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MOTHER OF GOD THE LINE OF DUTY FINALE

216 replies

Ohdobequiet · 02/05/2021 22:44

I don’t apologise for the caps lock. I’m so disappointed.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the wee donkey, what the hell was that ending?!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
FleetwoodRaincoat · 03/05/2021 16:06

I agree that everyone expects a "good against evil" where good triumphs at the end, in a big dramatic moment. And life isn't like that.

Listened to Jed Mecurio's explanation of the final episode and have spent much of today discussing it. Thought it was really clever and thought-provoking. Planning on watching it again tonight.

LawnFever · 03/05/2021 16:19

@Winecheesesleep

I actually liked it although I think it could have included a bit more excitement, Urgent Exit Required style. I was fine with Buckells and the overall message though, it worked for me.

One thing that doesn't work so well for me is the Jo Davidson storyline. I get she had a difficult upbringing but does that totally excuse all the bad choices she made such as luring Kate to her death? What would have happened if she hadn't done that, I was expecting she had a sister or something that they were threatening. I feel like we were supposed to feel like she earned her happy ending but I'm not sure.

Jo was doing all that under duress though, she didn’t want to be bent and do what the OCG told her to, she was scared that if she didn’t they’d kill her next, that’s why they sent Ryan in to threaten her - he was willingly in with the OCG, she wasn’t but was too scared to go against them
LawnFever · 03/05/2021 16:31

1- I wish H had been somebody with more charisma and intelligence, Buckells was indeed a disappointment.

Buckles wasn’t H though, he was just bent and doing work for the OCG in return for money, someone else must’ve been talking to Jo because who was telling her to set him up with the files in his car? He didn’t do that to himself & he wouldn’t have been so scared in the prison if he’d been in charge when the lawyer was killed.

2- Why was nothing wrapped up with Osbourne, who seemed so suspicious throughout.

Series 7! Grin

3 - Ghastly smug Carmichael is left in charge - feel like we need to know more about her, what is the deal with her being so cold and unhelpful.

Again, series 7 Grin

4 - Why did Kate and Jo flee the scene of the Ryan shooting when they were acting in self defence? Weird.

I think it’s because they thought Ryan had told the OCG where they’d lured Kate to, so they thought they were running from them.

What was missing I think was a proper OCG character to link anything back to on this series, the only ones we saw were the two killed at the workshop but there wasn’t anyone else, maybe that was intended to make us look more at who the insiders in the police were, but that was the side I wanted to see more of.

Ellpellwood · 03/05/2021 18:20

What was missing I think was a proper OCG character to link anything back to on this series, the only ones we saw were the two killed at the workshop but there wasn’t anyone else, maybe that was intended to make us look more at who the insiders in the police were, but that was the side I wanted to see more of.

Agree with this. "The OCGs" was just a word for general criminal activity you get in a big city. You needed at least a middleman like Lisa Whatsername from last series.

Cacacoisfarraige · 03/05/2021 18:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ohdobequiet · 03/05/2021 19:03

Who are we supposed to think forged the papers for jo’s release?

OP posts:
VELVETCLOUD · 03/05/2021 20:55

@Neonprint

Regarding your original Message on the first page of this thread

It may have been somewhat intemperate to describe everyone who was disappointed with the final episode of 'Line Of Duty' as being "thick" but there can be an understandable frustration if it appears that people want a melodramatic end and do not appreciate as much a more cerebral denouement

It is not quite what people were saying, however, in many of the Messages being posted

It is certainly the case that in life we proceed routinely each day and some problems persist but there is a point to be made that also we do like resolution

We may draw three main inferences if we choose from the final episode of 'Line Of Duty'

  1. It is a common view that the character of 'Ian Buckells' is a buffoon, a clown, a fool, an idiot, an oaf - add or delete to taste

  2. We prefer corrupt officials to be removed from power

  3. We need to consider the symbiotic relationship between incompetence and criminality

Concerning only the programme 'Line Of Duty', the end was acceptable but not entirely satisfactory

Mr. Mercurio has the scope to write a retrospective series or 'prequel' (what an awful word) in which are shown the flaws of the original investigation by 'Marcus Thurwell' of the death of 'Lawrence Christopher' which would be a proper use of the time and talents of the writing team and of James Nesbitt

Mr Mercurio and his cohorts can decide if at some stage the'Philip Osborne' character is to be deposed as Chief Constable which is probably what many viewers desired as the end to the series

Concerning life in general it is probably a coincidence - and if not the BBC has questions to answer - that this is the appropriate week to consider the issues that 'Line Of Duty' has raised

We have a lot of commentary deriding the 'Ian Buckells' character as a leading member of a conspiracy but does the depiction of him as a bumbling hapless hopeless moron with an inflated but mistaken sense of his own capabilities remind you of anyone in public life?

Do we recall collectively the subject that has been emblazoned across the front pages of our national newspapers since the beginning of April and the initial reports about David Cameron approaching his successors in government on behalf of the Greensill banking operation?

Boris Johnson and the decoration of his living quarters in 11 Downing Street may seem a trivial matter by comparison but again there is the subject of influence and power being exercised in our society by people who have the deepest pockets

Is there going to be a further series of 'Line Of Duty'?

We live in hope

Is there a conclusion to the story?

It is a matter for the ladies and gentlemen who read this thread and its many companions across Mumsnet

We have officials across the United Kingdom who have been promoted beyond their capacity and abilities and at present we are ruled by a government which wishes to remove the possibility of respectable middle-aged people being able to hold a silent candle-light vigil for a young woman who died in the most horrendous, obscene and tragic circumstances

We have a series of Local Elections on Thursday 06 May 2021 - Council, Mayoral and for Police and Crime Commissioners

Make the wisest use of your vote

Thedogscollar · 03/05/2021 21:11

[quote VELVETCLOUD]@Neonprint

Regarding your original Message on the first page of this thread

It may have been somewhat intemperate to describe everyone who was disappointed with the final episode of 'Line Of Duty' as being "thick" but there can be an understandable frustration if it appears that people want a melodramatic end and do not appreciate as much a more cerebral denouement

It is not quite what people were saying, however, in many of the Messages being posted

It is certainly the case that in life we proceed routinely each day and some problems persist but there is a point to be made that also we do like resolution

We may draw three main inferences if we choose from the final episode of 'Line Of Duty'

  1. It is a common view that the character of 'Ian Buckells' is a buffoon, a clown, a fool, an idiot, an oaf - add or delete to taste

  2. We prefer corrupt officials to be removed from power

  3. We need to consider the symbiotic relationship between incompetence and criminality

Concerning only the programme 'Line Of Duty', the end was acceptable but not entirely satisfactory

Mr. Mercurio has the scope to write a retrospective series or 'prequel' (what an awful word) in which are shown the flaws of the original investigation by 'Marcus Thurwell' of the death of 'Lawrence Christopher' which would be a proper use of the time and talents of the writing team and of James Nesbitt

Mr Mercurio and his cohorts can decide if at some stage the'Philip Osborne' character is to be deposed as Chief Constable which is probably what many viewers desired as the end to the series

Concerning life in general it is probably a coincidence - and if not the BBC has questions to answer - that this is the appropriate week to consider the issues that 'Line Of Duty' has raised

We have a lot of commentary deriding the 'Ian Buckells' character as a leading member of a conspiracy but does the depiction of him as a bumbling hapless hopeless moron with an inflated but mistaken sense of his own capabilities remind you of anyone in public life?

Do we recall collectively the subject that has been emblazoned across the front pages of our national newspapers since the beginning of April and the initial reports about David Cameron approaching his successors in government on behalf of the Greensill banking operation?

Boris Johnson and the decoration of his living quarters in 11 Downing Street may seem a trivial matter by comparison but again there is the subject of influence and power being exercised in our society by people who have the deepest pockets

Is there going to be a further series of 'Line Of Duty'?

We live in hope

Is there a conclusion to the story?

It is a matter for the ladies and gentlemen who read this thread and its many companions across Mumsnet

We have officials across the United Kingdom who have been promoted beyond their capacity and abilities and at present we are ruled by a government which wishes to remove the possibility of respectable middle-aged people being able to hold a silent candle-light vigil for a young woman who died in the most horrendous, obscene and tragic circumstances

We have a series of Local Elections on Thursday 06 May 2021 - Council, Mayoral and for Police and Crime Commissioners

Make the wisest use of your vote[/quote]
Hear hear. Roll on the 6th of May.

LawnFever · 03/05/2021 21:34

@Ohdobequiet

Who are we supposed to think forged the papers for jo’s release?
Osborne?

Who are we supposed to think was feeding Jo the instructions to frame Buckles by planting the files in his boot and who arranged Lakewell’s murder?

bendmeoverbackwards · 03/05/2021 21:38

@FleetwoodRaincoat

I agree that everyone expects a "good against evil" where good triumphs at the end, in a big dramatic moment. And life isn't like that.

Listened to Jed Mecurio's explanation of the final episode and have spent much of today discussing it. Thought it was really clever and thought-provoking. Planning on watching it again tonight.

Is that a podcast @FleetwoodRaincoat?
Hesma · 03/05/2021 21:40

Meh 😒

mistermagpie · 03/05/2021 22:17

Maybe I'm thick but I thought it was really boring.

There were too many sub-plots which went nowhere- Steve's back pain which came and went at will seemingly, Steph of full sky sports package fame, Jo and Kate legging it from pilkingtons murder, the 50k drama that didn't really go anywhere, the whole Spanish thing with Nesbitt, how Jo got those kids to do that robbery at the bookies etc etc etc Jo way would Kate have been able to go back and lead the Vella investigation after being involved in the shooting of one of her colleagues on the team, she would have been redeployed at the very least!

I have loved LOD but I'm actually not sure that Jed Mercurio is very good at writing 'endings'. The bodyguard was pretty crap and I watched the recent James Nesbitt one set in Belfast (can't remember the name) which was also full of plot holes and ended badly.

I was hoping for more drama from LOD, it's what we're used to from the series and this whole series was quite dull. We never really saw much corrupt police activity, unlike in other series, other than Pilkingtons actions, and the OCG weren't up to much other than making a few guns. It just felt a bit dull.

I also agree that they have hammed it up this series with all the 'nice one mate' and Ted's little Tedisms every two seconds, it felt like a parody in parts and was hard to take seriously.

JudgeJ · 03/05/2021 22:18

@Neonprint

I've been having a few days where I feel like the world is full of thick people. The reactions to this aren't helping this feeling. Did everyone just want guns go big bang bang? And a daft plot twist of an ending?

The reactions to this really show why our political culture is so crap. People are looking for simple explanations of a bad guy when that's not how things are. I thought the ending was really good.

Also no wonder so much TV is so shit if people are just looking for the type of ending you're all up in arms about not getting. Just go and watch the Da vinci code or any number of ITV dramas for that shit.

God that hair shirt must be itchy amd the halo must give you a terrible headache!
Notjustanymum · 03/05/2021 22:39

Hadn’t watched any of the series, so, intrigued by the hype, downloaded S1 Ep1 to watch... Dear God! I admire all those who stuck by it for so many series without nodding off. Won’t be attempting to catch up with it - life is too short!

nightswimming1 · 03/05/2021 22:48

@mistermagpie that’s a fair summary in my view... sigh.
I’m another, clearly too dim-witted to find a supposed realistic, hard hitting ending to a lacklustre series just unconvincing.

JustJoinedRightNow · 04/05/2021 07:12

I’ve only watched the finale today, and saw this headline a couple of days ago and promptly clicked away so I didn’t read any spoilers. But having read the headline, I wrongly assumed I was in for some big treat and that the title was going to be about how awesome that episode was.

Dammit I was so disappointed. I do like the memes going around of tea cups with the image and quote of “no one makes a mug out of AC12” on them Grin

bendmeoverbackwards · 04/05/2021 07:24

I’m waiting for the spoof. French and Saunders would be brilliant at it.

CasperGutman · 04/05/2021 07:29

@Icancelledthecheque

S5 had an underwhelming ending too.

Grrrr.

Also yes to James Nesbit, wtf was the point!

Having James Nesbitt just playing a mugshot was genius. It played with us. The opposite of all those episodes of Midsomer Murders where you can spot the killer a mile off because the character is played by a "name" who hasn't had a big scene ten minutes from the end!
CasperGutman · 04/05/2021 07:32

I liked the ending. It showed the way things are. Nobody uncovers the big conspiracy, just bits of it. The Buckles get locked away and the kingpins keep winning.

Just because it's not satisfying doesn't make it bad.

EmphaticPeriod · 04/05/2021 07:44

I also agree that they have hammed it up this series with all the 'nice one mate' and Ted's little Tedisms every two seconds, it felt like a parody in parts and was hard to take seriously.

I have only watched LOD bits on gogglebox Blush but watched half the episode on Sunday to see if H was Ted or not. Steve and Kate said mate to each other so often in one scene they reminded me of Smashy and Nicey! Grin

Gladimnotcampinginthisweather · 04/05/2021 07:50

I felt as though it had become a parody of itself.

picklemewalnuts · 04/05/2021 08:51

"Steve's back pain which came and went at will"

I think that's a pain killer addiction for you. The body sends pain signals to force you to take medication, even though the original pain source is healed. (Not an expert).

mistermagpie · 04/05/2021 09:12

To be fair I know nothing about painkiller addiction but in some of it he could barely move and in other parts he's climbing loft ladders and rolling about shooting people!

My main gripe about it is that there was a lot of build up in the first couple of episodes and then the occupational health stuff but it just went... nowhere. Same with the bit where he met his ex to talk about a transfer, what was the point of that?

The bit where Kate was in the occupational health hot seat was weird too, when was that supposed to have happened? And what was the point?

There was loads in this series that I felt was pointless filler actually, maybe Jed has run out of ideas?

VestaTilley · 04/05/2021 09:13

I agree with @Neonprint

I was a bit underwhelmed, but the subtle message of complacency in the system was a really good one- and exactly mirrors what has happened to our political institutions.

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 04/05/2021 10:08

I agree with @Neonprint**

That's embarrassing for you.

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