Time : spoiler thread ..

[the80sweregreat]

I've only seen two , but as it's only three parts I guess many have binged this already.
No spoilers on the other thread , but you can on here ..
(It can also be the Stephen Graham / Sean Bean appreciation society too!!)
The bit with the turps was horrible. Also I now know how they manage to get hold of drugs inside.

I guess if they're near the end of their sentence it would not be in their best interests to escape or commit a crime at that point!

i had my heart in my mouth when he went to Vale Road

I thought he was dead after the snooker ball incident. :(

Same, I would have liked a catch up on the Stephen Graham character

I found the therapy session and the telling of the back stories heartbreaking.

His cell mate Dan (?) describing how he came to get into a fight over trying to save face about not having enough money to replace a pint, and the other guy retelling what he did as a 13 year old boy.

It really showed how many people are just a split second bad decision away from catastrophic consequences.

so well written

Watched all 3 episodes.

Really sad for all involved.

I know one of the actors in real life and it's strange how different their accent is on tv.

I finished this last night and really enjoyed it - well, enjoyed seems the wrong word as I watched most of it with either gritted teeth or tears in my eyes.

I thought the acting from all (except SBs wife!) was superb, and it was gritty and compelling.

I too thought SB was dead after the snooker ball cosh, and I don’t think they’d have held SG in his own prison on remand would they?

Bloody good drama though.

I thought this was perfectly made, but it was an extremely hard watch. I had to walk out of the room in the turps bit and the snooker balls, and I sobbed my way through the funeral and I genuinely never ever cry.
Is there really no way just to keep your head down in prison? It's such a broken system- I think our recidivism rates are over 60% - so it's not working as a deterrent or rehabilitation, purely punishment and I guess also public safety in the case of violent criminals. Surely it's time for a huge overhaul and some really radical thinking to change things.

Loved this, praise to the BBC. I have a close friend who's a prison officer of many decades and he said he thought McGovern had done his homework and it was realistic, which is kind of scary. I don't want to get too heavy on you all but many people inside never expected to end up there, but shit happens and can happen to anyone. No that's not another anecdote from my mate!! (Though they would confirm) As a society I wish we cared more about what a shit show our prisons are, the Welsh guy at the start had it right; they are expensive hubs of crime & drug abuse / shit places to house people who need treatment.

I really enjoyed this, thought it was gripping but hard to watch at times.

Both leads were excellent and their pain and conflict when faced with their dilemmas was very convincing.

The supporting roles - Bernard, Brendan (person who murdered his best friend), Kav and Daniel were very good too.

What a devastating drama.
There was a good fly on the wall about 2 years ago on C4 about prisons which prepared me and made me think that this was very realistic. DS has taken it on board and announced he won't be going.
I have visited a couple of prisons many years ago any my abiding memories are that there was constant jarring noise and that a large number of the inmates were mentally unwell, substance abusers , had very low intelligence and were this not really appropriately placed.

Brilliant drama. Realistic, gritty you end up feeling sorry for most of the prisoners despite what they had done.

I absolutely loved this show. So bloody well done. Heartbreaking. I just felt so sorry for everyone in it. I know prison is a punishment but it totally needs a massive shake up and funding injection. Some of those men are just lambs to the slaughter. Like SG character said- most of them should be in hospital- not prison. I have a family member who worked for a while as a prison officer and I have no idea how she did it. I would have been terrified every single minute of my day. It amazed me how the chaplain in the show just walked around freely and didn’t appear worried or at risk of being harmed.

Weirdly I’ve always thought I’d do ok if I ended up inside, think you need a lot of bravado. Maybe it’s all the Martina Cole books I used to read I am not violent though so that might hinder my status,
Seemed very believable and Tommy Hunter made it even more so.
One of the scenes I liked was Sean Bean with his wife. He told her someone takes his food, she said so, stop him. Thought that was nicely done, understated. The funeral did make me cry. A good series but also depressing. To be expected though with it being a Jimmy McGovern.

If a prisoner is deemed low risk , they can be issued with a ROTL ( released on temporary leave )
It could be because they are about to leave prison and need to attend an interview , going on weekend leave or in this case attending an event ( don't forget it is TV ! )
Yes prisoners are allowed a kettle , and yes sugar / boiling water is an attack used. So is melting the end of a toothbrush and pushing in a razor blade ( razors are also allowed as obviously they would all be bearded )
Drugs get into prisons in many ways . Some prisoners will try will putting it up their anus/ vagina for female prisoners ( wrapped in cling film ) hence the stripping and bending over .
Visitors will ' crotch it ' by doing the same or between buttocks. They then try to pass to prisoner at visiting time. Visitors ( i.e the mother of the baby ) will even try to get drugs in via the baby's nappy.
Cells are often checked at random or if intel is heard.
Happy to answer any questions if someone had any ?
BTW , a few things didn't quite ring true . I cringed at the way they opened doors and still had their keys in their hand when in cells, that wouldn't happen.
I would also question the chaplain being allowed in the cell with the door closed especially just as he went back after not getting out to attend his father's funeral .That would be classed as a vulnerable time for him to kick off and potentially take someone as hostage.

@Sunnyday321 they never seem to shoot the bolt when they open a cell door in these prison dramas either. I always look for it saddo that I am.

@Faevern

It did have me shouting at the TV at times.

Amazing programme.
So sad for SG character - he was really caught between a rock and a hard place.
I’m currently listening to a podcast by an ex-con called A Bit of a Stretch and it’s very interesting. Got bored of all the ‘self-help’ type ones do have moved to the more gritty side of life now…

I thought it was really well acted. The poor prison officer. I would have done the same.

DH and I watched all 3 episodes yesterday but it was OK thought it was a bit week was hoping for better because really like SG and SB And thought it was going to be really good and it was okay but only just.

Eg I thought Des was stronger, better produced.