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Post by oxfordsimon on Mar 31, 2019 21:09:24 GMT
What did people think of the new series that started tonight?
Mercurio is a class act
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Mar 31, 2019 21:26:46 GMT
Addicted all over again and trying to remember what happened in previous series to shed light on this one! I have to watch parts of this from behind my hands.
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2,369 posts
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Post by theatreian on Mar 31, 2019 21:30:05 GMT
Yes it went at breakneck speed and with all the abbreviations used you really have to concentrate to keep up! Still it gets you hooked.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Mar 31, 2019 21:43:46 GMT
The first 4 seasons are all on iPlayer - I meant to rewatch them this week but ran out of energy
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Post by oxfordsimon on Mar 31, 2019 22:15:38 GMT
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Post by sparky5000 on Mar 31, 2019 23:44:51 GMT
It’s so so so good! Had me gripped from start to finish. How this show has not won a bafta yet is beyond me!
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397 posts
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Post by altamont on Apr 1, 2019 7:28:09 GMT
We’ve not watched the previous series of LoD - just never gotten around to it. Should we really do so before watching this one - or would it be OK to watch this one and then catch up with older series afterwards?
Thanks...
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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 1, 2019 10:09:17 GMT
I have watched from the beginning - so hard to say whether you can easily jump in now. The thing with Mercurio's plotting is that an insignificant comment or moment from one series suddenly becomes relevant a series or two later.
I think you can enjoy from the start of this season - but the experience is richer with all the knowledge gleaned from the earlier seasons.
My housemate only started watching live from the previous season and then went back to catch up - so it is more than possible to do it that way.
It is worth watching under any circumstances. It is a better drama than we often get.
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587 posts
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Post by Polly1 on Apr 1, 2019 10:42:02 GMT
I'm calling it now. Mercurio knew he had two series this time, so at the end of this one, Hastings will be found to be H and in the next series, he'll be exonerated.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 1, 2019 11:29:30 GMT
I can appreciate your thinking Polly - but I suspect Mercurio might throw even more of a curve ball than that.
We still have other H suspects - and it may not even be someone with H in their name.
The thrill of the ride!
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5,138 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Apr 1, 2019 12:39:21 GMT
One of the baddies, Alastair Natkiel, is currently appearing in Standing at the Sky's Edge at the Crucible Theatre. He's much nicer in that!
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999 posts
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Post by Backdrifter on Apr 1, 2019 15:26:50 GMT
It was a stark reminder that it can be pretty ruthless with what happens to its main characters. Possibility of one of the principal trio making an exit this series? Before it started I had that feeling of "this is going to be the series where I sigh and realise it's lost it" but not on the evidence of that opening episode. The speed of its storytelling is underlined by its knack for having a shocking event or major revelation in the first episode of a series, as with this one. I still think fondly, if that's the right word, back to Mercurio's brilliantly grim medical drama Cardiac Arrest in the 1990s. Anyone who saw it will probably know what I'm referring to when I say there was a scene that made me feel so weak and shocked I had to tell me to pull myself together, had discussions about it with similarly traumatised friends, and about which the BBC bizarrely did a sort of "we hope you weren't too upset by this" announcement after an episode of the following season, about a year later. I'd never seen that happen before. And as far as I can recall it was the first time I'd seen Helen Baxendale (as the cynical acid-tongued Claire Maitland... )
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Post by talkingheads on Apr 1, 2019 16:28:14 GMT
The best drama is back on telly and it's just as gripping as ever. I actually whooped at the end because I guessed 10 minutes in who the UCO was. I'm thinking they're making it so blindingly obvious that they want us to think Ted is a bent copper, from the sneakily edited phone call to the shots of him looking shifty in his office that it simply cannot be him. Oh I'm sure he has secrets that will come out. I'm also thinking that tiny moment with Steve commenting about his back after tacking the suspect will become a bigger plot point. Mercurio is without question though one of the best writers for television this country has. Occasionally you can pull apart his plots, but then again you can with any drama, the point is that nothing is as watchable as this. I was enjoying it so much it was over before I felt it had begun! I still think fondly, if that's the right word, back to Mercurio's brilliantly grim medical drama Cardiac Arrest in the 1990s. Anyone who saw it will probably know what I'm referring to when I say there was a scene that made me feel so weak and shocked I had to tell me to pull myself together, had discussions about it with similarly traumatised friends, and about which the BBC bizarrely did a sort of "we hope you weren't too upset by this" announcement after an episode of the following season, about a year later. I'd never seen that happen before. Yes, that and Bodies still stick in my mind, Max Beesely was outstanding in that. Out of interest does anyone remember Mercurio's foray into comedy with the Noddy Holder starring The Grimleys? Haven;t seen it in years but remember liking it a lot.
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3,040 posts
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Post by crowblack on Apr 1, 2019 16:47:26 GMT
Should we really do so before watching this one Yeah, I wondered that - I tried the last series and the start of this but I guess you have to have spent much more time with the characters to care. Jumping in at this point, it just comes across as a lot of scowly people in dingy, carpet-tiled offices and I wasn't able to warm to anyone, though I do like Stephen Graham so was watching for that. I'm not into Scandi Noir either though, so I think it's just not for me.
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999 posts
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Post by Backdrifter on Apr 1, 2019 16:56:14 GMT
During the last series there were a couple of LoD bingo cards circulating. I recall Ted says "fellah" CCTV footage reveals something significant Ted reacts to something (possibly significant CCTV footage) with "mother of god" "The right to be questioned by an officer of at least one rank higher" Kate and Steve say "Sir" in unison Jodie says "Ma'am" The Caddy is mentioned etc. I actually whooped at the end because I guessed 10 minutes in who the UCO was. I'm thinking they're making it so blindingly obvious that they want us to think Ted is a bent copper, from the sneakily edited phone call to the shots of him looking shifty in his office that it simply cannot be him. Oh I'm sure he has secrets that will come out. I'm also thinking that tiny moment with Steve commenting about his back after tacking the suspect will become a bigger plot point. Mercurio is without question though one of the best writers for television this country has. Occasionally you can pull apart his plots, but then again you can with any drama, the point is that nothing is as watchable as this. I was enjoying it so much it was over before I felt it had begun! Mrs Backdrifter had a different reaction at the end - hers was "Damn! I knew it! I wish I'd said!" The thought had briefly crossed my mind too, but I then settled on someone else. Yes I agree about the Ted hints - his living arrangements at least are going to be a recurring plot feature I'm sure - and about Steve's back. Mercurio achieves the knack of writing something that's quite daft and bordering on operatic, but making it very compelling and character-driven.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 1, 2019 16:59:38 GMT
There is something significant about the 'hotel receptionist' - you don't get that much screentime without a purpose. Wish I could have seen what was being typed into the screen.
He lied about the toilet and I don't believe a chain hotel like that would let someone stay there when they clearly couldn't pay...
More to come there - I am thinking surveillance by someone for some (sinister) motive
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Post by basi1faw1ty on Apr 1, 2019 17:16:51 GMT
There is something significant about the 'hotel receptionist' - you don't get that much screentime without a purpose. Wish I could have seen what was being typed into the screen. He lied about the toilet and I don't believe a chain hotel like that would let someone stay there when they clearly couldn't pay... Yeah I feel the same! I was sat too far away from t'telly to see what was being typed, but luckily we have iPlayer... {Spoiler - click to view}
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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 1, 2019 17:17:51 GMT
Thanks for the screen cap
Still think there is more to come from this part of the narrative
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Post by basi1faw1ty on Apr 1, 2019 17:19:56 GMT
Yeah, totally. This is my first dive into LOD, and apart from losing my mind with all those abbreviations, I managed to stay glued to the screen.
Some things didn't make sense, obvs cos I've just gotten into it, but I am kinda invested now.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Apr 1, 2019 17:20:49 GMT
All you need do is find 24 hours to catch up on all the previous episodes before next Sunday!
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8,094 posts
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Post by alece10 on Apr 1, 2019 18:02:15 GMT
I only discovered Line of Duty at the last series so quite a newby. I am now going back and watching the old series. Just finished series 1. The latest series seems to be just as good and it's certainly a must see programme. Oh the police love their abbreviations don't they. Half the time they don't know themselves what they mean and they are meant be be signed up to the plain English speaking campaign!!!
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214 posts
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Post by BoOverall on Apr 1, 2019 18:22:47 GMT
Oh this is just SO good. I only jumped in at the last series (what a treat that was) but am also now watching from Series 1.
So many little things dangling here and there to draw you in, to make you over-analyse and wonder,......great fun.
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Apr 1, 2019 18:49:51 GMT
It's taken me 24 hours to finally remember what happened last season, I was getting them all mixed up in my head and didn't have time to re-watch. Watching last night applied {Spoiler - click to view} 'don't get attached to anyone in the first five minutes, they won't survive' wasn't far off.
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Post by talkingheads on Apr 1, 2019 20:03:48 GMT
Thanks for the screen cap Still think there is more to come from this part of the narrative This could be stretching it, but him trying to get rid of some evidence but blocking the loo perhaps? Gah, I refuse to believe Ted is one of them
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999 posts
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Post by Backdrifter on Apr 1, 2019 22:28:37 GMT
Thanks for the screen cap Still think there is more to come from this part of the narrative This could be stretching it, but him trying to get rid of some evidence but blocking the loo perhaps? Gah, I refuse to believe Ted is one of them So do I, and excellent use of 'gah' by the way. I like a 'gah'.
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