Riot Women binge thread for those using BBC iPlayer

[IwantToRetire]

As all episodes are available on iPlayer thought I would start a binge thread for any like me who find it easier to follow a story line when there isn't a gap of 7 days.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002hd7x/riot-women

Originally, teen goth Craig Harris in Coronation Street. Had a thing with Rosie Webster.

No way! I vaguely remember him. Stopped watching around then I think. That makes me feel old!

Yes, I’ve just watched that episode (late to the party) and I found it really jarring and unnecessary. I know there are arguments that these things need to be seen and discussed and it’s fair enough but for me personally it made the humour and relationship building (and the wry sensitive treatment of other serious issues like depression and dementia) lose some of their power and it was a step too far. I really like Nisha’s character too.

The hanging up of Nisha in the garage felt like SW wanted to make a point about police depravity and misogyny. I think it was this thread that someone said if it wasn’t tick-boxey, the BBC wouldn’t have took it on, and I agree.

I loved the series but like others found that Nisha episode too much. That level of brutality really out of place in what all the scene setting had as a fairly small town. (Plus logically i suspect a lone officer wouldn't chase three bad'uns without securing some sort of back up - why did her partner disappear?.) The idea that a fellow copper would then seriously assault her instead of rescuing her was vile. The other violent assaults (on Kitty) also sickening. I know the argument is that these things happen but I wonder if showing isomerhinv so cruel as being commonplace desensitises people.

Was Rudy chosen for his resemblance to Wayne Couzens I wonder? Gave me the shivers. So I guess he was effective as a character.
Rest I really enjoyed and hadn't come across Sally Wainwright before. I'm going to check out Last Tango in Halifax...don't think I can cope with Happy Valley!

@MaitreKarlsson I think Happy Valley worked much better because the violence was in context. It was a heavier drama and just brilliant.

This isn't the same league. I think it wanted to be all things and so it felt a bit all over the place.

I hated the violence but only because it’s sadly reflective of real life & thought it totally worked in the context. Given what he whispered in Nisha’s ear, I also surmised that he deliberately didn’t follow her to have her back, as he was teaching her a lesson for grassing on him.

At the end, one of the three men named, that is the police chief, is that Holly’s (Tamsin Greig’s) ex?

I don't think so.

Unless he was known to Kitty's dad as a different name?

Kittys dad said that the undercover man had two names, maybe he had more ? I hope it’s not Holly’s ex as he seemed ok ( ish ) but who knows?

Phone call from Kitty's dad at the end;

"Jim Bob was Jim Sykes-he got knifed 15/20yr ago.

Connor was Eamon Conway.
He lives in some flats up Ovenden, Shay House.

And Mikey.
He was known to us as Kevin Hamer.
But in fact he was an undercover copper.
Detective Chief Superintendent David Aspinall when he retired.
I've got an address.
What are you going to do to 'em love?
Have you decided?"

Wasn't Mike/Mikey the name of Holly's ex?

Tony.

Watched it all this week and loved it. I am GC, but wasn’t really bothered by the Miranda character, as others have said, it’s very Hebden Bridge to have a trans character.

I also think that people have also busy/hectic lives with lots of stuff going on and that women are often the ones that carry the load!

saw both Rosalie Craig and Richard Fleeshman (and Jonathan Bailey, now of Wicked fame!) in Company on the west End a few years ago. Both were brilliant.

Bring on series 2.

If Graham was the undercover policeman and he is Fearne's biological dad, then Tom could be married to his half sister?! Which adds to the dilemma of should Kitty tell Tom, and if Tom and Fearne go ahead with planning a family, which was mentioned earlier, the truth could come out then? And Graham did say he thought he'd met Kitty before?

No, Kitty would have remembered if it were him.

The undercover cop was called David Aspinall

He retired as a Detective Chief Superintendent.

Renewed: https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2025/riot-women-series-two

oh good news!

I was gripped by the series. I am pleased there will be another series.

Great series . Very watchable , gritty storylines with comedy thrown in . Great actors and I think I have a girl crush on Tamsin Greig .

Big fan of Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax .

Yes I did feel that some of the characters / story lines felt a bit shoe horned in .

I did like Kitty but as others have said it would have been great to find out more about the other characters backstories . Hopefully series 2 will be able to deliver that .

Wouldn’t mind finding out why Hollys sister is like she is! More there to explore I think.

What does happen to Nisha? I’ve just finished episode 3 but I’m worried I won’t be able to watch it if it’s something really horrible. Does anyone mind explaining it so I can make a decision on whether to continue watching or not?

You should continue watching.

ETA - just realised I don’t know what you’ve seen so far. If you’ve seen her horrible colleague ‘help’ her, then continue but if you’re not at that part, then it is pretty awful. Sorry!

It’s ok. I googled it (why didn’t I think of that in the first place?). Haven’t seen that bit yet, not sure I want to. It sounds truly horrific.