LINE OF DUTY: cop-on-cop action TV procedural that demands analysis

Is Kate the only core cast member we haven't been led to suspect in a previous season?

"I didn't say anything, did I, DI Arnott" - on the face of it the most obvious reading is that he's saying "I'm not a rat" to the person he knows holds his life in their hands. I haven't seen series 1-4 but from what I know it would be a bit of a stretch to pin Steve as H though.

That van crash can't have been good for poor Steve's bad back.

no it seems clear to me, and from steve's tiny nod, that he DID talk in that van, and that as they discussed (handily just before the shooting started) steve can't use that testimony - he can only use it as an investigative tool

why haven't you seen series 1-4?!

I'm not normally one for cop shows but my wife was catching up with S5 so I joined in and got hooked, not too fussed about going back though. I watched a six minute explainer lol.

xp yeah that makes more sense.

no it seems clear to me, and from steve's tiny nod, that he DID talk in that van

So either Steve is H (which would be some "Gossip Girl is uh ... Dan" bs) or H wasn't in the room.

Not to spoil the good legwork here but Adrian Dunbar apparently said on a podcast he’s not H?

Fan favourite Anna Maxwell Martin to return to #LineOfDuty as Detective Chief Superintendent Patricia Carmichael this Sunday! https://t.co/cNtuFC4FXy pic.twitter.com/aTghfPLDlk

— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) April 13, 2021

🤔

Not to spoil the good legwork here but Adrian Dunbar apparently said on a podcast he’s not H?

Did he? Ah, bless him. He'd never get a job at Marvel.

that's exactly what H would say, though...

Perhaps Birmingham is like 1920s Chicago, but the scepticism about organised crime involvement is reaching Scully-like levels of denial — it’s, like, how many armed road blockades/alien invasions do you have to witness before you think “ok maybe something’s going on here”

Is it Birmingham?? I thought it was Anyville

Anyville, the Metropolis to Birmingham's New York City

Lol i took a second to try and think of what the UK equiv was but came up with zilch

The geography is a bit all over the place. Filmed in Belfast, I thought it was supposed to be Nottingham at first cos they've all got East Midlands accents. But then Steve pops up to Liverpool every 5 minutes

First series filmed in Brum, and I seem to recall reading the maps on the walls of the interview room are of there as well? But I think it's not really supposed to be a real place, rather a bad dream amalgamation of the shit bits of every UK city.

Steve pops up to Liverpool every 5 minutes

So that's actually supposed to be Liverpool? Thought I recognised the cathedral in the background of one shot...

Buckells is definitely a Brummie - the actor Nigel Boyle grew up in Birmingham and is known to be a huge Aston Villa fan (good man!).

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ian-buckells-line-of-duty-13027180

Love his accent.

Steve pops up to Liverpool every 5 minutes

So that's actually supposed to be Liverpool? Thought I recognised the cathedral in the background of one shot...

― chap, Tuesday, 13 April 2021 17:42 (forty-two minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

Yeah, the cathedral and John's accent place it as Liverpool. Steph's accent places it as some weird fantasy land

Poor formatting skills

John's accent place it as Liverpool.

Accents mean about as much in this show as they do in Game of Thrones.

Snidey bit of editing there chap

Sorry, wasn't meant as a dig, just saying!

Haha np, you're right of course

'The more I listen to the PM, the more I think that Ted Hastings and AC-12 are needed to get to the bottom of this one.'

Sir Keir makes a Line of Duty reference as he pressed MPs to back Labour’s motion for a parliamentary inquiry into Greensill scandalhttps://t.co/kUo7IwEiXU pic.twitter.com/mVrcbk946N

— ITV News (@itvnews) April 14, 2021

Ignoring (or unaware) that Ted Hasting and AC-12 aren't actually that good at getting to the bottom of stuff.

TOMMY HUNTER HOW ARE YOU

!!!!!

not james bloody nesbitt! for unaccountable reasons we watched bloodlands, the mercurio produced cop drama starring nesbitt. it was not good.

why can't cops just shoot people in the leg?

I did get momentarily confused when James Bloodlands face popped up.
This is like a greatest hits compilation, this series.
Too tense at the end. I think I hate Carmichael even more than that little scrote Ryan.
Confirmation that Lee Banks and Carl Banks were brothers.

Best fan favourite: "Definately"

The fifth episode “every single plotline is suddenly fucked” cliffhanger is my favourite kind of cliffhanger

Ryan doing the classic overextended Bond villain speech was good too

I'm way behind, but did chuckle at "the name's Hastings ma'am, I'm the epitome of an old battle"

I FOUND THE MEME KATE SENT STEVE #LineofDuty pic.twitter.com/MmQXHaX5SM

— niamh (@dxrthvaders) April 18, 2021

This tweet and its replies reminded me of aldo.

Me: I watch #LineOfDuty for the plot

The plot: pic.twitter.com/5zXk0iZ1Lo

— Vic (@Victoria_Belk98) April 18, 2021

It's completely ridiculous now but still a lot of fun to watch. And all the post show Twitter reactions etc just adds to the enjoyment.

Two episodes left and I think Mercurio has hinted that not everything will be tied up by the end. He seems up for doing more but BBC haven't confirmed yet although you imagine it would be shoe-in given the ratings/hype around the show (assuming everyone's available)

Lakewell: “Look deeper into the race claim”

“Race claim + H” rearranged = Carmichael. #LineofDuty pic.twitter.com/RLvoaxzI1G

— Dec (@DecLloyd) April 18, 2021

oooh that's the kind of "Lost"-esque online chat I live for!

References to the Stephen Lawrence/Christopher Alder cases a little on the nose, but then this show has not been known for it's subtlety in referencing real life events. Evidently it's something Mercurio feels extremely strongly about though as his production company is making a drama about the Lawrence case currently.

Could Banks have been fibbing re: Hastings tipping him off about Corbett, we've only got his word that that was what was discussed and he's hardly what you'd a reliable character. Seems like a good way to drive an irreconcilable wedge between Arnott and Hastings.

Did the earlier seasons put Savile quite as front-and-center? They've had a few allusions to him this season, and to the Cliff Richard fuck-up, both of which are very sore spots with the BBC. Makes you wonder if negotiations on the next series weren't going well.

Photo shown on screen during the interview with Fairbank in Series 3, although IIRC they didn't name Savile, it was more along the lines of "I am showing the suspect an image of a well-known celebrity."

S3 also had the very obvious Cyril Smith stand-in

Could Banks have been fibbing re: Hastings tipping him off about Corbett

It was Fairbanks that Vella was due to talk to the day before she got murdered, right? Wonder if they'll have to find some evidence some other way about what he knew?

H is harry webb

ok i caught up

anna maxwell martin flubbing the word "inexplicably" in her second sentence spoiled the vibe a bit otherwise grand work everyone

(i have just reached the operation yewtree reveal)

― mark s, Wednesday, 29 March 2017 21:40 (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink

^^^this is when jimmy savile was first introduced as part of the story, as an image in an interview-room powerpoint (also dale roach = rochdale = cyril smith)

why say "GSWs" when "gun shot wounds" is literally shorter?!?!?!?!1!!!!11eleventy!!!?

Actually thinking about it, could the whole business with Steph Corbett be a set-up to cast suspicion on Ted (again)? First of all turning up at AC-12 to talk to Hastings instead of meeting somewhere more private, thereby guaranteeing Arnott's suspicions about his Gaffer will lead him to pay a visit and (eventually) find the money which could easily have been planted. Then her strange behaviour on the phone to Steve last episode, as if she was under pressure to break off the relationship. It's also a bit odd that her kids never seem to be in the house. Could easily see the OCG putting the screws on her just like they have Davidson, e.g. "Do this for us or you'll loose more than your nice house," etc.

OTOH I'm aware this probably relies a bit too much on coincidence to be plausible. Also a bit wary of getting too heavily into speculating after the last series, when pretty much every theorised outcome turned out to be more interesting than what actually happened.

It's also a bit odd that her kids never seem to be in the house

I've been thinking that too, but tbf she did run outside for the call, presumably to escape their prying ears. So like... I guess I'm an idiot but what did Steve finally realise the money was for?