These comments refer to the entire third series not just this final episode.
As this series opens firearms officer Sgt Danny Waldron chases a suspect down an alleyway before shooting him as he surrenders; he then demands that the rest of his team, who arrived shortly afterwards, to back up his story that he acted in self-defence. Anti-corruption team AC-12 are brought into investigate and soon start to realise that there is something wrong in Sgt Waldron's squad.
One might expect the series to follow this case but it isn't long before things take a dramatic twist; during a raid on a property Sgt Waldron is shot and dies; colleagues claim he shot himself and they did everything he could to stop him. Investigation's into Waldron's life expose a dark past; it emerges that he was at a children's home where abuse took place and it appears that he was hunting down those responsible. It isn't long before it becomes apparent that the abuse involved local politicians, well known celebrities and senior members of the police were involved in a cover-up at the very least. The investigation is further complicated by the fact that a member of the investigating team is the corrupt police officer known as 'The Caddy' and he is doing everything he can to sabotage the enquiry while appearing to appearing to get on with his job. As the series progresses he tries to divert suspicion onto DS Steve Arnott; ultimately trying to frame him for murder.
This was probably the best series of 'Line of Duty' to date. I had feared it was going to be too obvious as we knew the person being investigated was guilty then we get a genuine surprise as he is killed and the story turns much darker. The return of Keeley Hawes as Linsay Denton, the officer convicted of murder in series two, was welcome and led to several twists. Her return also made it seem likely that it was possible that DS Arnott could successfully be framed. As the series reaches its conclusion the tension increases significantly; so much so that the somewhat melodramatic final scenes can be forgiven. The cast did a fine job; Martin Compston is solid as DS Arnott, Vicky McClure impresses as DC Kate Fleming, Adrian Dunbar is good as Superintendent Ted Hastings but it is Craig Parkinson who stands out as the devious DI Matt 'Dot' Cottan. Overall I'd say that if you watched the opening two series of 'Line of Duty' this is a must; it wraps up some loose ends from before and raises questions that left me keen to see what happens in the next series.
As this series opens firearms officer Sgt Danny Waldron chases a suspect down an alleyway before shooting him as he surrenders; he then demands that the rest of his team, who arrived shortly afterwards, to back up his story that he acted in self-defence. Anti-corruption team AC-12 are brought into investigate and soon start to realise that there is something wrong in Sgt Waldron's squad.
One might expect the series to follow this case but it isn't long before things take a dramatic twist; during a raid on a property Sgt Waldron is shot and dies; colleagues claim he shot himself and they did everything he could to stop him. Investigation's into Waldron's life expose a dark past; it emerges that he was at a children's home where abuse took place and it appears that he was hunting down those responsible. It isn't long before it becomes apparent that the abuse involved local politicians, well known celebrities and senior members of the police were involved in a cover-up at the very least. The investigation is further complicated by the fact that a member of the investigating team is the corrupt police officer known as 'The Caddy' and he is doing everything he can to sabotage the enquiry while appearing to appearing to get on with his job. As the series progresses he tries to divert suspicion onto DS Steve Arnott; ultimately trying to frame him for murder.
This was probably the best series of 'Line of Duty' to date. I had feared it was going to be too obvious as we knew the person being investigated was guilty then we get a genuine surprise as he is killed and the story turns much darker. The return of Keeley Hawes as Linsay Denton, the officer convicted of murder in series two, was welcome and led to several twists. Her return also made it seem likely that it was possible that DS Arnott could successfully be framed. As the series reaches its conclusion the tension increases significantly; so much so that the somewhat melodramatic final scenes can be forgiven. The cast did a fine job; Martin Compston is solid as DS Arnott, Vicky McClure impresses as DC Kate Fleming, Adrian Dunbar is good as Superintendent Ted Hastings but it is Craig Parkinson who stands out as the devious DI Matt 'Dot' Cottan. Overall I'd say that if you watched the opening two series of 'Line of Duty' this is a must; it wraps up some loose ends from before and raises questions that left me keen to see what happens in the next series.