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

236 replies

Blondeshavemorefun · 21/01/2022 20:07

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?

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 02/02/2022 15:04

@PennyRoyal

So a dodgy doctor who gets her kicks getting patients naked to talk to them

I wonder if that was making sure he wasn't wired, rather than some other reason?

I think it was more to show her dominance over him, she's higher in the chain so has more power. It was to make him vulnerable.

That’s what I thought

Plus the rubber gloves

OP posts:
ouch321 · 02/02/2022 15:29

Who is this Stephen Graham everyone is mentioning?

Anyway Ray was Justin in Luther. Also Chris wife played Edna, Cora's second lady's maid, in Downton abbey

Blondeshavemorefun · 02/02/2022 16:08

In line of duty

And other stuff

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longwayoff · 02/02/2022 16:19

She is a doctor but Carl wasn't visiting as a patient, he was visiting the dealer to whom he now owed several thousand pounds with no prospect of paying her. It was to check for a wire.

Wingedharpy · 02/02/2022 17:41

And, who is the Doctor working for (other than the NHS obvs!) as she was on the phone to someone in a panic as she'd disclosed her name when half asleep?
I'm enjoying the fact that amidst all the misery, hopelessness and mayhem, the wry, dry, scouse humour occasionally shines through.Smile

BIWI · 02/02/2022 18:17

@ouch321

Who is this Stephen Graham everyone is mentioning?

Anyway Ray was Justin in Luther. Also Chris wife played Edna, Cora's second lady's maid, in Downton abbey

How can you not know who Stephen Graham is? He's been in everything recently!

some background here

Wingedharpy · 02/02/2022 18:36

At one point last night, I was almost certain that MF was about to smother his mother to "relieve" her/his suffering - and save on care home fees.

PennyRoyal · 02/02/2022 19:17

@Wingedharpy

At one point last night, I was almost certain that MF was about to smother his mother to "relieve" her/his suffering - and save on care home fees.

Yes! I thought exactly the same.

Blondeshavemorefun · 02/02/2022 19:23

Last one tonight

Just in case you didn’t know

As been mon and tue last two weeks

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longwayoff · 02/02/2022 19:26

STOP. I can't take any more. MF is not a mother-smotherer, I refuse yo contemplate it. I've returned to the series now I feel more composed. Plot's a bit holey but you can't have everything. Best thing on TV for a while.

Blondeshavemorefun · 02/02/2022 22:01

Was good.

Glad she had the strength to leave bully fireman partner and tell his work colleagues what he was like

She would make a great domestic abuse help copper

Didn't know he did all that. Poor woman

I like the doc telling lollipop man to do one

Was Greg docs son inside ?

Didn't like Casey. She caused lots of trouble

Blue coat copper lady wanted to help Chris

So Jodie ends up with the drugs for payment for Carl's death

How did Chris wife Kate afford to pay the bill. How much was it for nursing home ?

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AntAndDecking · 02/02/2022 22:23

I enjoyed the first two episodes but after he ended up with the holdall I really felt it went downhill. I thought it was going to be the gritty, realistic look at what call responders have to deal with and poverty, crime, chaotic lives and the resultant impact on police officers lives and it was but then it just went off into this daft back and forth about the drugs. I was terrified for Casey in the first episode but to be honest I was getting bored by the final one. Not to give spoilers but I found Rachel’s plotline with her boyfriend unrealistic too. I think the actors playing Rachel, Casey and Marco were fantastic though and MF’s accent was great.

Thymeout · 02/02/2022 23:18

Best thing I've seen for ages. Much more satisfying end than The Tourist.

BoreOfWhabylon · 03/02/2022 01:42

I hope there will be further series.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 03/02/2022 08:34

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

BIWI · 03/02/2022 09:38

@Blondeshavemorefun

Greg was the doctor's brother, who was trying to run things from in prison.

Don't know how Kate found the money, but it was part of the overall story of their marriage, that he never confided in her or asked for her help - so presumably if he'd told her about his debts/need for money she could have helped anyway? Presumably from her savings?

Blondeshavemorefun · 03/02/2022 09:55

Thanks @BIWI

Brother not son

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LadyEloise1 · 03/02/2022 10:49

It was a hard watch.
It really brought home to me how difficult life on the front line is and add to this first responder's own family situations and stresses which I had never thought about before.

On a lighter note - Did they really just leave the priest's car parked like that ?
There were comic moments. Marco's face was so expressive.

bloodywind · 03/02/2022 12:16

Too gritty for me. I watched a bit just to spot the locations (my road was closed off to accommodate the film crew's cherry picker for some scenes and my dog walked me directly past MF during a break in filming). MF's accent was excellent. The only giveaway was when he said trackie, that word is always the giveaway.

Spacemonkey2016 · 03/02/2022 12:22

I loved it. I wouldn't want a second series, as I felt this was concluded brilliantly. (And so often these days I think endings leave me disappointed).

AssignedBlobbyAtBirth · 03/02/2022 17:41

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?

Spacemonkey2016 · 03/02/2022 17:43

@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, absolutely.
covetingthepreciousthings · 03/02/2022 18:17

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.

PennyRoyal · 03/02/2022 18:48

@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.

I though they talked about him seeing someone fall/jump off a roof which traumatised him.
Perhaps I'm making that up!

BIWI · 03/02/2022 18:59

There was some kind of episode that led to him being demoted, but I don't think we ever found out that was.