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Manhunt - controversy

77 replies

Hellomatey001 · 06/01/2019 21:57

I know some the families of the bereaved did not want this broadcast. I can see why they objected.

I am watching and already there are some really insensitive scenes. The investigating officers wife happy when hearing about a woman's body been found. "That's a promotion case!" she gleefully states. This scene is played out without any irony or self awareness. Hmm.

Also there were scenes showing a corpse and focus on her dead arm. That was a real person they are depicting not an episode of Silent Witness. It was unnecessary and gratuitous.

There have been real life crime dramatisations where they have avoided depicting bodies ot showing violent acts because of the highly sensitive nature of the subject matter.

I have worked in television and understand the constant quest for stories but there should also be compassion and basic decorum. I think this programme lacks a bit of both.

OP posts:
darksideofthemooncup · 06/01/2019 22:17

I thought it was quite insensitive in places , there was no reason to show her on a mortuary slab and some of the dialogue seemed quite crass.

BedraggledBlitz · 06/01/2019 23:08

I thought of her poor parents when the mortuary scene started.

The stupid banter about charging crayons to expenses.

Pointless bollocks.

Also, do police officers really pop to the pub after work to discuss work? It happens in a lot of dramas. Surely they work at work, then go home?

MissEliza · 07/01/2019 09:57

I completely understand the concerns about dramatising real life murders, especially such recent ones. However, it does make me appreciate how bloody hard police work is. It was the mind numbing trawling of CCTV that led them to Bellfield. I disagree that some of the remarks made are 'pointless bollocks'. I think the crayon comment really happened and shows how even some police in an investigation just don't 'get it'. £1.99 compared to a young girl losing her life? The programme also does give a glimpse on the politics that blights the police force too.
Personally I think Sutton comes across as a very sympathetic police officer, particularly with his concern for the parents.

unique1986 · 07/01/2019 12:50

Found this Ok but Martin Clunes is so bland.

snowie01 · 07/01/2019 13:53

All I could think about was Dave Coaches when I saw him trawling the CCTV...

The80sweregreat · 07/01/2019 15:07

Although some of it was crass ( those poor parents, you would never ever get over something so awful and tragic) i guess this is what its like in the real world. maybe they have to wear armour just to get the job done? try to separate their own feelings?

Very sad though - those poor girls didnt stand a chance. So much evil in the world, its scary.

MissEliza · 07/01/2019 17:06

The80s I have friends and family who have worked in various roles in the force. Two of them really suffered from particularly difficult cases. My family felt the stress of one case was responsible for the early death of my uncle but you can never really prove that. I have noticed almost everyone has ended up being a heavy drinker, which is partly down to the laddish culture but also it's a coping mechanism.

The80sweregreat · 07/01/2019 17:17

It's so hard doing any kind of front line work like that. I guess you have to just toughen up a lot and hide your feelings.
Tough though. I know I couldn't do it.

MissEliza · 07/01/2019 18:14

Agreed although I do think police get the worst as they deal almost exclusively with the worst of humanity IYSWIM.

jessstan2 · 07/01/2019 19:22

I think it's very good so far, am glad I watched it. Terrible stories of course, I really felt for Amelie's parents. Colin Sutton was a doggedly determined detective, that is shown very well.

jessstan2 · 07/01/2019 21:08

BTW, whoever said Sutton's wife was gleeful about a poor girl being murdered, she wasn't, of course not but was glad her husband was given a big case after not having one for a while.

TheZeppo · 07/01/2019 21:14

I think it’s good.

I was a similar age to the women he killed at that time. Put my life and worries into perspective. The thought of what happened to them is awful, but I like the fact that they are being remembered. So many victims are forgotten so quickly.

The police are amazing. It must have been so horrible, trying so hard to find the evil person responsible, all the time knowing he might hurt someone else if you aren’t fast enough.

darksideofthemooncup · 07/01/2019 21:42

I think it's better tonight, it highlights just how much work must go into police investigations. I don't think I could do that job.

Fairylea · 07/01/2019 21:44

We are all watching it (me, dh and older teenage dd) and we are finding it very interesting. I don’t feel it’s been disrespectful in the way it’s portrayed things so far, but that’s not for me to say I guess. I do think it shows how much work is involved in catching these people.

SouthWestmom · 07/01/2019 21:47

I think it's a bit too fresh. If they'd based it loosely maybe, just feels a bit odd.

Violetroselily · 07/01/2019 21:51

I'm finding it really interesting. I'm amazed at how little they had to go on and how they managed to catch him through sheer dogged investigation.

Willbeatjanuaryblues · 07/01/2019 22:29

Proper pro active police work.

Seeking out information... Looking for clues.

Good to see. I wonder if that line re just missing Sutcliffe car was true and saving three lives.

Charley50 · 07/01/2019 22:34

The police investigating the Yorkshire Ripper missed many opportunities to catch him.

MrsTommyBanks · 07/01/2019 22:40

I'm finding it very interesting. In fact I'm going to buy Suttons book on the back of it.
I say this as someone close to someone who was murdered in a very sensalionlised case in 2015, which numerous documentaries have been made about already. I have no doubt there will be a dramatization about the case in the fullness of time. It's human nature to want to know all we can about such abhorrent acts.
In my case the police are under investigation for their misconduct and bad handling of the case. Manhunt has just made me ask why didn't they do this for our loved one? If they had he would still be here.

CrispbuttyNo1 · 07/01/2019 22:43

I though tonight’s episode was much better than last nights. I lived in that area at the time of the murders and can still remember them all in the news very clearly. I think the programme is very good in the way it is showing it .

newyearsameshit · 07/01/2019 22:50

They do this work every single day and so have to be normal as they go about their day. Tough watch for parents and family, reality for the police

The80sweregreat · 08/01/2019 08:30

Tommy: sorry to read this. I can't imagine how hard it must be to live with something so awful : it must affect everything you do in life. My heart goes out to people who have to go through something so tragic.
I thought this episode was better ; the work involved was enormous.

GoldenSyrupLion · 08/01/2019 08:58

I'm surprised police officers are allowed to discuss cases in their memoirs. Seems a bit off to me.

peridito · 08/01/2019 09:08

Tommy how dreadful for you .Your comments are interesting .
As others have said ,I can't know how the relatives feel about this programme . In some ways I think it's a memorial for their loved ones .But it must strir up such painful memories .

It feels to me like one of the more honest portrayals of police work - a lot of unglamorous work .

I am very distracted by watching Clunes in this role ,so different from his other work . Shows a range I didn't guess at .Does anyone think that he is holding pads or soemthing in his cheeks to alter his face ?

My partner keeps asking if the police really do say "guv" when speaking to their boss .Does anyone know ?

CrispbuttyNo1 · 08/01/2019 10:41

I said to DP that Martin clunes voice sounds different to his usual voice in this but he couldn’t hear it.