Blue Lights - BBC1 - started 27 March 2023 - binge watch spoiler thread

[IwantToRetire]

New police drama set in Northern Ireland is shown on monday 9pm slot.

Also available on BBC iPlayer.

Most newspaper reviews are raving about it, except for one.

Written by the same people who wrote The Salisbury Poisonings.

They first met as local journalists in Belfast.

I'd love a second series but don't know if they will as it kind of finished perfectly (in a way) - Gerry & old style policing being killed off; new more empathetic police officers doing things the right way; collusion between intelligence agencies and the police being stopped; informants being allowed to go unpunished - all signals a new era in NI.

Caveat - I'm not saying this is the case in reality, especially given the beautiful Noah Donahue and the abhorrent crime against him, but wondering if that's what the final episode was meant to signify. After this series, it's no more than a usual police crime drama that happens to be set in Belfast, as they've covered the bulk of everything that can happen that's unique to NI in this series.

@XanaduKira I think there is still room for exploration of other things. Flag protests and marching season, plus the relationship between the police and politicians - remember Gerry Kelly being run over by the police landrover? People being given 24 hours to leave the country and that sort of thing. Honestly is it any wonder so many English people think it's unrealistic lol.

Happy was sitting in the backseat of a car when his dad and older brother went to the chippy. A car bomb outside the chippy went off and killed everyone in it. Happy was in the backseat with his childhood friend who was Gerry.

Thank you. Have no idea why I didn't remember that. It was so moving.

(Note to self, stop watching tv late at night when it is quiet, as clearly I nod off and miss important details.)

Poor Happy, always so sad, and now Gerry has gone and also Jen who would happily have sat with you all day in A&E has gone as well.

You're right @MeinKraft - there is lots more to explore sadly.

so sad about Gerry
he was the best
and surprised that the man who did the deal was on his own in the deal and the order didnt come from above.

Why did the mum of the criminal hang go to the motorhome to share a cuppa on the final episode? Was she an MI5 agent too?

Sorry criminal gang!

I might be wrong @Pittapatcat but I think that as James was no longer going to get a new ID because of the murder of Gerry, and he had been shopped - a new life was still open to her. MI5 said that James could only take one person with him/ his wife Tina or Mo his son. And then Gerry died and everything changed. I think that is what was might to happen / but it could be a wrong interpretation!

I assumed she was trying to get a deal for herself & take over James's business & act as an informant for them turning a blind eye, as the mum (who Grace helped) and her son (Gordy?) took the 2 available places for witness protection by giving evidence against James.

What was the point of the gun attack on the mother's house? Was it purely for the compensation?

It was a distraction- meant they could deal the clean batch of drugs without the risk of the police doing random stops as they were too busy.

I'm from Northern Ireland so I'll be watching Blue Lights! It looks worth the watching. I was glued to Hope Street which was set in the beautiful Donaghadee, the best place to live in NI and Derry Girls which is hilarious & had me in stitches lmao! Will have my cosy PJ's ready for settling down to watch it lol.

Oops I've just realised Blue Lights has already started so I'll catch up with it on BBC iPlayer this week!

James and Mo were going into witness protection after Gerry died because their deal with MI5 wasn't going to protect them from the police anymore. But in the meantime a few things happened; Gordy and his mum agreed to testify against the Mcintyres; Grace had the footage from the MI5 camera which couldn't be used as evidence because it was unlawfully obtained so the chief police lady with the resplendent hair forced the MI5 boss into handing over James and Mo and to take Gordy and his mum into witness protection.

I cried when Gerry died 😢

Just finished watching and thought it was excellent - hope there is another series.

I also really want this to come back. I haven't absolutely blitzed a series in this way in a long time

Pretty accurate depiction of the shit show that is policing .

From a police officer.

Under resourced. Trying to keep the plates spinning. No winning .

Wouldn't do the job in Ireland though. Not for twice the money .

I agree that it showed how under resourced policing was. And the hard decisions they have to make. The woman who killed her husband but wouldn’t have if the police had come when she first called.

Ive just finished watching. It’s streets ahead of other police dramas which just focus on really sensationalist storylines which often are incomprehensible. . Can’t wait for the next series.

it wont be the same without Gerry
i dont think i could watch it

The Garda? How come?

I mean psni. Not Garda.

The PSNI are only in Northern Ireland