Jed Mercurio was a producer on 'Bloodlands', and the influence of 'Line of Duty' shows: check corrupt police, complicated plot, untrustworthy protagonists, elongated interview scences, and in this case, more than one character with a Northern Irish accent. In fact, the entire story is set in Northern Island, where a contemporary murder sounds echoes of the Troubles. Like 'Line of Duty', it's also very watchable, although the plotting isn't quite as clever. It's a bold move not to give the viewer a central figure to follow throughout, but also a disengaging one. But it's well put together, and supremely watchable, though a little lacking in emotional heft.
135 Reviews
Don't mess with the Irish! Not 20 years ago, not now, not ever!
Coventry1 May 2021
Wow... judging by a large share of unfavorable comments submitted here, "Bloodlands" isn't very popular among the viewers. Then again, most of the reviews were written after barely one (out of four) episode, and restrict to just one or two sentences stating the series is boring and awful. How reliable are those opinions? Personally, I found "Bloodlands" a compelling and well-scripted thriller mini-series, albeit with a number of shortcomings.
The series is heavy on politics, but what else do you expect from a murder-and-kidnapping story set in Northern Ireland, and jumping back and forth between April 1998 (the period leading up to the Good Friday peace agreement) and present day, where the truce between Catholics and Protestants is still very vulnerable. The kidnapping of former IRA-militant (and thoroughly unpleasant) Pat Keenan also reopens the unresolved case of the so-called Goliath murders. Those murders were committed between February and April 1998, presumably by a member of the police force, but had to be covered up in favor of the approaching peace agreement. DCI Tom Brannick lost his wife to the Goliath killer, and is now confronted again with the cold case.
There's not a whole lot of action in "Bloodlands", but the script is intelligent and full of unforeseeable twists. Especially halfway and during the finale, there are some perplexing twists. James Nesbitt in the lead role is somewhat a mixed bag. I like him as an actor, especially since his powerful role in "The Missing", and he fits the character, but his performance is wickedly uneven. All of his facial expressions, whether its rage or frustration or sadness, make it look as if he's struggling with stomach aches. Strong supportive cast, though, including Lorcan Cranitch, Charlene McKenna and Peter Ballance. And, what I definitely enjoyed most about "Bloodlands" was the Irishness; - duh! The history lessons, the trivia, the accents, and even one sequence in genuine Irish language.
The series is heavy on politics, but what else do you expect from a murder-and-kidnapping story set in Northern Ireland, and jumping back and forth between April 1998 (the period leading up to the Good Friday peace agreement) and present day, where the truce between Catholics and Protestants is still very vulnerable. The kidnapping of former IRA-militant (and thoroughly unpleasant) Pat Keenan also reopens the unresolved case of the so-called Goliath murders. Those murders were committed between February and April 1998, presumably by a member of the police force, but had to be covered up in favor of the approaching peace agreement. DCI Tom Brannick lost his wife to the Goliath killer, and is now confronted again with the cold case.
There's not a whole lot of action in "Bloodlands", but the script is intelligent and full of unforeseeable twists. Especially halfway and during the finale, there are some perplexing twists. James Nesbitt in the lead role is somewhat a mixed bag. I like him as an actor, especially since his powerful role in "The Missing", and he fits the character, but his performance is wickedly uneven. All of his facial expressions, whether its rage or frustration or sadness, make it look as if he's struggling with stomach aches. Strong supportive cast, though, including Lorcan Cranitch, Charlene McKenna and Peter Ballance. And, what I definitely enjoyed most about "Bloodlands" was the Irishness; - duh! The history lessons, the trivia, the accents, and even one sequence in genuine Irish language.
This is the most unfairly reviewed show I've read on imdb
movieswithgreg13 June 2021
In ten years of reading Imdb daily, I've never seen more unfair, inaccurate, inexplicably negative reviews of one show. After reading a few dozen reviews, my spidey senses tell me someone's running a smear campaign on BLOODLANDS. Many reviews are factually incorrect. Many other reviews here are irrationally biased and critical where it's clearly undeserved.
Nesbit's acting is good. Camera work is not "shaky," certainly not as much as NYPD BLUE. There are no glaring "plot holes." BLOODLANDS is no more or less predictable nor cliched nor boring than any other british police procedural these days. This show does not "take itself too seriously," What does that even mean?
Why are so many reviewers comparing this to LINE OF DUTY? Is that the only british police proedural they know? That's almost like criticizing BOSCH, by saying "it's certainly not THE WIRE."
For a yank, I watch a lot of british police procedurarls, and I found this one refreshingly different in that it's set in Northern Ireland of today, and how the IRA issues still affect modern policing, like that special investigative commission that handles newfound remains of victims of the pre-peace agreement violence.
The supporting cast is good, though I found the acting weak link was the character of Nisbet's boss, who was his former partner from the pre-peace agreement days when the IRA was active. Either the actor doesn't fit here, or his dialogue is particularly clunky; either way, it comes off oddly rhythmed and toned.
Nesbit's acting is good. Camera work is not "shaky," certainly not as much as NYPD BLUE. There are no glaring "plot holes." BLOODLANDS is no more or less predictable nor cliched nor boring than any other british police procedural these days. This show does not "take itself too seriously," What does that even mean?
Why are so many reviewers comparing this to LINE OF DUTY? Is that the only british police proedural they know? That's almost like criticizing BOSCH, by saying "it's certainly not THE WIRE."
For a yank, I watch a lot of british police procedurarls, and I found this one refreshingly different in that it's set in Northern Ireland of today, and how the IRA issues still affect modern policing, like that special investigative commission that handles newfound remains of victims of the pre-peace agreement violence.
The supporting cast is good, though I found the acting weak link was the character of Nisbet's boss, who was his former partner from the pre-peace agreement days when the IRA was active. Either the actor doesn't fit here, or his dialogue is particularly clunky; either way, it comes off oddly rhythmed and toned.
Certainly worth a look (Edit: until episode 3)
OldIowaDave23 March 2021
A solid police show with a nice steady stream of twists and reveals, the second episode just dropped on ROKU and it keeps up the intrigue begun in the first. Not so complex that you need a scorecard to follow it, yet it never seems to drag or leave you looking for the FF button. I admit to being a sucker for Irish police shows and this one hasn't disappointed. Edit: I have to withdraw my enthusiasm for this series since the writers decided to make so many characters totally unlikable or dead. They had a great start but I think they dropped the ball big time. For me a show needs to have someone I can root for and they've left me with no one.
High quality series
matthewwffitchimdb21 February 2021
Mediocre, enjoyed Pembrokeshire murders alot more
rosstheboss197222 February 2021
Please be kind
sharonhiginbotham-2201527 March 2021
It's really upsetting to see trolls on here talking so badly about James Nesbitt.
If you don't like something he is in then simply don't watch it but please for the love of God stop saying things like "does anyone want to smash James Nesbitts face in" this is absolutely disgusting to speak about another human being like this shame on you.
Ok you don't like a series or movie that's entirely your own opinion but don't make something personal. With everything that's happened recently in the press do you really need reminding to "be kind"
If you don't like something he is in then simply don't watch it but please for the love of God stop saying things like "does anyone want to smash James Nesbitts face in" this is absolutely disgusting to speak about another human being like this shame on you.
Ok you don't like a series or movie that's entirely your own opinion but don't make something personal. With everything that's happened recently in the press do you really need reminding to "be kind"
Giant Steps
Lejink15 March 2021
Strongly marketed by the BBC as our next lockdown obsession and coming from the same production company as "Line Of Duty", the new series of which handily starts next week, "Bloodlands" (terrible title) was a tense, exciting, if occasionally baffling and over-familiar mini-series set in Belfast and featuring a high-quality, almost exclusively Irish cast.
Top-billed James Nesbit is the gnarled old detective who returns to his homeland on the trail of a serial killer who twenty years ago threatened to derail the Good Friday Peace Agreement between the United Kingdom and Ireland by disappearing prominent persons of both political persuasions, one of whom happened to be his wife. The affair was hushed up at the time under political expediency and the believed perpetrator, code-named Goliath, never caught.
Now, an ex-IRA chief has been honey-trapped and abducted and Nesbit and his team race to rescue him, but when they do, they find at the crime scene a calling-card identical to that used by Goliath at the scenes of the old disappearances. Working under his old friend and colleague Lorcan Cranach, another who worked on the original fruitless investigation, Nesbit is forced to revisit his past, darkly, confront his present and fear for the future, this in the form of his doted-upon daughter as he leads his team in this new investigation.
It's impossible watching this not to do a read-across to "Line Of Duty", from the brooding background music, a plot to frame a DCS, including a particularly intense interrogation by a female Internal Affairs supremo, the serpentine twists in the ever-deepening tale and an "L.O.D."-type "didn't-see-that-coming" moment which in this series occurs at the end of episode two. Even the personnel seems naggingly familiar at times, none more so than Vicky McClure lookalike Charlene McKenna as Nesbit's intuitive second-in-command.
Besides that shocking scene, there were several other tense set-piece extended sequences, like the chase to find the kidnapped victim, the excavations of a burial site on a remote island, the abduction of Nesbit's daughter, the fitting-up of Cranach's character and the final denouement which included another dramatic shooting.
I appreciated the relative concision in reducing the story to four as opposed to the more usual six episodes of this type of fare and also welcomed the Northern Ireland casting and settings. In the end though I found the narrative a bit too impenetrable and far-fetched to fully connect with what I was seeing. At times, I was too actively conscious of being manipulated by events as well as never quite escaping the familiarity of certain characters and tropes from that other show.
James Nesbit acted with a sort of nervous energy I didn't always think sat well with his rather one-dimensional character but Lorcan Cranach was better as his boss, who gets reluctantly sucked into events and I was also impressed by McKenna, slightly underused as the perceptive D.S. McGovern, Chris Walley as the keen-to-impress, geeky young lapdog cop and Lisa Dwan as the mysterious woman who links the past and present crimes. At one point too, I half-expected to see the rest of the "Derry Girls" cast make an appearance but that settled down about halfway through.
A credible, creditable drama, not quite one to get obsessed by, but better than much of what passes for entertainment on television these days, although I suspect it will fade in the memory as series 6 of you-know-what gets underway..
Top-billed James Nesbit is the gnarled old detective who returns to his homeland on the trail of a serial killer who twenty years ago threatened to derail the Good Friday Peace Agreement between the United Kingdom and Ireland by disappearing prominent persons of both political persuasions, one of whom happened to be his wife. The affair was hushed up at the time under political expediency and the believed perpetrator, code-named Goliath, never caught.
Now, an ex-IRA chief has been honey-trapped and abducted and Nesbit and his team race to rescue him, but when they do, they find at the crime scene a calling-card identical to that used by Goliath at the scenes of the old disappearances. Working under his old friend and colleague Lorcan Cranach, another who worked on the original fruitless investigation, Nesbit is forced to revisit his past, darkly, confront his present and fear for the future, this in the form of his doted-upon daughter as he leads his team in this new investigation.
It's impossible watching this not to do a read-across to "Line Of Duty", from the brooding background music, a plot to frame a DCS, including a particularly intense interrogation by a female Internal Affairs supremo, the serpentine twists in the ever-deepening tale and an "L.O.D."-type "didn't-see-that-coming" moment which in this series occurs at the end of episode two. Even the personnel seems naggingly familiar at times, none more so than Vicky McClure lookalike Charlene McKenna as Nesbit's intuitive second-in-command.
Besides that shocking scene, there were several other tense set-piece extended sequences, like the chase to find the kidnapped victim, the excavations of a burial site on a remote island, the abduction of Nesbit's daughter, the fitting-up of Cranach's character and the final denouement which included another dramatic shooting.
I appreciated the relative concision in reducing the story to four as opposed to the more usual six episodes of this type of fare and also welcomed the Northern Ireland casting and settings. In the end though I found the narrative a bit too impenetrable and far-fetched to fully connect with what I was seeing. At times, I was too actively conscious of being manipulated by events as well as never quite escaping the familiarity of certain characters and tropes from that other show.
James Nesbit acted with a sort of nervous energy I didn't always think sat well with his rather one-dimensional character but Lorcan Cranach was better as his boss, who gets reluctantly sucked into events and I was also impressed by McKenna, slightly underused as the perceptive D.S. McGovern, Chris Walley as the keen-to-impress, geeky young lapdog cop and Lisa Dwan as the mysterious woman who links the past and present crimes. At one point too, I half-expected to see the rest of the "Derry Girls" cast make an appearance but that settled down about halfway through.
A credible, creditable drama, not quite one to get obsessed by, but better than much of what passes for entertainment on television these days, although I suspect it will fade in the memory as series 6 of you-know-what gets underway..
I'll be following.
ljames-9674324 February 2021
I'm a consumer of police procedurals in general and Scandi Noir in particular, across all its guises, cultures and languages.
Ignore all the bad reviews, watch for yourself, and make up your own minds.
It's good by the way.
Very good.
Disappointing goof.
jabfabbell7 March 2021
Surgeon Tori Matthews is asked a question on the causes of blurred vision from (at the time) stranger Inspector Tom Bannick, whilst walking through the foyer of her hospital. She suggests the cause might be syphilis. As an ex medic, producer Joe Mercurio must not have read the script if he allowed this appalling error. Even lay folk know that cataracts, migraine, stroke and many more problems may affect eyesight and no consultant would throw away a diagnosis in such circumstances.
Tried Hard But Ultimately Doesn't Deliver
samcollins3321 March 2021
It had the potential to be great but ended a pretty poor mini series. By the final episode of given up and lost patience.
Nesbitt was awful throughout. His facial expressions were so cliché and he over acted everything. Usually like him but he was dreadful in this.
The plot tries to be too clever with too many twists and turns. It's just not worth the watch when there's so much other quality TV out there.
Nesbitt was awful throughout. His facial expressions were so cliché and he over acted everything. Usually like him but he was dreadful in this.
The plot tries to be too clever with too many twists and turns. It's just not worth the watch when there's so much other quality TV out there.
Unexpected journey
nancyldraper16 January 2022
The draw was James Nesbitt and a UK Crime Drama. This one takes you on an unexpected path. It's a great murder mystery set in Ireland's Troubles. Great performances. Interesting twists. I give this series an 8 (great) out of 10. {Police Procedural}
Almost had it but not quite
BoboBagina24 March 2021
There was some really strange dialogue in this show.
Police asking for evidence and then explaining that this evidence could be crucial to solving the case it by far the stupidest thing I've hurt on telly in a long time.
Kept me interested enough to watch the 4 eps and bar the random faces from the lead male actor it was watchable , just not something I'll think about again
Kept me interested enough to watch the 4 eps and bar the random faces from the lead male actor it was watchable , just not something I'll think about again
So many holes it's just not realistic
timothyseibert4 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This series failed me on two key points: 1) I like mine to be feasible--possible and 2) I like the bad guy to get caught. So feeling a bit ajar I am going to rip it apart.
1) How does a wee woman like Tori manage to kidnap fat Pat and chain him to a radiator? How does he stay there for a few days without the hotel finding out?
2) How / why does a DCS demote themself and ignore all of their other responsibilities to take over a district office-all for a missing persons case?
3) The whole Tori bumps into Tom at the elevator and also teaches his daughter and also happens to be the kidnapper is too much.
4) The entire thrust to ignore the Keenan kidnapping and pursue Goliath, including the unsanctioned trip to and digging up of the bones, was aggressively and insubordinately pushed by--the guy who stood to lose everything from its success. Without the dig on the island, they never find the bodies--or the pendant which was ultimately Tom's undoing.
5) Where is the boat that got Adam to the island? How did Tom get it so fast and dispose of it? According to Digger it should have been littered with evidence. How does Tom get him to the island, shoot him and dump him in broad daylight with no witnesses? Finally-why would he shoot him? He had the gun he used in 1998 which meant he was armed when he first went to visit him which means he was prepared to kill him from the beginning. It makes no sense. Adam was weak and dying. He had no evidence--only theories which had been dismissed in the past. Killing him only put Tom further at risk.
6) Why does Tom set up Jackie--only to push for his exoneration?
7) Once the theory is zeroed into three people--2 of whom are running the investigation--how is it that others are not called in to take over the investigation? How does Tom arrest his DCS boss without bringing in others?
8) Is it really realistic that Emma would give such and intimate gift from Tom to her lover--and that a paramilitary would accept it and wear it? And how does she disappear without any money or assistance? And would she really set up her husband as she did? If she--as Army intel--knew about the gun shipments why does she participate with a UFF guy in a rouge plot manipulating her cop husband to neutralize them? I'm sorry but that is dumb. And an Army intel woman goes missing from her unit for 12 days and no one says boo? And the 'official' version from her husband that she went missing in March is swallowed by them without investigation?
The biggest threat to Tom was Tom--who agressively investigated where the whole of the PSNI, Special Branch and Army Intel bumbled blindly? I don't think so.
If you aspire to make a show where the good guy is--surprise--really the bad guy you have to do a better job of writing it. In the real world Tom would never have done what he did and escaped severe investigation from higher ups. Army Intel would have caught him back in '98.
1) How does a wee woman like Tori manage to kidnap fat Pat and chain him to a radiator? How does he stay there for a few days without the hotel finding out?
2) How / why does a DCS demote themself and ignore all of their other responsibilities to take over a district office-all for a missing persons case?
3) The whole Tori bumps into Tom at the elevator and also teaches his daughter and also happens to be the kidnapper is too much.
4) The entire thrust to ignore the Keenan kidnapping and pursue Goliath, including the unsanctioned trip to and digging up of the bones, was aggressively and insubordinately pushed by--the guy who stood to lose everything from its success. Without the dig on the island, they never find the bodies--or the pendant which was ultimately Tom's undoing.
5) Where is the boat that got Adam to the island? How did Tom get it so fast and dispose of it? According to Digger it should have been littered with evidence. How does Tom get him to the island, shoot him and dump him in broad daylight with no witnesses? Finally-why would he shoot him? He had the gun he used in 1998 which meant he was armed when he first went to visit him which means he was prepared to kill him from the beginning. It makes no sense. Adam was weak and dying. He had no evidence--only theories which had been dismissed in the past. Killing him only put Tom further at risk.
6) Why does Tom set up Jackie--only to push for his exoneration?
7) Once the theory is zeroed into three people--2 of whom are running the investigation--how is it that others are not called in to take over the investigation? How does Tom arrest his DCS boss without bringing in others?
8) Is it really realistic that Emma would give such and intimate gift from Tom to her lover--and that a paramilitary would accept it and wear it? And how does she disappear without any money or assistance? And would she really set up her husband as she did? If she--as Army intel--knew about the gun shipments why does she participate with a UFF guy in a rouge plot manipulating her cop husband to neutralize them? I'm sorry but that is dumb. And an Army intel woman goes missing from her unit for 12 days and no one says boo? And the 'official' version from her husband that she went missing in March is swallowed by them without investigation?
The biggest threat to Tom was Tom--who agressively investigated where the whole of the PSNI, Special Branch and Army Intel bumbled blindly? I don't think so.
If you aspire to make a show where the good guy is--surprise--really the bad guy you have to do a better job of writing it. In the real world Tom would never have done what he did and escaped severe investigation from higher ups. Army Intel would have caught him back in '98.
Bloodlands is not Line of Duty - And
thejdrage13 September 2023
I don't understand why reviewers compare programs/movies. I want a variety. While I think Line of Duty is brilliant, I am still enjoying Bloodlands for the history and the stories it has to offer that, frankly, would not possible in Line of Duty.
The locations are beautiful and ones that we are not often privy to - Northern Ireland - as are the politics which involve so many layers of Irish age old problems.
So, enjoy this unique show and what it has to offer in Irish actors and story telling. I have to mention the accents that are unique to that region (of course) when we are so used to the jumble of Londons' lot.
There's been a lot of mention of James Nesbitt's closeups. Yep. There's a lot. Lucky for us he has a versatile face! And you can't miss those raven black eyebrows - they won't let you.
Also, If you're bored, there's the drinking game that you can have which involves the words "Daddy" and "Mummy".
This is an interesting series - with Northern Ireland as a character brings it up several notches.
The locations are beautiful and ones that we are not often privy to - Northern Ireland - as are the politics which involve so many layers of Irish age old problems.
So, enjoy this unique show and what it has to offer in Irish actors and story telling. I have to mention the accents that are unique to that region (of course) when we are so used to the jumble of Londons' lot.
There's been a lot of mention of James Nesbitt's closeups. Yep. There's a lot. Lucky for us he has a versatile face! And you can't miss those raven black eyebrows - they won't let you.
Also, If you're bored, there's the drinking game that you can have which involves the words "Daddy" and "Mummy".
This is an interesting series - with Northern Ireland as a character brings it up several notches.
Melodramatic nonsense
Vindelander17 March 2021
promising
chris-8335915 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I always think some peoples reviews say a lot more about them than they are happy to let on.
So many times whenever a there is a healthy caring relationship between a parent and child or siblings the old trope trops of "It's Creepy" comes out. Well it's good to have a parent / child shown on TV where they actually seem to care about the welfare of each other instead of the usual hatred and shouting. The fact that some reviewers read more into that, well maybe *that's* creepy.
James Nesbitt proves, yet again that he can carry the leading role. The last thing I saw him in was The Missing and here he is just as good. The script needs some tightening but it is certainly no worse than just about everything outside of Unforgotten or Line of Duty. The reviewers who say that too many people have a "sudden volte-face from them all thinking Brannick is the murderer to then believing his every word." Plainly have no idea how team work or policing happen. There is room for a second series and then we shall see how much they believe him.
It's only 4 hours so even if you don't like it it won't waste your life and sure, what else are you going to do.
The other thing this programme did very neatly, perfectly actually, was to not show bias for either side. It showed that all three sides are capable of being a complete shower. As the old saying goes "The only thing wrong with Northern Ireland is there are too many Catholics..... too many Protestants.... and not enough Christians". The two young coppers and the daughter come out of this best and I do hope that if there is a second series that Izzy, Niamh and Birdy will make it back It's hard to like any character played by Lorcan Cranitch, but that's because his portrayal of DS Jimmy Beck in Cracker still haunts me from 28 years ago. That must make him a very good actor.
Will I watch a second series, for sure. There is room for improvement, but not much.
James Nesbitt proves, yet again that he can carry the leading role. The last thing I saw him in was The Missing and here he is just as good. The script needs some tightening but it is certainly no worse than just about everything outside of Unforgotten or Line of Duty. The reviewers who say that too many people have a "sudden volte-face from them all thinking Brannick is the murderer to then believing his every word." Plainly have no idea how team work or policing happen. There is room for a second series and then we shall see how much they believe him.
It's only 4 hours so even if you don't like it it won't waste your life and sure, what else are you going to do.
The other thing this programme did very neatly, perfectly actually, was to not show bias for either side. It showed that all three sides are capable of being a complete shower. As the old saying goes "The only thing wrong with Northern Ireland is there are too many Catholics..... too many Protestants.... and not enough Christians". The two young coppers and the daughter come out of this best and I do hope that if there is a second series that Izzy, Niamh and Birdy will make it back It's hard to like any character played by Lorcan Cranitch, but that's because his portrayal of DS Jimmy Beck in Cracker still haunts me from 28 years ago. That must make him a very good actor.
Will I watch a second series, for sure. There is room for improvement, but not much.
Plot-holy moly
adddenham20 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Just a few issues, Plot holes and inconsistencies that made this an infuriating watch. Possibly missed something but not watching again to check:
-massive coincidence daughter in class with Tori
-Jimmy Nesbitt the one who keeps insisting the find Goliath. Err...
-3 possible suspects of Goliath. Let's have them ALL continue to work the case.
-who actually kidnapped Keenan?
- are we meant to sympathise? Nesbitt cold blooded corrupt killer until sob story at end...
A very mixed bag
Marcusjt200415 March 2021
This show had a good start I really enjoyed the first episode and episode 2 was good too however I thought there was a slight drop in quality in episode 3. The finale was good and I really enjoyed the intensity and some of the action scenes were really good. Unfortunately the ending wasn't that good but I'm looking forward to seeing how the story ends in series 2. James Nesbitt was amazing as DCI Tom Brannick. Some of the characters like DCS Jackie Twomey were genuinely dislikable.
Surprisingly Excellent
steve-6039620 March 2021
Not a James Nesbitt fan, but here he excels. And, I have no interest in "The Troubles" as they were called in Northern Ireland. But - it fits in perfectly with the story line here. If you are s fan of UK crime, you should like this one.
Season 1 was fine, 2 is badly scripted
kinetic_one9 November 2022
Season 1 kept me watching. The whole atmosphere, the cinematography, the conflicts and the impact upon peoples' lives, The suspense etc... all very enjoyable.
I also love Nesbitt's acting, but can't understand why he would agree to the script of the second season.
If he truly was such a mastermind as portrayed in the 1st series, he would totally not make the rookie mistakes we saw in the second.(even any traffic cop wouldn't). Unfortunately this makes season 3 implausible.
I don't blame the actors, but the plot and in general the whole script has flaws allover it. Such a shame.
Even the ending makes me even doubt more if I'm gonna watch the 3rd.
I also love Nesbitt's acting, but can't understand why he would agree to the script of the second season.
If he truly was such a mastermind as portrayed in the 1st series, he would totally not make the rookie mistakes we saw in the second.(even any traffic cop wouldn't). Unfortunately this makes season 3 implausible.
I don't blame the actors, but the plot and in general the whole script has flaws allover it. Such a shame.
Even the ending makes me even doubt more if I'm gonna watch the 3rd.
A show about a face
Laight21 September 2022
This is a strange program -- all the ingredients seem to be there for a good show but it doesn't get there. Part of the problem is that the plotting is twisted and hard to follow, part of the problem is that the characters aren't very well developed, and part of the problem is that the writing is overly cliched -- way too many "'let's go get 'em" and "there he is!" and "this is an important case and we must do our best" kind of lines.
But the other issue is the strangest -- for whatever reason, the camera spends far too much time focused on James Nesbitt's face, as though the storyline depended entirely on his expressions. He's a good actor but do we have to watch him so closely, follow his every facial tic, watch his eyes watch other people? It's almost as if someone said, "hey, let's do a show about James Nesbitt's face and, sure, we can add some plot and some characters if you want." Weird.
But the other issue is the strangest -- for whatever reason, the camera spends far too much time focused on James Nesbitt's face, as though the storyline depended entirely on his expressions. He's a good actor but do we have to watch him so closely, follow his every facial tic, watch his eyes watch other people? It's almost as if someone said, "hey, let's do a show about James Nesbitt's face and, sure, we can add some plot and some characters if you want." Weird.
A very god series.
Sleepin_Dragon25 February 2021
This is definitely going to be a good series, the quality is very much here, as you'd expect from such a writer.
For me it's not the quality of Line of Duty, but then what is, it's certainly better than many shows I've watched recently. You can see Jed Mercuro's hand in this, his work is easy to spot. It seems a shame that it's only four episodes long.
James Nesbitt never disappoints, he always manages to produce the goods, a terrific piece of casting.
One thing that irritate me at times was the camera work, it was distracting at times.
I have a feeling this is going to get better and better. 8/10.
For me it's not the quality of Line of Duty, but then what is, it's certainly better than many shows I've watched recently. You can see Jed Mercuro's hand in this, his work is easy to spot. It seems a shame that it's only four episodes long.
James Nesbitt never disappoints, he always manages to produce the goods, a terrific piece of casting.
One thing that irritate me at times was the camera work, it was distracting at times.
I have a feeling this is going to get better and better. 8/10.
wooden lead and rubbish ending
dmacbrew-7458228 April 2021
Might have been a gripping series despite wooden acting from Nesbitt who twisted his face up at the start and never changed it. Spoilt by the ludicrous ending - would the NI Police really be so stupid as to let him walk? Has all the contrived hallmarks of an ongoing series - please no unless it's without Nesbitt.
Disappointing
michaeldmccarthy-7348128 November 2022
I managed to watch three of the six episodes of this story before the sheer implausibility of the storyline defeated me, and I gave up. I'm quite prepared to suspend disbelief, but this was a bridge too far for me. I've enjoyed James Nesbitt's performance in other productions, but this one was certainly not one of his best. Yes, he was probably constrained by the dodgy plot line, but there was far too much reliance on "meaningful", cold-eyed stares, and shifty sideways glances. Also, the repeated reliance on ineffective surveillance allowing the villains to obtain easy access to their victims was most unconvincing. Characterisation was shallow throughout, and I found it difficult to engage with any of the prime movers. If there is ever a series three, which the largely unresolved and unsatisfactory ending left as a possibility, I won't be watching it.
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