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Original poster

Line of Duty"local oddball"

28 replies

NotEver0 · 21/03/2021 22:56

The "gaffer"referring to the down syndrome suspect........absolutely disgusting, put me right off.Jed Mercunio is blatantly tone deaf

OP posts:
Original poster
NotEver0 · 21/03/2021 22:59

Honestly in this day and age.....arrrgghhh i feel so annoyed!

OP posts:
PrincessScarlett · 21/03/2021 23:03

Yes, that line did make me think WTF. Wasn't necessary at all.

bingbingbingbingbingbing · 21/03/2021 23:06

‘Local oddball’ is a reference to the Jill Dando / Barry George case. It was a phrase George used about himself.

@suzy477

Original poster
NotEver0 · 21/03/2021 23:08

@PrincessScarlett exactly!i love the gaffer and i know he doesn't write the show but i was so put off.my son is severely autistic and i hate the idea that hed be referred to as the local oddball. Fs,why put it in there?

OP posts:
bingbingbingbingbingbing · 21/03/2021 23:09

@susie477

Original poster
NotEver0 · 21/03/2021 23:11

@bingbingbingbingbingbing fair enough using it on yourself not ok on others

OP posts:
cutthebs · 21/03/2021 23:11

It's not nice to hear but unfortunately in real life, people will, and do, say and call people horrible inappropriate things, and tv characters reflect that. Also, it's a nod to the Jill Dando case.

TV drama would be shit if characters only said "appropriate" things.

bingbingbingbingbingbing · 21/03/2021 23:12

[quote NotEver0]@bingbingbingbingbingbing fair enough using it on yourself not ok on others[/quote]
It's a reference.

It's a reference to Jill Dando / Vella in the show.

TakeTheRibbonFromYourHair · 21/03/2021 23:13

It jarred. Felt very unrealistic as well as just plain offensive. It's not the term you'd use. Local oddball conjures up a completely different image.

cutthebs · 21/03/2021 23:15

And , most LoD fans love the Hastings character so I think it was a clever way of make people who love the character actually question if he's actually a nice person. Just like in real life. I knew someone at work who was absolutely lovely... until I heard the refer to someone using a horrible racist name. It made me question what I thought of that person and totally reassess.

Dogatetheleftovers · 21/03/2021 23:22

It was horrible to hear and really unnecessary I think.

LadyCatStark · 21/03/2021 23:26

I thought it was totally inappropriate regardless of whether it was referencing Jill Dando or part of his character or whatever. I can’t believe no one thought ‘hang on a minute is it ok to say this?’

Trickyboy · 21/03/2021 23:28

As someone who works on a police team I can say that the joy of LoD is the realism, the behaviours and yes the sometimes inappropriate language. It is the only 'cop' show I watch for that reason . The others just make me want to scream 'no it's not like that' ..

Most of the time officers ARE sensitive to appropriate language but yes sometimes old habits slip in. The character is also not an 'odd ball' I would also think it relates to the perception of the 'locals' and that doesn't need to be because of Down's syndrome, Many people with Downs are extremely articulate and socially engaging. Sadly their openness is one of the character traits preyed on by the likes of the guy who has been abusing the Terry character. There is no doubt that this long term abuse has made the Terry character 'odd' It's a form of abuse called cuckooing and sadly goes on a lot.

I think the Hastings comment is EXACTLY what would have been said about the guy under arrest by the 'locals' . Not nice, certainly not appropriate language , but yes.. very real.

peachgreen · 21/03/2021 23:30

I think it's been shown many times that Hastings is very old-fashioned in his language and attitudes and this was another example of that.

Enidblyton1 · 21/03/2021 23:45

@peachgreen

I think it's been shown many times that Hastings is very old-fashioned in his language and attitudes and this was another example of that.
That’s how I took it as well. It’s a realistic comment to have been made by an imperfect character in a fictional TV show.
HopeClearwater · 21/03/2021 23:51

Mercurio doesn’t make mistakes like that. That line was in there because Hastings would have said it.

stumbledin · 22/03/2021 15:20

I can see that it is would be upsetting but I think is in keeping with "old style copper" Hastings. And in his mind wouldn't necessarily refer to anyone being autistic, but that if you know your neighbourhood there is always someone that other's think is "odd". eg they are a hoarder, or something.

And given the other scenes with lots of tech, unintelligable code words, you wonder how he is still a serving police officer. Althought there was a hint he might not be.

and also how someone who is on that much pain medication is able to function and appear nornal to co-workers!

Powersout · 22/03/2021 15:25

The guy may well have wanked over pics of a murdered reporter - can't someone with Downs Syndrome be an 'oddball' like anyone else can?

pollyhemlock · 22/03/2021 15:30

I saw it as Ted referencing what that criminals would have thought/ said about Terry as they planned to set him up for the crime. They had already moved into his flat, used it to store drugs and a dead body. They exploited his vulnerability and would probably have called him much worse amongst themselves. As the parent of an adult with DS I found the interview scene very difficult to watch. But we do know that sadly the police don’t always treat people with learning disabilities sensitively.

apurplecar · 22/03/2021 18:02

@Powersout

The guy may well have wanked over pics of a murdered reporter - can't someone with Downs Syndrome be an 'oddball' like anyone else can?
Indeed. Kind of reverse discrimination to say that no single person with down's is odd.
AuntieStella · 22/03/2021 18:07

It's a reference to the Jill Dando case

And I think the inclusion of cuckooing the vulnerable is a first in a police drama? (Or do I just not watch enough?)

(He probably hadn't wanted over them - it'll be a set up from the condom collection at the OCG)

TheSpottedZebra · 22/03/2021 18:13

Agree, it's a reference to the Jill Dando case (local oddball or stalker), and it's also meant to be realistic that a Hastings character would say it. He started off seemingly heroic but old fashioned but now we've learnt he has feet of clay -he has archaic attitudes to many things and he may or may not be a 'bent copper'.

I think characters have to be able to say bad things, as unsettling as it can be.

Cormoransjacket · 22/03/2021 18:22

@NotEver0

The "gaffer"referring to the down syndrome suspect........absolutely disgusting, put me right off.Jed Mercunio is blatantly tone deaf
Yet you just described the character in question as "the down syndrome subject". Surely he is Terry Boyle or if you must use his disability as a descriptor, a young man who has Downs Syndrome.
SeasonFinale · 22/03/2021 18:31

You have completely missed the point about the deliberate use of the phrase and have decided to join the "offended brigade" instead of recognising it for a great way of flagging its unacceptable use by it being said by Hastings who is an old school dinosaur.

longwayoff · 22/03/2021 18:38

Jed Mercurio doesn't do careless, sloppy writing. This references the Barry George case and, also Christopher Jeffries, both of whom were tried and found guilty by the tabloid press - because they were 'oddballs' - and had their reputations destroyed. Barry George was additionally found guilty in court and sentenced. He was freed on appeal. If you want something to be furious about let it be that Barry George has never received a penny in compensation for his disgusting treatment. I would say it was hopefully clear to anyone with half a brain that he was not guilty and that the police force should hang its head in shame for persecuting him. And Christopher Jeffries. And Colin Stagg. And Timothy Evans. Still happening.