Line of Duty Thread 9, no spoilers! Watch along as we find out (?) wtf is going on!

[TedisnotH]

Reporting in, fellas. Let's fill up Thread 8 first though, ok?

There are some bits that don't quite add up, but I think you need that if a S7 is going to be made. Most shows do this unless they give a definitive "we won't be making any more series".

I do wonder what S7 will bring since AC-12 has been weakened. I wonder if the main AC-12ers will go into other roles from different stations, but have a secret unofficial AC-12. There is only uncovering the OCG left, but finding out who is running them might be a way to go (my bet is that Andrew Laverty is out there somewhere). There is also the option of looking at journalism and politics in association with crime in more depth, rather than direct police corruption.

I think Jed could do really well with creating a drama around politics. He likes to put a message across doesn't he? There is plenty of material about at the moment too. The main character will be John Borisson.

On a side note I would really love it if James Nesbitt won a best actor award for his part in the show.

Isn't Jed working on the sequel to Bodyguard which covers the political point? I wonder if he's lost enthusiasm for continuing with LOD because of this.

BTW I've just googled and Jed says he wants to make Bodyguard into 3 or even 4 series according to Hello!

John Borrison indeed

Talking of Steph - what happened with her and Ted?

One minute she was constantly calling him and even turned up randomly at the office and then apparently nothing? I recall mention of HMRC - presumably something to do with the money but their contact then just seemed to tail off into nothing or was it just a bit of a clumsy link to open the storyline to Steve getting back in touch with her?

Ah right - so Jo DID plant the files.

@Buggerthebotox

Ah right - so Jo DID plant the files.

Yes she said in the interview she did

The phrase Banality of Evil came to mind after watching this episode, Buckells was banal, he worked for evil. The women who were murdered, the trafficked women, the exploitation of a disabled person , the sexual abuse of the boys in the home, the deaths of Gates and his dog, , Denton, Waldron, Ifield ,all fundamentally flawed due to various factors but at heart good offices. I think we are used to crime dramas that are resolved in the last episode but unfortunately life isn’t like that

We want the baddies to get caught and punished and that’s what we have got used to and what makes this series unusual.

Has anyone else watched these recaps on YT?

Absolutely superb!

I wonder if Kerry Gilbert is on here?

If you are, very well done

@EsmaCannonball

This is a show where half the police are like Robocop, the other half are prepared to off witnesses in the ladies' loos, and the suspects would be more likely to survive prison in El Salvador; the idea that it's about political and social commentary is a bigger retcon than the awful Morse code malarkey.

I was a bit sniffy about the first series because I was comparing it to The Wire, and I only started to enjoy it when I learned to embrace the silliness and OTT-ness. People don't watch this show so they can ponder the state of modern policing afterwards. They watch it because they enjoy guessing what the twisty plot will throw up next. I didn't want yet another shoot-up ending, because that had become almost routine, but I was expecting some kind of brilliant and clever reveal. It was just so misjudged.

I totally agree. There's a lot of patronising posts here from people who think anyone who didn't like this ending just isn't as clever and sophisticated as them, and doesn't get that 'real life isn't like that'.

LoD has never been about 'real life'. The plot lines are often implausible, OTT and a wee bit daft. It's not subtle. It's not 'realistic'. If I want to learn more about police corruption in the real world, I'll watch a documentary or read the newspapers. LoD is entertainment. It's OK to value entertainment for entertainment's sake, and not expect some trite commentary on the harsh realities of power and corruption.

I did watch on Sunday but haven't had a chance to catch up with the threads until now! What happened to thread eight? I can't find one?

LoD has never been about 'real life'. The plot lines are often implausible, OTT and a wee bit daft. It's not subtle. It's not 'realistic'.

I've already said this on here, but I'll say it again:
LoD has its implausible/OTT/entertainment side, sure, but it's also always been deliberately quite boring and banal as well. Procedures are followed ploddingly, forms must be filled in and signed and the office is dull and monochrome. For me the ending was in tune with that side of LoD as well as getting across the message that corruption is less about big flashy villains and more about people just clever enough to be useful to OCGs but not so clever as to cause trouble.

@IntermittentParps

LoD has never been about 'real life'. The plot lines are often implausible, OTT and a wee bit daft. It's not subtle. It's not 'realistic'.

I've already said this on here, but I'll say it again:
LoD has its implausible/OTT/entertainment side, sure, but it's also always been deliberately quite boring and banal as well. Procedures are followed ploddingly, forms must be filled in and signed and the office is dull and monochrome. For me the ending was in tune with that side of LoD as well as getting across the message that corruption is less about big flashy villains and more about people just clever enough to be useful to OCGs but not so clever as to cause trouble.

I disagree that LoD has been intentionally 'boring and banal'.

And sure, there's nothing wrong with having the 'villain' turn out to be a rather dumb and unremarkable Brummie. It could still have been done in a way that was entertaining and suspenseful, rather than a damp squib.

I disagree that LoD has been intentionally 'boring and banal'.
Can you expand on why you disagree?

That sounded snotty –I didn't mean to! I'm genuinely interested.

@YouKnobhead

I did watch on Sunday but haven't had a chance to catch up with the threads until now! What happened to thread eight? I can't find one?

Here you go Line of Duty Thread 8: All aboard the wee donkey for the final episode - no spoilers, the wee do... www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/4228735-Line-of-Duty-Thread-8-All-aboard-the-wee-donkey-for-the-final-episode-no-spoilers-the-wee-donkey-bites

@Ulysses

Isn't Jed working on the sequel to Bodyguard which covers the political point? I wonder if he's lost enthusiasm for continuing with LOD because of this.

BTW I've just googled and Jed says he wants to make Bodyguard into 3 or even 4 series according to Hello!

Thanks for sharing - I've not heard about that. I do wonder how he will get another two or three series from Bodyguard as it's just one main character really.

Right, all caught up. Won't go on too much as most of what I think has already been covered.

It wasn't great. Any TV drama which only makes sense once it's been explained by actors on breakfast TV the next day need needs to come back out from being too far up it's own arse.

As a drama, I don't need it to preach to me about the complexities and challenges of rooting out corruption.

There were too many lose ends and whether he was trying to retrospectively fit together plots or just be clever, it didn't work.

I can live with Buckells being H and not the top dog, but I think it's weak and his interview was shit. LOD is built on epic interviews and high adrenaline moments. Most of that was like cold tea at best.

@IntermittentParps

I disagree that LoD has been intentionally 'boring and banal'. Can you expand on why you disagree?

Is this an end of term essay?

I disagree because I've found that every scene contributes something to the plot, often through small details. The scenes in the office aren't 'banal', they're adding vital information to the plot.

shaden must be a lie ... Giles coren hasn’t got any friends! Brilliant line, how he managed to be so condescending to everyone in the hotels programme is truly astounding to watch.

Is this an end of term essay?
I did acknowledge that I accidentally sounded snotty I'm just interested in your reasons.

Yes, I suppose I don't mean those scenes aren't necessary – I agree in fact that they're all important.
What I mean is, it's not all about car chases and shootouts. Even with e.g. the scene where they go into Terry's flat, every move and every shot taken has to be reported in and given the go-ahead. Mistakes must be phoned in. Procedure is carefully followed.
There's a scene where (I think) AC-12 want to search Jo's team's office and she foils them by smugly saying something like, 'Send my police rep a signed and completed form [xxyy-blah-blah] and we'll get back to you within ten working days.' Crucial to the plot proceedings, yes, and at the same time boringly bureaucratic.

That's what I mean, not that they're not important.

@IntermittentParps

Is this an end of term essay? I did acknowledge that I accidentally sounded snotty I'm just interested in your reasons.

Yes, I suppose I don't mean those scenes aren't necessary – I agree in fact that they're all important.
What I mean is, it's not all about car chases and shootouts. Even with e.g. the scene where they go into Terry's flat, every move and every shot taken has to be reported in and given the go-ahead. Mistakes must be phoned in. Procedure is carefully followed.
There's a scene where (I think) AC-12 want to search Jo's team's office and she foils them by smugly saying something like, 'Send my police rep a signed and completed form [xxyy-blah-blah] and we'll get back to you within ten working days.' Crucial to the plot proceedings, yes, and at the same time boringly bureaucratic.

That's what I mean, not that they're not important.

But I don't think people are saying it all has to be about 'car chases and shootouts'. Just that they'd have liked to see a more coherent plot and less of a flat ending. It is Sunday night TV after all. People don't watch Jed Mercurio dramas for gritty realism. His plots tend to be a bit daft if you scrutinise them too closely. Saying that those who were disappointed in the ending are basically dim and should be watching 1970s American police dramas, as some above have suggested, is patronising.

The Bodyguard was another show that lost its way and ended badly. The whole thing hinged on an OCG that the viewers had barely encountered, and once Keeley Hawes was bumped off all the chemistry and intrigue just drained from the show. But yes, I will probably give it a go when it cones back. The Bodyguard was another show that lost its way and ended badly. The whole thing hinged on an OCG that the viewers had barely encountered, and once Keeley Hawes was bumped off all the chemistry and intrigue just drained from the show. But yes, I will probably give it a go when it comes back.

But I don't think people are saying it all has to be about 'car chases and shootouts'. Just that they'd have liked to see a more coherent plot and less of a flat ending.

Well, some people were saying they watch it for entertainment/drama/action. That's what I was really addressing.

Apologies for the weird double post. Seems to happen whenever I use an emoji.