THE RESPONDER - BBC 9pm mon and Tue. TV PACE. NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

Staring martin Freeman

Penned by ex-police officer Tony Schumacher, this is his first original series for television and he’s on familiar ground as he focuses on the emotional extremes of life on the front line of British policing.

The Responder follows urgent response officer Chris Carson on a series of five night shifts on his beat in Liverpool.

But Chris has more than just the job to worry about as his personal life has been hit by crisis and he is morally compromised in his work.

He’s forced to take on rookie partner Rachel, but despite his reluctance they both soon realise that survival in the high-pressure world of night-time crime will hinge on whether they can support or destroy each other.

Playing Rachel Hargreaves, Carson’s new nightshift partner, is Adelayo Adedayo (Origin, Timewasters). Despite only being in the role for two weeks, the rookie cop has a clear sense of what’s right and wrong

She is disgusted that she’s been paired with a man whose attitude towards the job, and life in general, is the polar opposite of hers. But will working with Chris and under the city’s darkness change her?

@AssignedBlobbyAtBirth

I am late to this and have just watched the first episode so dare not read the thread It is very grim and miserable. Is it worth carrying on?

Yes, it's grim - I could only watch one episode at a time! - but it's definitely worth carrying on

@covetingthepreciousthings

Can someone just confirm.. did Chris have an incident at work that resulted in him needing to see a therapist and for everyone to be concerned about him? Or was it just a result of being a responder and nights etc?

I thought it was good, and I expect there'll be a second series and it didn't seem to fully tie up everything and was left open for another one.

Yes. Something about a child dying :jumping but we never found out what

@MrsLargeEmbodied

why did casey run out of the hotel and shout Casey?

I don't know! Really weird! Frustrated with herself, maybe?!

I thought it was really good. Although not sure I buy Chris’ idea that if the drugs have been seized by the police then it stops the dude in prison running things not get killed! Surely whoever he owes the money to won’t give a toss about that?!

I called it on Rachel’s boyfriend being abusive and Chris coming to her aid. That was really powerful stuff and the fact that she is a police officer and was still terrified to leave an abusive partner speaks volumes about how difficult it is to escape domestic violence. Especially relevant and poignant given the recent allegations made against Mason Greenwood too.

I was a bit confused when she was at the police station and was going to speak to the “Domestic” police officer and then decided against it. Was she going to make a report about her own situation or was she going to speak to the officer about Chris?

I was a bit confused when she was at the police station and was going to speak to the “Domestic” police officer and then decided against it. Was she going to make a report about her own situation or was she going to speak to the officer about Chris?

I took it that she was going to talk about her own situation but bottled after the officer went to make tea

I think he asked her if it was a problem about Chris or a problem at home and she answered, 'Home'. It was a pity that he took too long making the tea. She either bottled it or decided it was the wrong time to risk breaking down, opening the floodgates. She could hold on a bit longer?

Re Greg not getting shivved in the shower, I suppose the police seizure docket might help in that it gets him the hook for nicking the drugs to pass on/sell. A lesser offence. And Doc doesn't have to go on looking for them, can go back to being a law-abiding member of the community. I think the Mr Big's of the drug world factor in loss of product as a business expense.

It was a pretty genius idea. Solved the problem of Jodie having no money for the future/Chris feeling guilty about his dead mate. And Rachel thinks he's done the right thing. Chris, wife and dd no longer under threat. Ditto Casey and Marco.

Only 3 episodes in. I’m enjoying it but find it hard to believe that Chris ( Freeman) would be friends with someone like Carl, being a policeman officer. Also Carl looks a lot older than his wife/ partner.
The councillor that Freeman sees was also in The Office, also with Freeman.
I find Freeman’s acting rather good though.

@Thymeout

I think he asked her if it was a problem about Chris or a problem at home and she answered, 'Home'. It was a pity that he took too long making the tea. She either bottled it or decided it was the wrong time to risk breaking down, opening the floodgates. She could hold on a bit longer?

Re Greg not getting shivved in the shower, I suppose the police seizure docket might help in that it gets him the hook for nicking the drugs to pass on/sell. A lesser offence. And Doc doesn't have to go on looking for them, can go back to being a law-abiding member of the community. I think the Mr Big's of the drug world factor in loss of product as a business expense.

It was a pretty genius idea. Solved the problem of Jodie having no money for the future/Chris feeling guilty about his dead mate. And Rachel thinks he's done the right thing. Chris, wife and dd no longer under threat. Ditto Casey and Marco.

But how is Jodie going to be able to sell those drugs? Isn’t the whole point no one would touch them because of who it belongs to?

Or would the yellow slip mean that people wouldn’t think that anymore?

I also don’t think for one second the yellow slip would mean that Greg Gallagher would be off the hook with the people he owed money to, but either way, I found this series really enjoyable so can overlook plot holes!

I’m about to start episode 4 and wonder what the blonde doctor woman has to do with anything...clearly she’s dodgy.
I recognise her from Waterloo Road.

Wouldn't Chris have to write on the yellow form how much drugs were found. Then once the Doctor showed whoever they would know there are some of the drugs missing /elsewhere.

The drugs will still need paying for??

It would get back that Carl's wife was dealing. Wouldn't be hard to find where she got them.

How would the doc explain she had the yellow paper.

Why was she rushing her career / jail for her little brother?

Can just imagine the drug lord stapling the yellow paper and filing it in a folder named "written off"

I think Carl's work partner was going to say what Carl had done but then changed her mind. Well that's what it wanted us to think.

Carl will just forgive his wife for cheating? At least what he did wasn't to hurt anyone.

Will they just let Casey get away with nicking then drugs?

So many questions but the ending was better than most lately.

I'd watch a second series.

So good