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

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.

I'm doing just that - just finished season 2.

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.

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.

By the way, everyone should read Jed Mercurio's novel ASCENT, which is genuinely great

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.

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'

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

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:

• I don't think it's humorous or satirical. There's a constant tension between regulations as 1) unnecessarily preventative of action 2) needing to be adhered to 3) vehicles for retribution 4) vehicles for criminal exploitation. If i'm identifying the bits you're talking about it - this is about a not highly motivated PC wanting to take the easy route to avoid pursuing justice. it may also be a comment the consequence of that meaning the regs can be a barrier to justice because it encourages people to avoid it (a converse point is made about crime targets generally, and the encouragement of laddering). However, her partner is seen to want to pursue justice regardless of the paperwork, or, when it's convenient to use 'risk assessment' as a reason not to pursue someone.
• Going back to S1, Hastings seemed to me to be a wobbly in how he was drawn. Hadn't found his feet yet as a character. That said he's pretty complicated, and his experience of institutional prejudice within the police, as giving him a free pass around the accusation of othering and prejudice elsewhere is not necessarily outside character. So I don't think it's 'lack of PC' or a bit off. All that said, again, Bodyguard threw me slightly. The terrorism angle in S1 of LoD is important, but it's clear that it's being used as a thing to be exploited. In Bodyguard it felt like JM was half in love with the politics and HO style of the institutions he's portraying. It means I do always have a slight suspicious of 'elf and safety gone mad' and 'PC' in his writing, but wherever you look in LoD, it's an angle someone's got, it's part of the structure in which people are operating and which they're exploiting.
• I think 'the system is wrong' point on laddering is made fairly early. LoD is all about systemic exploitation - who wins at the system wins the game. I don't really know about the data analysis? I just trust JM here, partly as a writer - you need an excuse to make things happen – and partly as an expert observer of police process – you need someone to say definitively 'they did this, and they asked us to do select these specific cases for additional charges under a system we called 'stick or twist'.
• my recollection is Arnott doesn't know about the accountant. He delays going into Laverty because it's a hit and run, and it seems such a minor crime. Hastings as in the battle suggests this is suspicious but Arnott shoulder-shrugs it by saying he's picked it up to reduce suspicion on the laddering charge. Didn't see a hole here, but admit I may just not have seen it.

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!'

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.

I might be wrong re the hit & run guy, I'm re-reading the Guardian recaps and they mention Steve charges Jackie with manslaughter.

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

Have we had this yet
http://www.theshiznit.co.uk/feature/so-weve-all-just-accepted-that-his-actual-name-is-jed-mercurio-have-we.php

If Hastings turns out to be a baddie I will be inconsolable.

I bloody love this program

*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?

Some mentions that S5 might have a date... Sun 31st March, 9pm.

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)

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)

(Sorry)

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

Sunday 31st March confirmed.

If Hastings turns out to be a baddie I will be inconsolable

You're getting way ahead of yerself there, fella

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, 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.

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.

Less than two weeks = better get my re-watching skates on (have just watched s3e1).

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.

S3 ep 4 (I think) - does Steve admit (to Kate) to planting the money in Denton's house? Huge if so?

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.

remind me again why Kate and Steve meet in a secret tunnel only to go to work at the same office the next day?

*S5 spoilers, kind of*

If there's anything binge-watching 4 series has taught me, it's to never jump to conclusions unless they've been spelled out, so I saw the 'mistaken id' thing coming from a long way off - LoD usually doesn't drag it out that long when it's doing something like that purely to mislead the viewers.

Glad we jumped straight in with the Maneet stuff. (Nooo!)

No Offence had a (potentially) similar storyline with a UCO gone silent iirc

I’ve never seen Line of Duty.
This is what I think it’s about pic.twitter.com/MF4QSN0TNu

— joe heenan (@joeheenan) March 29, 2019

- '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 did laugh when he said “I didn’t come up the Lagan jnba bubble you know”, he’s so ridiculous.

Think I knew Maneet was doomed as soon as I saw her on screen, this show does not like a loose end.

Saw this, good spot if true but don’t think the dates match up?!

that’s Ryan from series 1 omg #LineofDuty pic.twitter.com/qzJDn8V76z

— jacey (@jaceyowen) March 31, 2019

Yeah other ppl are saying that's Ryan, also Arnott's tinder woman on his phone is his irl wife.

I hope that's enough of the deliberate misdirection - I'd forgotten that bit with Ted on the phone outside his travel tavern too.

I like how small character moments (e.g. Maneet showing off the video of her kid) are now an inevitable portent of doom.

“I need a drink of water” followed by the world’s feeblest chase was pretty lol (intentionally, I think)

Apart from that, I thought this was a refreshingly low-key and non-baroque opener compared to the last season.

Am I the only one who thought it was highly implausible that Steve could go undercover in his own department with just that beard for disguise

I know that's how television credits work, but it does seem a bit rich that Stephen Graham gets credited ahead of everyone in AC-12 on this. He's not the star!

am I mad or does Maneet have two young kids? she brought a baby in in series 2 or 3 when she came in late to help out. then was pregnant and going off on mat leave in s4.

I'm not wrong there
https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/tv/line-of-duty/64362/line-of-duty-a-salute-to-pc-maneet-bindra

Graham's big line, "there's only one thing worse than a BENT copper – that's a bent copper who pretends she ISN'T" - does this... make sense? There's a lot of negatives trapped in that sentence.

I didn't really get that either. What was the thing they pulled out of the phone? Some kind of recording device?

A location tracker or something?

i think phones can be located via cellphone masts without use of a tracking device so a recording device would make more sense

I assumed tracker but who knows.
How would Steven Graham's character even know about ac12? (If he was a legit criminal I mean). There's more to this...

My one grumble about this ep, and a lot of them actually, is that they could do with a bit more room to breathe. Loads to cram in, which is exciting, but how about making it a 7 or 8 episode run?
I suppose they have to skip over a lot if stuff to leave us questioning what's going on (eg was Maneet acting on ac12 orders to make things right?)

xp yeah but something under the radar like this isn’t going through the official channels

How would Steven Graham's character even know about ac12? (If he was a legit criminal I mean). There's more to this...

because we've just established that he himself is a UCO?