Ooh - Shetland, BBC1

[CocktailQueen]

Anyone see Shetland tonight? New drama series on BBC1?

I liked it! Nice to see the scenery, plus Scottish accents on a BEeb programme.

Good find Gruach. Although the subject matter was very difficult, I agree with Ann that it was a blessed relief not to have the entire scene played out (a la The Accused) - in fact I'm not sure the word "rape" was even uttered until they spoke of Kelly. The first notion I got of it was when Tosh asked to go to a specific clinic rather than hospital.

I loved the way the men reacted - I can't remember ever having seen that in a show before.

Sexual assault and domestic violence are taken very seriously here, I wonder if the writer spoke to locals?

It's true - the male reaction was something new - at least in the TV I've seen.

I have been wondering how, on visiting her flat, Perez was able to deduce that the woman he was talking to was in fact Kelly and not an imaginary flatmate. Was there something obvious that I missed?

Well if we picked up on it, I'm sure Perez's years of experience told him the same. Also the "yeh I'm pretty sure she packed a bag and a passport..." was clue enough - I mean if your flatmate did a runner you'd be ranting about the rent!

I didn't think that he realised. But now you mention it, I may have to rewatch as I think you may be right.

I was really surprised to find myself crying at this. Like lots of folks I love dectective fiction, hence the user name (from the books not the TV series) but I don't think anything has struck me like the scene and the end between Tosh and the older policeman. And I think that Douglas Henshall was quite brilliant. You could tell that he was so so conflicted about what had happened; anger, sadness, loads of different kinds of guilt. Cannot wait for last episode.

I think one of the reasons I have continually refused to own a TV has been my dissatisfaction over the type of crime drama Ms Cleeves discussed. A violated female form has never seemed to me a necessary or appropriate start to a story. I've found it difficult to articulate but it's made me deeply uneasy - for decades - both personally and as a thing in the world that everyone else was seeing almost every day. I couldn't normalise it or wave it away; it's just a "fact" - the screen portrayal of the rape (and murder) of women is supposed to be "entertainment".

I was surprised over the Kelly incident - Perez realised it was her in the flat, I am sure (if I did then he did!). He knew she was an important person to talk to, but left without pushing the issue. Maybe he thought if he pushed too hard she'd run?

I wonder if we'll see more of Leanne. She feels like a loose end at the moment.

What an amazing episode, the woman playing Tosh was just brilliant and it was so well written. It's great to see the male characters being affected by how some men treat women, I think it often comes when they have a daughter, as Jimmy Perez does. It has certainly made DH aware of how vile men can be on an obvious level and a subtle level.

Yes agree, a very moving episode. Poor Tosh. And all the men so awkward.

But, I have a couple of bones to pick.
How come Shetland PD seem to have unlimited funds to fly back and forth to Glasgow ? Flights seem to cost around £500 return. Why didn't they ask a Glasgow based detective to go and interview Kelly ?

And why doesn't Asha, (the Archi Panjabi character) dress more appropriately for the Shetland climate?

Or is Jimmy going to give her a Fair Isle sweater ?

There's only so much money you can throw at sheep-rustling travelled . And there's the issue that weegies can't be trusted.

Asha was dressed for the boudoir, not for marching along quendale beach in a force 8 south-westerly.

Those of you enjoying the scenery might like this group: www.facebook.com/groups/208681265933879/?fref=nf

Lovely photos in that group Grace, thanks.

I think I might be edging towards a trip up to Shetland later this year; I've been browsing the practicalities online this afternoon.

Anna Chancellor is playing Phyllis Brennan, so is protecting her son Ben "BB" Brennan (the one who's just had the baby). Hence the checking with Rhona whether Ben went to uni in Glasgow.

Thought it was an amazing episode. Tosh is an excellent character, and O'Donnell an excellent actor.

I didn't realise she wasn't a flatmate until she ran from the baddies! Am so slow. (Mind you, I wasn't 100% convinced it was the same actress - see above notes re face blindness - so for all I knew there had been a flatmate anyway.)

Yes I think she must surely be protecting the solicitor ? But then why is he dropping hints to Jimmy and pretending to be turning against mccoll?

I'm confused by this too. And they're making us wait so long for it to be (possibly) revealed in the next one!

I rather like the coffee and a digestive biscuit man. I like how detailed that invitation to Tosh was. It's obviously important to him that people know what his intentions are.

On Leanne: one of the last times we saw her, Jimmy asked her why Robbie and his case were so important to her. I can't remember how or if she responded, can anyone here? I wonder if she is significant in a way we and they haven't realised yet. She said ages ago she didn't see her family; might that be important?

Ooooh! Is she connected by family to Arthur, or at least the Glasgow organised crime scene?

What quicker way to get Jimmy off your back than to offer McColl up as the sacrificial lamb?

My hunch is that Leanne is a (highly superior) plot device - linking the young man on the ferry to the protected witness to the contract killer. She was a ribbon we followed from one to another - and as we saw things through her eyes the shocks were all the more shocking because we were constantly looking in the wrong place, following her.

Just caught up. Brilliant episode. Poor Tosh. Excellent writing and acting, one of the best things on tv at the moment.
I'd love to visit Shetland, looks beautiful.

Anna Chancellor is playing Phyllis Brennan, so is protecting her son Ben "BB" Brennan (the one who's just had the baby). Hence the checking with Rhona whether Ben went to uni in Glasgow.

That's what I thought was going on too.

Phyllis Brennan is clearly protecting her son, but I think she may be more involved still. She seems to have some kind of relationship with the dodgy solicitor - he approached her in a bar an episode or two ago.

Yes, she's protecting her son, but I meant who in the professional line is she protecting? Who did she ring and say 'We need to talk'? I don't think that was her son; I think she's involved in high-level cover-ups and corruption at work. I just don't know quite with whom.

I'm assuming that she was blackmailed into helping someone because of her son. So involved, but not willingly.

Can someone remind me about the road kill artist? Why did they go and see him? Thanks! (I would be a rubbish police officer as I can't remember this plot point)

What's going on with Phyllis Brennan and the dodgy solicitor? Was her son Ben involved in raping Tosh?

But why did dodgy solicitor go to Perez's car and deliver a half-assed warning? Either tell him something proper or don't! Is he really double-crossing McColl or just pretending to?

Loved Friday's episode - dealt with the rape very sensitively, and the men's reactions - excellent. Love how safe she felt with Digestive Man to fall asleep in his house.