I've never seen S1! so it's a bit spoiled obv but I reckon I probably should.agree S2 is just tremendous.
― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 12 March 2019 22:26 (five years ago) link
By the way, everyone should read Jed Mercurio's novel ASCENT, which is genuinely great
― Mince Pramthwart (James Morrison), Tuesday, 12 March 2019 23:45 (five years ago) link
2 eps in and totally sucked in again!I remembered the first ep being quite weird in tone, stilted dialogue, not quite sure what they were going for, and it still feels like that.
― kinder, Wednesday, 13 March 2019 22:11 (five years ago) link
Ep 3 and they've just dropped the zinger catchphrase for the first time'i'm entitled to be interviewed by an officer at least one rank superior'
― kinder, Thursday, 14 March 2019 20:09 (five years ago) link
stray observations so far from halfway through s1 (mainly things I don't remember catching the first time round):*SPOILERS* if you haven't seen any of it *SPOILERS*
- 'Humourous'(?) or satyrical mentions of 'health and safety' paperwork, must do that impact assessment before chasing the bad guy etc - from the off, making it seem tongue in cheek but then also seemingly played perfectly seriously? I think we just settle in to this being a daft series though, right?- 'There's no-one blacker than me' says Hastings, referring to his victimisation as a Catholic police officer in NI - is this supposed to show his lack of PC or is it a bit off?- I don't really understand how AC12 are trying to catch Gates out with the 'laddering' - surely a bit of data analysis about the cases taken/not taken would be more illuminating than going round trying to get colleagues to say 'yeah he's doing laddering'? What evidence are they after? If the system/metrics/targets incentivise this while allowing it then surely it's the system that's wrong?- It's a bit uneven with what Arnott looks into/doesn't e.g. I would've thought it's quite a big deal that Laverty ran over her accountant yet they're more interested in the money laundering (presumably bc of links to big drug guys but still). He takes ages to even search for 'Laverty' on the database. Also getting really hung up on that whole 'I'll find the whisky glass' thing where any sane Gates would've smashed it into a million pieces?- We don't know it at the time but Dot is lying about telling AC12 that Gates took them off surveillance early, indicating that Gates is far more corrupt than he actually is (facilitating the double murder). Or you're meant to think Dot's just spineless. Whereas on second viewing we realise why he's doing it.
That little kid who viciously shouts BASTARD at everyone is lol
― kinder, Thursday, 14 March 2019 23:35 (five years ago) link
Watching S2 again: Lindsay Denton – the character and the performance – is so great. What I really like about it on a second viewing is the way the normal hidden functioning of dramatic irony in television and film is completely under attack by Denton. Taking Kate Fleming's ill-fated undercover mini-op. In order to show the inner dramatic workings of Fleming's presence, the direction and performance will pick up on all sorts of mannerisms and behaviour by Fleming, which is invisible to the people around her. Even within LoD, this is already made more complicated by Fleming's unconvincing undercover persona – that grating matiness, that doesn't sit very well on top of her somewhat glassy even hardboiled manner, makes even her targets wary of her.
But of course right from the get go Lindsay Denton isn't having a bit of it. Her watery eyes see everything the viewer does. It's an assault on the devices of the crime drama convention, similar in its own way to her amazing front foot attack on AC12 by getting incriminating records on all the investigating officers. Watching her fight using all the tricks available against institutional and criminal conspiracy and AC12 is like watching her fight the writer - I know what you've got planned for me but I'm going to use every trick in the book and quite a few outside it to try and prevent it happening. Quite brilliant.
kinder – had a couple of thoughts on your points:
― Fizzles, Saturday, 16 March 2019 10:39 (five years ago) link
You're spot on with those tensions, which is basically what the whole show is about. Even if not intentional, there are several instances in the first couple of episodes ('that's a 6-page form rather than a 1-page one', etc) where in any other show that'd be a punchline. I think it's also supposed to be highlighting the unprofessional/uncaring nature of that particular officer, though (she later patronises that victim with Down's Syndrome).The fact the first 'yellow notice' against Gates (the free breakfast) was brought by the muggers was also part of this (criminals as well as cops knowing the system) - I liked it.
I'd forgotten quite how little Hastings actually appears in S1! I mentioned 'PC' because he brings it up when he asks Arnott if he's got a girlfriend (something like 'oh sorry, I'm not being PC' to indicate he realises he could have a boyfriend). Anyone white posting on here about how they're 'black' because they've been on the receiving end of prejudice etc would get piled on. Although obviously it made sense in context (discussion about how it doesn't look good to be going after the only black officer). Just stuck out a bit to me, that's all.
Arnott does find out about the hit & run victim being the accountant but it's quite sketchy what he looks into and when. Don't think it's particularly a plot hole, just I find Arnott a slightly weird character to 'get' and thought he'd be more dogged, particularly as he chanced on finding out about Gates & Laverty being together. I think the actor isn't too great (sorry DS Arnott) in S1, I was never massively clear on when he was being audacious within the authority of his job or totally overstepping the mark because he plays everything with the same pissed-off aggression (even when he tells that waitress 'sorry I can't do this, you're a witness').
These are just nitpicky things though or stuff I hadn't remembered. Looking forward to S2. (Agree re the 'grating matiness' of Fleming, we have a joke here that she's always 'Hi! Nice to meet you. Girls need to stick together, so tell me all your secrets!'
― kinder, Saturday, 16 March 2019 13:26 (five years ago) link
It's also a credit to JM how he manages to get devastating tension out of a huge cliche - the number 6/9 on the door at the start of s1.
― kinder, Saturday, 16 March 2019 13:32 (five years ago) link
I might be wrong re the hit & run guy, I'm re-reading the Guardian recaps and they mention Steve charges Jackie with manslaughter.
― kinder, Saturday, 16 March 2019 13:41 (five years ago) link
Bodyguard/Line of Duty skit on Comic Relief yesterday. Not very good (obviously) but worth it for this Hastings side-eye:
https://media.giphy.com/media/d7p9JFMi7IuHn7vljx/giphy.gif
― Chuck_Tatum, Saturday, 16 March 2019 15:15 (five years ago) link
Have we had this yethttp://www.theshiznit.co.uk/feature/so-weve-all-just-accepted-that-his-actual-name-is-jed-mercurio-have-we.php
― kinder, Sunday, 17 March 2019 21:12 (five years ago) link
If Hastings turns out to be a baddie I will be inconsolable.
― Mince Pramthwart (James Morrison), Sunday, 17 March 2019 23:31 (five years ago) link
I bloody love this program
― ian, Sunday, 17 March 2019 23:57 (five years ago) link
*SPOILERS AGAIN* I'm on ep5 of s2 and can't wait to watch the last one tonight. even having watched it before I can't remember the outcome! one particular weird assumption being made so far which iirc is a total red herring - thinking the body is the missing girl when steps have been taken to hide her identity. I'm still unclear/ can't remember how the two crimes are initially linked (mis per and ambush) other than due to Denton picking that one missing girl to concentrate on?when Prasad makes his dying declaration he admits they did the 'ambush' but could it be argued (if he needs a defence ever) that he was referring to the ambush on Denton's prison vehicle?
― kinder, Monday, 18 March 2019 09:29 (five years ago) link
Some mentions that S5 might have a date... Sun 31st March, 9pm.
― brain (krakow), Monday, 18 March 2019 10:41 (five years ago) link
Am still creeped out by the “I had to CLEAN her BRAINS off the pavement” line in S2
I love the **spy intrigue** in this & bodyguard but the violence & tension are prob my least favourite parts of the show (even though they are clearly key parts of what makes this show great and not too cosy)
― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, 18 March 2019 10:49 (five years ago) link
(Sorry)
― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, 18 March 2019 10:50 (five years ago) link
the other bold thing about s2 is how much hinges on the very first sequence of events (phone call, exchange between Denton and Jayne Akers) which is shown right from the off, even as the titles are still rolling iirc
― kinder, Monday, 18 March 2019 13:21 (five years ago) link
Sunday 31st March confirmed.
― brain (krakow), Monday, 18 March 2019 19:16 (five years ago) link
If Hastings turns out to be a baddie I will be inconsolable
― kinder, Monday, 18 March 2019 20:12 (five years ago) link
You're getting way ahead of yerself there, fella
― mick signals, Monday, 18 March 2019 21:03 (five years ago) link
Am still creeped out by the “I had to CLEAN her BRAINS off the pavement” line in S2I love the **spy intrigue** in this & bodyguard but the violence & tension are prob my least favourite parts of the show (even though they are clearly key parts of what makes this show great and not too cosy)― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, March 18, 2019 10:49 AM (eleven hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, March 18, 2019 10:49 AM (eleven hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
The level of brutality in S2 is quite something isn't it, the prison scenes in particular are almost unbearable to watch (and it cleverly achieves the desired effect putting us on Denton's side before the extent of her duplicity is revealed).
I'm sticking to my theory that Hastings isn't necessarily involved in the big conspiracy but probably has some skeletons he wouldn't want unearthed by any investigation.
― Brainless Addlepated Timid Muddleheaded Awful No-Account (Pheeel), Monday, 18 March 2019 22:14 (five years ago) link
less than two weeks away! excellent.Yes funny that a show that's had a shooting, throat slitting, almost-finger-chopping, actual finger chopping, car set on fire, throwing someone from a window, hand scalding, dead girl blowtorching, plus numerous abh - in the first two series so far - is mainly known for police officers quoting regs in internal interviews.
― kinder, Tuesday, 19 March 2019 00:03 (five years ago) link
Less than two weeks = better get my re-watching skates on (have just watched s3e1).
― ailsa, Tuesday, 19 March 2019 07:13 (five years ago) link
Only on S1 of re-watch so won't finish in time but as it's only on weekly will probably just hold off the new ones for a couple of weeks.
― groovypanda, Tuesday, 19 March 2019 09:02 (five years ago) link
S3 ep 4 (I think) - does Steve admit (to Kate) to planting the money in Denton's house? Huge if so?
― kinder, Friday, 22 March 2019 00:04 (five years ago) link
that is, I know she took the money at the time, but Steve says something like 'we needed something a jury could see'. he could be talking about his 'fake reveal' of the cash that he already admitted to but that wouldn't make much sense.
― kinder, Friday, 22 March 2019 07:36 (five years ago) link