BETTER. BBC 1. Mon 9pm - TV PACE. NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

NEW 5 part drama to be shown weekly on a Monday

a corrupt cop now realises she must betray her drug baron boss

19 years ago, when Lou was a young police officer at her lowest ebb and Col a low-ranking but ambitious newcomer to the Leeds underworld, their paths crossed, and they struck a deal that changed their lives forever.

The bargain allowed Col to become very rich and very powerful, and Lou to turn around her failing career.

A complex but special bond between the pair was forged, and so began Lou’s gradual slide into corruption. But now, when Lou’s family is brought to the brink of a tragedy, she must put right the wrongs that she has spent years rationalising and excusing, to have a second chance at a new, better life.

Set and shot entirely in Leeds and West Yorkshire, Better explores the complex and powerful bonds of loyalty and family, set in a world where everyone has their own version of “right” and “wrong”. Examining the power of human conscience, we follow DI Lou Slack’s (Leila Farzad) epic battle towards redemption, by bringing down Col McHugh (Andrew Buchan); the man she has come to love like a brother and the man she has helped place at the head of Leeds criminal underworld. But while Col is a dangerous enemy to make, Lou’s biggest battle may yet be with herself.

GK

I think it's dull so far, don't like either of the main actors.

I am about 10 minutes behind, maybe it gets better

The Gold was dreary. This is bloody tedious. Bring back Sally Wainwright. Was halfway through a Scott & Bailey and switched to this. Hmm.

😂😂😂😂

I do try and give info @daffodilandtulip

I did think this

Esp as her partner was going to go as well

@newnamethanks don't you like ?

I'm not keen blondes, she's not very subtle is she? Hanging around building sites and letting everyone in Kingpin's shed know she's bent. Now she's having a one to one with a gun waving crim with the gun squad outside. Doubt I'll get to the end.

She's only an inspector I thought she was really high up, thought that was the point. It makes no sense that she socialises with the criminal. The actress isn't very believable as the character. Think she's too beautiful.

Oh. I'm Enjoying

Sorry you aren't 🥲

She took the bloody dog 😂

A very identifiable dog🐕. gonna be a problem?

Definitely got better once she went back to work. Was a bit slow to start with but I think they were setting the scene as to how close she is with the criminal group but now her son has taken poorly she's seeing things through new eyes and wants either to bring him down or out.

I enjoyed it 😀

The concept is OK, although I really do think TV producers must be running out of fresh ideas for police dramas.

However, the dialogue and characterisation seem stilted and contrived. Even allowing for dramatic licence, it just doesn't ring true.

Eugh I really wanted to like this, enjoyed all the performances but couldn't get past how indiscreet she is as a bent copper? Some very high risk behaviour going on - even taking on criminals dogs

Wouldn't take AC12 long to sus her out..

Unless she says I took the dog so
It didn't go to the pound

Does seem weird she meets col in public /bars

I don't get why she turned cols lackey in

With the teeth

Why she didn't say she didn't know who he was

Not sure why she turned on her friends /king pin drug baron

Yes, having an incriminating conversation with the gold toothed heavy while half the Leeds special ops were standing right outside the door, able to hear every word?

You're right. Steve and Kate would be onto her in 5 minutes, tops.

I enjoyed it enough to tune in next week.

She said teeth man was too obvious for her to hide it. I guess the police know who the local criminals are and the teeth make him stand out!

I liked it.

True

Just a shame someone else didn't grass him up

Rather then her

But as she said to col. has to take one for the team

Aside from that, how's your leg blondes? Are you up and about yet?

She's hard as nails and bent as a corkscrew . And she speaks so strangely , hardly any expression .

Really unsure whether I'm going to like this or not . Hmmm

That's how I feel too.

She doesn't seem like a real person, with an inner life. None of them do.

Maybe the characters will develop in future episodes, but I'm not sure I can be bothered finding out.

I wasn't convinced by the characters either and none of the relationships were warm or genuine. She's pretty rude to everyone which is supposed to be what, hard and northern, I don't know. However it's an interesting angle and the characters are at least different to the usual stereotypes you can get, so I'll give it time.

I also couldn't see how the son's storyline added anything to the main story. His illness happened very fast and neither her of the husband seemed very affected his the sudden and devastating event! Again I'm curious how this will be relevant to the overall story as it progresses.

Hmm. I wasn't fussed. Not sure I'll bother with the rest of it.

well im on episode 3 and i know no spoilers but imo it does get better
had to turn of after 15 mins Of The Gold was truly awful

I agree that this is better than that snorefest “The Gold” last night

Will persevere weekly

@Blondeshavemorefun please could I get a tag when summat new and potentially interesting starts ?

I enjoyed it and unusual for us, we wanted more when it finished so w er onto iPlayer and watched Ep 2. Thought there was some humour in it, some quite witty lines. A different angle on the bent copper story, I like that her husband knows (too often it's all a big secret and double life at home). Not sure how it'll pan out but I think we're likely to watch it all before next episode is aired!