LUDWIG - wed bbc 1 9pm - TV PACE NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

New series on weekly - thanks @mum2jakie for the shout out

Puzzle setter John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor’s life is upended when his identical twin, DCI James Taylor, disappears in the new series coming to BBC iPlayer and BBC One

When John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor’s (David Mitchell) identical twin, James, disappears off the face of the earth, John takes over his brother’s identity in a quest to discover his whereabouts.

John has never married, never had a family and never really ventured further than his own front door.

Without a computer, mobile phone or even a television, he lives in quiet solitude, designing puzzles for a living, under the nom-de-plume of ‘Ludwig’.

However, filling the shoes of your identical twin is one thing - when your twin also happens to be a successful DCI leading Cambridge’s busy inner-city major crimes team the stakes are much higher.

John may be a master of all things cryptic, but can he crack the biggest puzzle of his life?

Joining David Mitchell in the ‘case-of-the-week’ crime comedy-drama is Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, Line of Duty), as Lucy Betts-Taylor, John’s sister-in-law and wife of his missing brother James.

Also joining the cast are Dipo Ola (Landscapers, We Hunt Together), Gerran Howell (Catch-22, Suspicion), Izuka Hoyle (Boiling Point, Big Boys), Dylan Hughes (Malory Towers, Maternal), and Dorothy Atkinson (Mum, The Gold).

I think fundamentally it’s about the murders and the puzzle solving.

I think that’s what is so escapist and satisfying about this genre, the light meringue of a pleasing plot.

Another thing that I like about it is that it’s not gritty. It is cosy murder of the old school. So even though the crime at the centre would be an absolute abomination if it happened in real life, we all benefit from the murder-mystery convention - if you like, the Agatha Christie tradition – so we don’t dwell on what murder really is, on the horrific nature of the crime.

We focus on the context and the mystery and the play of human emotions that leads to it.

In Ludwig we don’t dwell on the fact that it’s murder any more than in a game of Cluedo you’d start thinking, ‘But how awful for Doctor Black’s family. He must be so missed.’

I couldn't believe John signed the puzzle book Ludwig, giving clues to his identity away - yes clearly it would have been hinting that James was Ludwig, but his colleagues might be surprised at that and think it's incompatible with being a fulltime detective and start to wonder. I guess it was only to the criminal himself, but it could easily have come out to others, so I'm surprised he wouldn't have tried to be more discreet, given how hard he is trying to be James with the contact lenses and the sugared tea and so on.

I too got the feeling there is a hint of Lucy having always loved John deep down, but somehow he never got the signals and so she ended up with James who was more sociable, and was happy with him - but still has a thing for John and keeps getting hurt when he doesn't quite realise it. Perhaps James knows it too and so doesn't invite him around much.

@BakeOffRewatch ooh interesting theory that Henry is actually John's son!

@BlossomToLeaves i was shocked James would be so reckless to signed the book too, but I think they set that up quite well in the series and episode. “Elvis Presley of puzzles”, “supercop” he loves the praise and admiration, even that scene in first episode where they congregated in the office to celebrate his success. He didn’t find that awkward and uncomfortable, he liked it a lot. Showing off his working for Ziegler about the church murder. Then he’s insecure enough and history of exclusion and bullying that he’d find an opportunity to connect with a like minded individual (no one could solve reverse chess but this murderer could) and show off irresistible. He’s done something very stupid, but he’s not perfect and I found it believable. I mean he gave a quote to a paper!

@PrincessScarlett i don’t really think they’ll go that way, we saw how he reacted to Lucy in PJs! I do think James might be a baddie… there’s enough of the deception, things aren’t as they seem and hen the outright goodie or baddie discussion last night.

Yes I'm thinking James might be a baddie. Or undercover. Which would explain why when John answered James's phone he was asked what he was doing being in the paper and drawing attention to himself.

James might be undercover , I didn't think of this!
I thought it was funny when the main builder man in charge said to the detective' look mate ' and he interrupted him with ' no, you look mate .,' it was a good exchange there ! Made me smile

Who do we think is the person with all the photos of them up on the board at the end? I don’t think Holly the computer woman would be that bothered… and I don’t think Sergeant Finch (Alice part of the junior twosome) is switched on enough, she always gets the wrong end of the stick with each murder, though she does seem the type to go to that effort of sticking stuff up at home.

Or could it be someone new, like that female journalist John gave a quote to?

I REALLY hope they don’t leave the series on a cliffhanger. I didn’t cope well when Sherlock jumped off the building in 2012 and having to wait two years. Only for them to completely gloss over it.

Using the technique of the last crime solving, is Hooded Man one of the characters we already know? Or someone we haven't met yet? Which might be thought of as a bit of a cheat. I liked the ambiguity of the scene where Holly was talking about being someone else (?), and John was getting paranoid thinking she'd sussed him, when in fact there was nothing in it (I think!). And yes, the phone call would tie in well with being undercover. Or bent. But now they know: When John said, who's this, the caller would have realised straightaway that it wasn't James.

The more we find out about James - I don't think he was very nice

The way he shut out John when mum was crying nye after dad left

The book he stole off him

If he was undercover surely the station would know or at least chief z

I also think James wasn't too nice a person but I don't think Henry is John's son as he's so 'do the right thing' .

We seem to be getting clues about who is watching but they may be red herrings , you just never know..🤔

I love the silly humour like Constable Evans putting on John’s hard hat. Connor making his tea and eating biscuit in time with the Beethoven music. The theatrics of John’s “your move” at the end showing up Gary.

Some of my wilder theories:

• John manipulated all of this because he’s bored and needs the challenge and finally wanted to get the best of James
• James and Holly computer woman are or were having a secret affair hence why she’s frosty with John from the off as she can tell he’s not behaving like James. Lucy said James kept work life and home life very separate - a MN red flag no? LTB Lucy if he hadn’t left you first

I think I know who the person at the end is because I paused over the bits of paper and read what they said. In particular the “your journey” piece of paper, the photo between the curtains, and the note on the church murder article saying it’s a similar approach to solving. Won’t say who I think because I think that does err into spoiler territory, not everyone is trapped under a contact napping baby.

DCI Carter is so handsome! I love how he is fully trusting and in admiration of John. Sergeant Finch is so well done, as the ambitious frustrated colleague having to work under experienced but non process following DCI Taylor.

“I’ve seen a million workplace accidents like this one” “And yet they keep employing you!” 🤭

James and Holly computer woman are or were having a secret affair

Does kinda tie in with James telling Lucy how awful she was/is. Lucy warned John about her, but of course she was only repeating what John had told her.

Anybody else wonder about John's source of income? Surely he doesn't make a living from selling puzzle books?

He’s the Elvis Presley of puzzles @duc748

I think Holly’s “pretends to be someone they’re not” considered comment can be put down to DCI Taylor logging in as Ziegler. Not that she knows about James/John.

Ive watched this to the end but wont give any spoilers but wanted to say its the best thing/nicest thing Ive watched in a while, not too hard core, a bit silly in places, thoughtful in others. I like it

I think he does, plus had very low outgoings. No car, lived in the house he grew up in. I imagine him being very frugal!

I think Holly’s “pretends to be someone they’re not” considered comment can be put down to DCI Taylor logging in as Ziegler. Not that she knows about James/John.

I tend to think, both, though! But then, James and John are clearly pretty different. it seems most implausible a colleague hasn't smelt a rat.

Oh yeah that’s the other threadbare reason I thought affair - why else would she protect DCI Taylor? She’s covering that he’s fled. Would Holly be that altruistic otherwise? Or does she sense something fishy as well.

Well, if you're shagging someone, you can definitely tell if it's a twin. Or so I've been told... 😄

I too thought computer woman was in a relationship with James and is very suspicious of John.

Will she end up with James and John and Lucy end up together.
Everyone happy except son Henry

@BakeOffRewatch Nothing wrong with speculation. If haven't seen it all then guess away

The premise of the story is a bit daft really.
I mean they are supposed to be detectives and yet they can't suss that John is behaving very odly and very differently to James.
Suspension of disbelief is required.

True, but I think Holly at least is aware.

I guess if Lucy isn't sure who the father of Henry is... they aren't going to work it out with dna testing!