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?

I didn’t like it, too far fetched for my liking and something is wrong with the acting but I’m going to give it another episode see if it gets better.

I made it ten minutes. Not for me.

Watched half then DH and I both agreed it wasn't working for us. Too grim, not particularly believable, and the swearing got a bit ridiculous! I love Martin F, but not in this.

The Guardian review gave it 5/5. Yesterday they gave Trigger Point 3/5. I much preferred Trigger Point.

Grim. Turned it off

Much as I like him, I'm quite pleased it isn't Stephen Graham in the lead role - he wouldn't need to try very hard to take on this part.
Though not a huge fan of Martin Freeman, I thought he was excellent in part 1.
It is grim but it's usually people in grim situations who need the services of the Police.
He's World weary and teetering on the brink.
Looking forward to part 2.

Yes, I was really impressed with Martin Freeman in this.

I thought MF was excellent in this. His character has obviously had some sort of trauma in the past that led to a demotion maybe?
Looking forward to seeing how it develops tomorrow.

I didn't enjoy this at all. Not interesting enough or gripping enough for me. Just another bleak, grubby drama and I found it boring.

I’ll definitely be watching more episodes to see how it pans out. Sorry but Trigger Point was about as tense as watching a bowls match.

Too depressing for me. Wanted to switch off half way through but DH was keen to keep going. Got a bit more interesting towards the end but I don't think it's enough to convince me to keep going. Love MF as well so overall disappointed!

DH and I really enjoyed this. It was gritty and dark, but we were expecting that from the off as it has only ever been advertised as such.

MF's accent was very good, very much a true "Liverpudlian" accent as opposed to the throaty Scouse accent. He sounds exactly like the older members of my Liverpudlian family.

I'm interested to see what happened in his past, I found the interactions in the car very amusing and the back and forth conversation very natural.

As mentioned in the OP, it's based on a real life police officer so it does have that realness about it but obviously poetic license is needed to keep the TV adaptation flowing.

Will definitely be watching next week.

Just from Episode 1, I thought it was really good as a study of a 'once decent' policeman who has 'gone off the rails' likely through the cumulative stresses of the job. Much more cerebral than detective series usually are.
The treatment of the lady corpse was a bit off though but that helped showed his decline. He tried to offer the grandson sympathy.

I thought it was outstanding. Outclasses Trigger Point, which is enjoyable hokum.

I don't usually care for Martin Freeman but he was very very good and I'm pleased it wasn't Stephen Graham, who is dreadfully over-exposed.

I read an interview with the writer, who was a Liverpool response officer for ten years. He says he based MF character on himself - he got burned out, it took a toll on his mental health and it cost him his job and his marriage.

Going to try not to binge watch the rest just yet.

Enjoyed it. Thought MF was good and very pleased not to see Stephen Graham in troubled Scouser mode.

I read the article by the writer too and to me it's an effective portrayal of a world weary burning out once-effective copper.

It feels quite real. Was MF involved in the production or did I imagine that?

I thought his wife was miscast. Are they supposed to be a similar age? So tired of all the carp where the man is far older than his wife. MF must be at least 50 probably older yet him and his wife have a young child of about what 7/8.
And the house. As if her character would live in a house like that. Was it their house or just his? The wife would be living in a recently decorated pad, glamarous and modern not something that looked like a 1980s guest house.
I won't bother with any more it was so depressing and boring.
Reminded me of a Scouse Eastenders with all the shouting and lowlife.

Can anyone with any inside info of that kind of role tell us whether he would realistically have a body cam? Or have someone with him? Also would assume the cars would be tracked?

I know they'll need artistic license, but just wondered how true to life some of it was.

Enjoyed it (not sure that's the right word as it was very grim!), also pleasantly surprised by MF, the accent seemed good too.

I did wonder why he didn’t have a body cam

The other two who came in after he beat the msn up, both had them

I thought his wife was miscast. Are they supposed to be a similar age? So tired of all the carp where the man is far older than his wife. MF must be at least 50 probably older yet him and his wife have a young child of about what 7/8.

I hate that too, and it's so common. And even in Paddington the husband was way older!

It’s not that unusual to be 50yo man and have an 8 year old child

'I thought it was outstanding. Outclasses Trigger Point, which is enjoyable hokum.'

'I don't usually care for Martin Freeman but he was very very good and I'm pleased it wasn't Stephen Graham, who is dreadfully over-exposed.'

Totally agree, it had all the grim tension that Trigger Point lacked and yes the character seemed to have Stephen Graham written all over it so I'm pleased they didn't go down that very obvious route.

Martin Freeman seemingly so crass on the one hand with the dead body but then kind with the grandson and the crazed neighbour abducting the dog, I loved it.

*Well kind to the ndn after he'd attacked him

@toomuchlaundry

It’s not that unusual to be 50yo man and have an 8 year old child

I don't know any and I'm over 60

@Davros depending where you live many mums will be having babies in their lates 30s/early 40s, so stands to reason dads can be in their early 50s with quite young children, or be on their second marriage with younger partner

Very very depressing but true to life no doubt. A difficult watch and not a series to look forward to watching.
Martin Freeman was excellent and it is a character Stephen Graham could play brilliantly too.
Would the responder really not have a partner ? A body cam ?

Re comments on the younger wife, what always struck me in British dramas and soaps is how young the parents are.
On these shows you'd be forgiven for thinking most people have children between the ages of about 16 and 20.