UK Series Line Of Duty

[James from London]

Another thing that intrigued me was the actor playing ex-chief Fairbanks in series 3. I couldn't place him but there was something very familiar about his eyes.
After an IMDB search I managed to identify him as - surprise, surprise - George "Bob from Rita and Sue" Costigan.

And he was Connie's first husband in Connie.

 

[Willie Oleson]

I had almost forgotten about that. He was selling jeans in Connie Pre-Colby. Oh I must try to finish that series some time.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Two funny things have happened in series 5.

1. I noticed that I hadn't recognized Polly Walker when she had blond hair in series 4 (or was it 3?)

2. There's a very strange outdoors scene, it's when they find Maneet's body on what looks like an old boatyard. It's also the place where Hilton had died.
Initially it looks like the real thing, but then they look at the water - and I didn't even notice it until Kate pointed out "you recognize this place?" - and...nothing moves.
Not the water, not the boats, nothing. It's just as still as fake-Southfork's fake background.

The picture is to illustrate the scene, not the stillness of course.
But I wonder why is this happening? The rest of the location doesn't look GCI'd and what are the odds that there wouldn't be any real water nearby an old boatyard, or that they couldn't find a more suitable location.
But even so, CGI doesn't mean it can't move.
Very, very odd, and I think that that water was there, but something went wrong during the filming process thing and then they re-inserted a picture of the actual view into the film.
Unless it's supposed to be a giant photograph wall? But they also showed Maneet's blood dripping into the water. But not necessarily on-location-water.
I'm actually tempted to contact the production company to find out what happened there.

I wish Maneet's blackmail/espionage storyline had happened to the other AC-12 officer, Tatleen.
And then they could call her tittle-tattle Tatleen.

There's some very obvious manipulation going on regarding Hastings as a potential candidate for the mysterious "H" villain.
For a top guy who's pulling the strings he's not doing so great, is he? A broken marriage, financial problems - where are the benefits?
I find it a little cheesy to add this kind of fake suspense.
And it's a bad idea anyway, the story and its main characters shouldn't be so extremely twisty and untrustworthy. No, I'm having none of it.

 

[Willie Oleson]

I think series 5 is a mixed bag. It made sense that they moved the story further inside the organized crime and consequently closer to the Main Accomplice inside the police force, but somehow it didn't maintain the mystique that was still very apparent in series 4.

Steve Arnott had been accused of being The Caddy, and Ted Hastings' ordeal kind of felt like a repeat of that situation. It was different because we knew for sure that Steve wasn't The Caddy, but I was also convinced that Hastings wasn't corrupt. Blackmailed because of his financial situation? That script worked for several minor characters (e.g. Vihaan Malhotra) but for a main character like Ted Hastings it seemed too simple, too mundane.
And since his finances had already been dealt with in series 2 it missed the element of surprise.

And that's why I didn't wholeheartedly enjoy the plot line that incriminated him. "Definitely" misspelled as "definately" when Hastings impersonated "H" seemed too obvious an attempt to throw the viewer off the scent, and I also didn't have any reason to trust Gill Biggeloe (a very entertaining performance by Polly Walker).
It only got really interesting towards the end of the story when the connection with N. Ireland and John Corbett came into play; probably because everything about Ireland's past is inherently fascinating and dramatic.

I would have preferred to know more about Lisa McQueen and her inner conflicts and how she got involved in the first place.
Nevertheless, it was just as addictive as the previous series and I definately appreciate it for having its own unique vibe.

 

[James from London]

Ted Hastings' ordeal

I enjoyed it, but Ted reminds me of Skinner on The X-Files or Jack Bristow on Alias:
older, paternal authority figures repeatedly teased as being possibly corrupt -- except that they never are.

I was also convinced that Hastings wasn't corrupt.

I don't think I was, or am, quite as convinced as you, but I'd be surprised if he was. But I guess surprise is the point.

 

[Long Lashes]

2. There's a very strange outdoors scene, it's when they find Maneet's body on what looks like an old boatyard. It's also the place where Hilton had died.
Initially it looks like the real thing, but then they look at the water - and I didn't even notice it until Kate pointed out "you recognize this place?" - and...nothing moves.
Not the water, not the boats, nothing. It's just as still as fake-Southfork's fake background.

I'm surprised by this, how odd. You're far more observant than I am, I need to go back and have a look.

I was also convinced that Hastings wasn't corrupt.

I find it hard to believe that Ted is corrupt, he's such a stickler for protocol, but LOD did completely shock me a few times by killing off some great character without warning, so even though I'd be disappointed if Ted is corrupt, its the sort of thing which could happen in this show.

Having said that, if Ted was corrupt I don't see how the series could continue without him.

Gill Biggeloe (a very entertaining performance by Polly Walker).

She's such a good actress and she always had me guessing , because I couldn't decide if she was on the side of the Police or the OCG , but of course that was resolved at the end of series six.

It only got really interesting towards the end of the story when the connection with N. Ireland and John Corbett came into play;

It was another story within a story. I must admit that at one time I was convinced that John Corbett could be Teds son.

I would have preferred to know more about Lisa McQueen and her inner conflicts and how she got involved in the first place.

Me too. She was so obviously frightened and seemed reluctant to be involved, it was as though she was out of her depth. Earlier on in series six I thought she might've been an UCO.


How did you cope with all the acronyms? as the series progressed they used them more and more. I used to pause the show at times to work out what they were talking about

 

[Willie Oleson]

But I guess surprise is the point.

so even though I'd be disappointed if Ted is corrupt, its the sort of thing which could happen in this show.

You're both right of course, I could not predict with 100 percent certainty that it wasn't Ted.
Perhaps I should have said "I refused to believe it", based on the clever writing for the previous seasons.
Line Of Duty is indeed very plot-driven but I think it still needs to be grounded in something real, something the viewers can believe in.
Maybe it would have worked at the end of series 2, or even series 3, but at this point it would feel too much like a retcon, and I just couldn't believe that they would sacrifice the show's integrity on the altar of the unexpected plot twist.
Then they may as well pick Steve or Kate.

I must admit that at one time I was convinced that John Corbett could be Teds son

I hadn't really picked it up until they revealed the McGillis history, but now I wish I had.

but of course that was resolved at the end of series six.

Has it already been shown in the UK? How was it?

I used to pause the show at times to work out what they were talking about

Me too, usually when they explained something in technobabble style about phone tracking and forensic evidence, or when I didn't immediately recognize a name.
I was afraid to miss an important detail.

 

[Long Lashes]

You're both right of course, I could not predict with 100 percent certainty that it wasn't Ted.
Perhaps I should have said "I refused to believe it", based on the clever writing for the previous seasons.

I think if H did turn out to be Ted it would be a real shocker and a fantastic twist ( or in my case) I would feel conned that he'd been betraying us since Series one. I think we do need someone to believe in.

Has it already been shown in the UK? How was it?

Oh sorry Willie, I should've said "Series five" not "Series Six". We haven't had Series Six yet here.


I did read that the filming for Series Six has now finished .....

"The BBC has confirmed that the series will air in early 2021 and it is expected to premiere in either February or March."

Jed Mercurio said: - "Thanks so much to our brilliant cast and crew who applied rigorous Covid safety measures to deliver Line of Duty six to our wonderful fans."

I can't wait

 

[James from London]

Amazing fun fact all Line of Duty-crazed fans should know: Steve and Kate have the same birthday in real life!!

 

[Ukdallasfan]

It’s one of those shows that you have to watch completely sober and have your Sky Q button ready to rewind and play again to make sure you haven’t missed something vital. I love it and can’t wait for the next series

 

[Willie Oleson]

Thanks so much to our brilliant cast and crew who applied rigorous Covid safety measures

Probably under the eagle-eyed supervision of the AC-12 team!

Steve and Kate have the same birthday in real life!!

How suspicious!

 

[Alexis Colby Carrington]

It’s one of those shows that you have to watch completely sober and have your Sky Q button ready to rewind and play again to make sure you haven’t missed something vital. I love it and can’t wait for the next series

Yes! Absolutely have to be on the ball and not tired when watching this show.

 

[Ceindreadh]

I did read that the filming for Series Six has now finished .....

"The BBC has confirmed that the series will air in early 2021 and it is expected to premiere in either February or March."

Jed Mercurio said: - "Thanks so much to our brilliant cast and crew who applied rigorous Covid safety measures to deliver Line of Duty six to our wonderful fans."

I can't wait

I think the cast and crew must have been in a bubble together while filming (like they did with bake off).
Adrian, Martin and Vicky (Hastings, Steve, Kate) appeared together on an episode of Celebrity Gogglebox.
It looked for all in the world like Adrian (or Aidy as they called him) was a dad to 'teens' Martin and VIcky and it was his weekend of custody but he was just trying to watch TV while they were commenting on it!

 

[Long Lashes]

News of someone joining the new series.

Its not really a spoiler, but just in case you prefer not to know anything at all .....

Spoiler: :-)

 

[cobbles]

Series 6 trailer is out.

 

[cobbles]

Taking a break from my criminal minds marathon to rewatch this from the beginning in anticipation of the new series.

Finished Series 1 and onto Series 2.

 

[cobbles]

Got up to the end of Series 3 now. Soon to start Series 4

Forget just how good Series 3 was, pure edge of seat drama throughout. Cotton is such a horribly brilliant character with his undermining of AC-12 from within throughout the investigation and played brilliantly by Craig Parkinson.

Sadly the next season is when it moved to BBC One, and it does feel it was neutered somewhat at the point.

 

[Ceindreadh]

Beginners guide to Line of Duty, or a quick catch up for anybody before series 6 starts on Sunday the 21st March.

 

[cobbles]

Got through Series 4.

I think I've reevaluated Roz Huntley's character a bit through rewatching. I found her a bit weak first time round, but was really starting to hate her with a passion by episode 6.

 

[Ukdallasfan]

So excited for Sunday!