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

Ooh this sounds great! Especially as am still suffering from Happy Valley withdrawal symptoms!

Will do @AnyFucker

@newnamethanks I'm finally out of cast after 3w. Thanks for asking. Have a very sexy - not - walking leg brace boot thing now so can finally put some weight on it

But ankle/leg is very weak so using crutches or zimmer frame to balance

But can do stairs slowly so no more downstairs living - sleeping on sofa or using the commode

Sure mr blondes is overjoyed at that as he emptied the piss/pot pot bless him

I thought this was good. Much better than gold as I won't be watching that next week

Those who have binged

Squints eyes

No spoilers !!!!

After the anticipation of happy valley and not being able to binge shame you can't hold restraint and watch weekly

😛😛😛😛

I think the son being ill is meant to be the catalyst which sets her back on the straight and narrow? Hence the flashbacks

Yes her son being ill and nearly dying over 3hrs has made her see her error of her ways

I thought it was ok, slow burner. But I'm seriously unhappy that she went to all that effort to retrieve the gun with forensic awareness then handled it with bare hands to wrap it in tissue and put it in the present bag. It's sheer luck she got to handle it 'legitimately' when she retrieved it from tooth guy. Otherwise that weapon would have still been out and about with her dna and fingerprints on doing multiple jobs. Ok will get back in my CSI box now!

Glad to hear it blondes. I'll be going back to Scott & Bailey (Britbox) later. Enough time's elapsed for me to be finding it quite new-ish. One advantage of increasing age.

I wish programme makers would correct their mistakes before the dramas are filmed . When Lou turned up at Col's party she said hello to everyone then handed the birthday boy the gun in a birthday gift bag and said 'Open this when you're on your own' and he replied 'I'll put it in the safe' like they were on their own !!

Not as bad as Pauline behind the curtain but a definite contender !

I think she avoids friendships as she daren’t risk anyone getting close to her, a colleague would know it wasn’t official work if she’s called to do something for Col. Also her house is pretty amazing for their legitimate incomes.
I think the storyline with her son was about seeing a dying boy who she callously left and then seeing her son potentially dying. Made her see that Noel’s victim was also somebody’s son.
Looking forward to seeing how she takes Col down without losing everything, not that I’m feeling very caring towards her as she’s as bad.

Ooh been waiting for this as used to live in leeds years ago would move back in a heartbeat! Which parts did they film in? I liked it...so she helped him become a big crime boss not sure how that helped her career though? Her hubby wasn’t happy and she said be grateful we were in a shitty basement flat etc . Now they’ve a swanky home is that pays for by the drugs boss ?

Oh I've missed the start of this! How do I get added to the roll call list please 🤣

Just realised i've no idea what Andrew Buchan's actual accent is, he was Scottish in the last thing i saw him in and obviously Broadchurch wasnt his own accent

I agree, I think that in the same evening she left one young boy to die and then hers almost died. When she went to the chapel in the hospital, I assume she made a deal with God - if He made her son better, she would stop the crime.

I used to like Andrew Buchan in that thing where he played an 18th century lawyer.

Garrow's Law

Col’s house was amazing ! Is that in Leeds? Also the pub where she picked up the gun they said it was Bramley...was that where that was filmed? V curious as we lived in kirkstall...Loveall things Leeds and picking out the areas. I see Debbie Dingle from Emmerdale made a brief appearance as the girlfriend of one of his friends

I watched the first episode, not sure what to make of it yet.
The flat scene was a bit far fetched, having that conversation with the squad waiting just outside the door.
The big black landrover was a bit cliché as well.

Will see of it gets better

I've had a thing about Andrew Buchan since Cranford. Not sure about this. He narrates The Dog House on C4.

to those of you who are watching Scott and Bailey up thread. I have come to it late and have just finished the first season on Sky. But it’s only got seasons 1,3 and 5. I can’t find the others without having to pay. Anyone know where I can coz I love it. I’ve got sky, Netflix, Amazon prime and 3 months of appletv

I'm watching s&b via drama

It records every night about 11

lazymum all of them are on Britbox. I think you can get a free trial (not sure) on that through Prime but remember to cancel before you need to pay.

Thx. I’ll take a look. I think britbox is via ITVX now. I can probably watch season 2 in a weeks free trial!

I'm on episode 2 and enjoying this.

I didn't find it very believable given she was very openly involved with Col the drug boss going round his house, the range rover meetings at hospital and then ditching her colleague on the rough estate to go to the building site meeting. The boss would likely be on drugs squads radar as wasn't distanced from the lackeys to keep up the clean business man persona which would've made it more interesting. Then was the in-depth conversation with the lad during hostage situation, that nobody could overhear.
The lovely dog was the best actor by far for a depth of emotion performance.

I'll likely watch the next episode but it isn't really any tension to make it gripping.

Just binged this then came to find a thread - didn't realise it was so recent / current as found it through iPlayer
@Blondeshavemorefun you need to add me to the list!

I've just binged the whole thing. It could probably have ended an episode or two before it actually did, but overall I absolutely loved it. And fancied Col!