The first couple of episodes aren't so great, but if you stick with it, the story will pull you in. I liked the diverse cast and the unexpected twists. Yes, some parts of the plot were pretty unbelievable and the budget must have been low because you really only see the four police officers in what's supposed to be a police station, but for all that, I enjoyed the series. Season 2 was much better than Season 1, so stick with it. If you like taught, fast moving police procedurals, you'll like London Kills.
140 Reviews
Good acting on a ludicrously know budget
lwosmattjarvis26 June 2019
When BBC's daytime soap opera does off air it is replaced by some good dramas. Shakespeare and Hathaway have been great in the last year. This summer we have been given London Kills. A detective drama focused on Hugo Speer's droll murder detective whose wife has been missing for 3 months. The first thing to say is that the acting is good. It's a solid script and the main cast work well together.
The issues start to arise with the repetitive nature. Murder happens, wiring person confesses, right person is caught and it starts again. Always sitting in the background is the missing wife storyline. It's hinted at but not really explained.
The main issue though is the ludicrously low budget. The main office has no one else working in it, the cafes and pubs are empty and the streets are equally empty which all takes away the realism. It is a shame because actually it is not a bad series.
It just doesn't flow that well and feels a tad clunky at times. That said the writers have done a decent job and there have been much worse programmes and will be worse.
The show has secured a season so may well grow but for now its a case of not bad but low budget does soil certain aspects of the snow.
The show has secured a season so may well grow but for now its a case of not bad but low budget does soil certain aspects of the snow.
Season one struggled, season two much better.
bosporan24 May 2022
London Kills struggled to get into its stride during season one, despite a solid underlying premise. The main characters on the team are introduced as is the story arc regarding the disappearance of DI Bradford's wife, Sarah. The problem lies in the weakness of the episodic cases, mostly riddled with holes and magic leaps, whilst the missing wife story plays second fiddle.
Season two is a complete turnaround rising from mediocre to quite good. The stories are generally coherent and a much greater emphasis is placed on the Sarah plotline making each individual episode and the season as a whole feel more consistent and engaging.
A decent cast performed well, despite poorly written dialogue in season one. Season two made the relationships more believable with both Sharon Small and Hugo Speer benefitting from their characters' being more relatable with less random caricature disagreements.
The improvement in season two bodes well for three which I am gleefully anticipating.
Season two is a complete turnaround rising from mediocre to quite good. The stories are generally coherent and a much greater emphasis is placed on the Sarah plotline making each individual episode and the season as a whole feel more consistent and engaging.
A decent cast performed well, despite poorly written dialogue in season one. Season two made the relationships more believable with both Sharon Small and Hugo Speer benefitting from their characters' being more relatable with less random caricature disagreements.
The improvement in season two bodes well for three which I am gleefully anticipating.
It's a funny old show...
backofthevan29 August 2023
While I did enjoy watching London Kills, and watched all 4 series, if I stop and think about it there are all kinds of questions, curios and downright weirdness.
Obviously low budget, as in the first 3 series we never see anyone in the police station but the main 4 or 5 on this murder squad. Once we get to series 4 extras dressed as cops walk up and down the halls in a rebuttal of many reviewers' comments that there appear to be no other employees in this station. But we see the same shots of the same cops walking down the hall over and over again.
I could not believe that in nearly episode of the first 3 series the same bus #15 was seen from behind and the same white van turned left in the same exterior establishing shot - again and again and again. Came to pass that I found myself waiting for bus #15 and its accompanying white van each episode and I was not let down. Same for the green bridge with "Flash" graffitied across it in white paint. It became a very familiar sight. "Ah! There it is!" I'd say each time the same view of it appeared, like I was keeping score. And other similar exterior shots reused again and again.
Acorn TV is an American company owned by AMC, so no doubt it is making sure their US audience gets plenty of notice that this is a British show, although the name should be enough of a giveaway. I'm not complaining; I'm an Anglophile in Canada and happy to see Tower Bridge, boats on the Thames and various tourist attractions around the city continuously, one after the other, again and again.
Do suspects in the UK not ask for a solicitor when being questioned? Are police interviews never recorded? They appear to be in every other Brit copy show (and I've watched many). Do London police always arrest everyone even remotely close to a crime and ask questions later? Are all UK cops psychic and know things they could not possibly know (had it not been written in the script?)
There were some nice twists in some of the episodes, things that kept me watching, but some head-scratchers too, like how the heck could they possibly know that?
People who weren't guilty seemed to be forever confessing to the crime to cover up for someone else, while the guilty party was often, of course, the one you would least expect. I don't know if these cops were driving their own cars or what, but does the police service provide Mercedes and Audis? I don't know, if I ask too many questions it gets to be too much. There are many. However, I liked it enough to watch all 4 series (20 episodes in total) so it wasn't all bad.
Obviously low budget, as in the first 3 series we never see anyone in the police station but the main 4 or 5 on this murder squad. Once we get to series 4 extras dressed as cops walk up and down the halls in a rebuttal of many reviewers' comments that there appear to be no other employees in this station. But we see the same shots of the same cops walking down the hall over and over again.
I could not believe that in nearly episode of the first 3 series the same bus #15 was seen from behind and the same white van turned left in the same exterior establishing shot - again and again and again. Came to pass that I found myself waiting for bus #15 and its accompanying white van each episode and I was not let down. Same for the green bridge with "Flash" graffitied across it in white paint. It became a very familiar sight. "Ah! There it is!" I'd say each time the same view of it appeared, like I was keeping score. And other similar exterior shots reused again and again.
Acorn TV is an American company owned by AMC, so no doubt it is making sure their US audience gets plenty of notice that this is a British show, although the name should be enough of a giveaway. I'm not complaining; I'm an Anglophile in Canada and happy to see Tower Bridge, boats on the Thames and various tourist attractions around the city continuously, one after the other, again and again.
Do suspects in the UK not ask for a solicitor when being questioned? Are police interviews never recorded? They appear to be in every other Brit copy show (and I've watched many). Do London police always arrest everyone even remotely close to a crime and ask questions later? Are all UK cops psychic and know things they could not possibly know (had it not been written in the script?)
There were some nice twists in some of the episodes, things that kept me watching, but some head-scratchers too, like how the heck could they possibly know that?
People who weren't guilty seemed to be forever confessing to the crime to cover up for someone else, while the guilty party was often, of course, the one you would least expect. I don't know if these cops were driving their own cars or what, but does the police service provide Mercedes and Audis? I don't know, if I ask too many questions it gets to be too much. There are many. However, I liked it enough to watch all 4 series (20 episodes in total) so it wasn't all bad.
A Good Show
marcusdavis4018 July 2019
What are some of these reviewers talking about ? I just watched this show i think its brilliant like other Brit shows like Line Of Duty .There are some really good quality shows coming out of the uk right now this is definetly one of them.
lazy soap script pretending to be a police procedural
jazfro5 July 2019
It's watchable. Considering the base material, the acting is OK. But the plot is full of holes, the dialogue is corny and predictable, and the intrigue and character psychology are below soap-standard mushy. Oh, and it's directed like a soap, too.
The UK have a strong tradition of producing quality police procedurals, usually with strong plots and characters: Prime suspect, GBH, Luther, LIne of Duty, Bodyguard, and the list goes on... Unfortunately, this is not one of these.
I guess, aside from the expensive cars (a DI drives an executive merc that is usually marketed to successful senior executives and entrepreneurs!) they didn't have much money to shoot this one and it shows a bit as well.
So this sums it all up: not much script, not much money, not much talent, yielding very average entertainment. They should save resources and not make a second series: no one will lose any sleep not knowing who killed the DI's wife.
Just saw the end of series 2: it's even worse than I originally thought. I hope they don't make series 3.
Someone answer the phone!
dionnethain9 April 2020
Great story lines, but every time there is an office scene phones are ringing in the background... I understand they want to make it realistic but it's just a bit tooooooooo much.. can you get an extra actor to answer these calls?
Pretty good, but...
dorrcoq19 July 2019
Does not one suspect ask to have a lawyer present when they are being questioned? And unlike just about every other British police show, they do not appear to be taping the interviews.
Also, what exactly .was Sharon Small thinking with that hair-do?
Also, what exactly .was Sharon Small thinking with that hair-do?
I want to like this show so much...
Lilith_i3 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
But it is not the best if we're being honest. We watched season 1 and it was ok, halfway through 2, and it is becoming taxing.
You have your typical characters, the big secret, the smaller secret that will probably connect to the bigger one. You have your rookie (TDC Billie Fitzgerald, Tori Allen-Martin) which is our view into this new dynamic we are being presented, (rookie btw which I had hoped would turned up being an undercover in the unit because of the big secret, but as of now, no, only a rookie so far).
You have the boss lying (DI Bradford, Hugo Speer), but not well, you don't know if he's involved in the big secret, but he might have killed a posible witness to it, we don't really know. Obviously, conflict with the step daughter in this show, which has not appeared much in this 2nd season.
The smaller secret will most likely not be that important, it's here to cause tension inside the unit, between the characters, to show how stupid the boss can act when caught in a simple misunderstanding, but that may make viewers think he is in fact capable of doing away with the witness and the wife.
The production is poor, you get to watch the same videos of the outside of the police station, (that truck and bus aren't going anywhere...), and other areas.
The interrogations are mundane, not much there sadly. The shots are ok, maybe; too tight sometimes to create false tension, ends up only being annoying. Most dialog is very predictable sadly.
The action is almost non existent, that's not really necessary for a procedural; but when it's there, is not very believable.
The acting is fine for what they are given to do, but it could be better, there's lots of room to improve. The actor playing the character of DC Rob Brady (Bailey Patrick) is finally doing some acting! He was mostly a wall 1st season, now he seems more ready to play his part. We like Sarge, DS Vivienne Cole (Sharon Small), she really tries her best with the little there is to do, I like how rough she was in season 1, I believe she's more soft now, which I hope doesn't last.
Supporting actors are not great, I know they are trying, but they are lacking. I assume the production has a low budget, but it shows not only in scenes, which you can tell were shot the best they could, but in casting too, not the best for the "criminal of the week" or suspect. Surprisingly a child that was in the 2nd episode of season 2 was great in his role, he really did well, others have not so far.
So there, we want to like it, we do, but is not the best we have watch from British TV, so we can only hope it gets better.
You have your typical characters, the big secret, the smaller secret that will probably connect to the bigger one. You have your rookie (TDC Billie Fitzgerald, Tori Allen-Martin) which is our view into this new dynamic we are being presented, (rookie btw which I had hoped would turned up being an undercover in the unit because of the big secret, but as of now, no, only a rookie so far).
You have the boss lying (DI Bradford, Hugo Speer), but not well, you don't know if he's involved in the big secret, but he might have killed a posible witness to it, we don't really know. Obviously, conflict with the step daughter in this show, which has not appeared much in this 2nd season.
The smaller secret will most likely not be that important, it's here to cause tension inside the unit, between the characters, to show how stupid the boss can act when caught in a simple misunderstanding, but that may make viewers think he is in fact capable of doing away with the witness and the wife.
The production is poor, you get to watch the same videos of the outside of the police station, (that truck and bus aren't going anywhere...), and other areas.
The interrogations are mundane, not much there sadly. The shots are ok, maybe; too tight sometimes to create false tension, ends up only being annoying. Most dialog is very predictable sadly.
The action is almost non existent, that's not really necessary for a procedural; but when it's there, is not very believable.
The acting is fine for what they are given to do, but it could be better, there's lots of room to improve. The actor playing the character of DC Rob Brady (Bailey Patrick) is finally doing some acting! He was mostly a wall 1st season, now he seems more ready to play his part. We like Sarge, DS Vivienne Cole (Sharon Small), she really tries her best with the little there is to do, I like how rough she was in season 1, I believe she's more soft now, which I hope doesn't last.
Supporting actors are not great, I know they are trying, but they are lacking. I assume the production has a low budget, but it shows not only in scenes, which you can tell were shot the best they could, but in casting too, not the best for the "criminal of the week" or suspect. Surprisingly a child that was in the 2nd episode of season 2 was great in his role, he really did well, others have not so far.
So there, we want to like it, we do, but is not the best we have watch from British TV, so we can only hope it gets better.
Great British Cop Series
campos-812 March 2019
The Acorn TV Channel (available on Amazon Prime Video) specializes in European crime series and movies. Accompanying the current trend, there is a lot of movies from Nordic countries.
LONDON KILLS is an original Acorn TV series made in England chronicling the crimes investigated by an elite group of detectives from the London Police.
Although each episode tells a specific story, the backdrop involves the mysterious disappearance of the Chief of Police's wife.
In addition to showing beautiful landscapes in London, LONDON KILLS has a very different feature from the other series of the genre: it assumes a documentary tone, almost as if it were one of the programs on real crimes.
British actor Hugo Speer (from NINFOMANIAC 1, THE FULL MONTY and THE INTERPRETER) interprets DI (Detective Inspector) David Bradford, who resumes his post after the trauma of his wife's disappearance, still under investigation by another unity. The Scottish Sharon Small (of ABOUT A BOY) makes DS (Detective Sergeant) Vivienne Cole, candidate to boss if the former leader did not return so soon of his absence. And the desglamurized Bailey Patrick and Tori Allen Martin make the team as DC (Detective Constable) Rob Brady and TDC (Trainee Detective Constable) Billy Fitzgerald.
The tense relations of the working group always submitted to a gigantic pressure is another very interesting subject focused in each case.
LONDON KILLS is not only very good at watching, but it incorporates the most modern trends to be seen in the next few years in the TV series about cops.
LONDON KILLS is an original Acorn TV series made in England chronicling the crimes investigated by an elite group of detectives from the London Police.
Although each episode tells a specific story, the backdrop involves the mysterious disappearance of the Chief of Police's wife.
In addition to showing beautiful landscapes in London, LONDON KILLS has a very different feature from the other series of the genre: it assumes a documentary tone, almost as if it were one of the programs on real crimes.
British actor Hugo Speer (from NINFOMANIAC 1, THE FULL MONTY and THE INTERPRETER) interprets DI (Detective Inspector) David Bradford, who resumes his post after the trauma of his wife's disappearance, still under investigation by another unity. The Scottish Sharon Small (of ABOUT A BOY) makes DS (Detective Sergeant) Vivienne Cole, candidate to boss if the former leader did not return so soon of his absence. And the desglamurized Bailey Patrick and Tori Allen Martin make the team as DC (Detective Constable) Rob Brady and TDC (Trainee Detective Constable) Billy Fitzgerald.
The tense relations of the working group always submitted to a gigantic pressure is another very interesting subject focused in each case.
LONDON KILLS is not only very good at watching, but it incorporates the most modern trends to be seen in the next few years in the TV series about cops.
BIG RED BUSES!!
mosquitobite29 August 2023
This show seems very sloppy procedurally, in most shows cops are served up to internal scrutiny pretty smartly but here we have cops accused of murder going largely unchallenged, associating with witnesses, withholding information, bullying suspects, charging suspects without the sniff of legal representation, young people/kids with no "appropriate adult".
And the pacing/editing is so off.
Crimes being investigated for days or weeks and they start referring to "this morning" and "last night" as if it just happened in the clothes they were wearing at the time of the crime.
All the low lives have perfect white capped teeth :) make up dept ? And who is that mystery thin shadowy female copper in so many random shots of the precinct corridor?
It's ok and quite watchable but these details matter they just throw you out of the moment and are distracting.
One thing you will never forget after this is that London has big red double decker buses 😂....every.single.panning.over. London BIG RED BUSES I VE SEEN DOZENS BY NOW IS IT A JOKE?? Well its a dumb and tedious one.
Im now in to Season 3 and still no legal reps. Interviews and confessions never or very rarely recorded?
Someone complained about phones ringing in background but they must have their shows mixed up, there are no phones in this ringing in the background!?
There's plot holes galore and the speed of unravelling crimes is absurd but thats pretty usual in tv police land, otherwise we d be bored to sobs.
David's wife Sarah and daughter have disappeared from the narrative after all the FUSS. Weird.
And the pacing/editing is so off.
Crimes being investigated for days or weeks and they start referring to "this morning" and "last night" as if it just happened in the clothes they were wearing at the time of the crime.
All the low lives have perfect white capped teeth :) make up dept ? And who is that mystery thin shadowy female copper in so many random shots of the precinct corridor?
It's ok and quite watchable but these details matter they just throw you out of the moment and are distracting.
One thing you will never forget after this is that London has big red double decker buses 😂....every.single.panning.over. London BIG RED BUSES I VE SEEN DOZENS BY NOW IS IT A JOKE?? Well its a dumb and tedious one.
Im now in to Season 3 and still no legal reps. Interviews and confessions never or very rarely recorded?
Someone complained about phones ringing in background but they must have their shows mixed up, there are no phones in this ringing in the background!?
There's plot holes galore and the speed of unravelling crimes is absurd but thats pretty usual in tv police land, otherwise we d be bored to sobs.
David's wife Sarah and daughter have disappeared from the narrative after all the FUSS. Weird.
Every element is dreadful
jeffdstockton23 May 2022
Writing is horrible, acting is dolorous, camera work induces nausea. So, directing - responsible for everything - is thoroughly incompetent. The number of writers and directors is a big clue; this is probably a matter of fulfilling contractual obligations. It appears as though no one involved put in serious effort. Producers/ executives took the standard playbook off the shelf, dusted off the typical story outlines, dumped a handful of generic cop drama pieces into a mixing bowl, then just dropped them into a time slot. The result is - should be - a complete embarrassment to everyone involved.
Sadly, the acting is an ongoing collection of lessons of how NOT to do it. There's not a hint of nuance or subtlety anywhere near this. Lead male actor apparently has good reputation. After my first encounter, I'm left with the impression that producers hired a spouse's woebegone cousin to 'act' this role. I have no interest in seeing this guy in anything else. Same for the supporting actor. Why all the whispering!?!
I am familiar with the lead actress, and can only assume she was obligated to suffer through this garbage. Lots of looking shocked or as though she's about to be found out, for some reason. Standing around, mouth agape.
ALL the actors are paper-thin superficial, little better than a first-draft run-through. This is a function of terrible writing (no hint of research or real interest in the subject, no evidence that anyone aspired to quality) and directing. But, it's also on the actors, who may have just given up, and are just going through the motions - clocking in and out as day laborers. There are no characters to care about, no one who engenders interest.
And, the music. The unrelenting 'music'. It is theost obvious indicator that the producers know this is garbage: they use music to push viewers along, to try to stimulate another sense, and to distract from the more conscious processing of the acting & dialogue. No subtlety; the soundtrack does complement or support the visual, it overwhelms it. By design. The endless phones ringing in the background gives way to endless electronic music, accompanying the endless facial expressions of.... what is it supposed to be: despair? Worry about something more specific? General helplessness? It's all just 'off the shelf' tripe.
Everything here has been done before, many times and much, MUCH better. This is a terrible waste of time.
Sadly, the acting is an ongoing collection of lessons of how NOT to do it. There's not a hint of nuance or subtlety anywhere near this. Lead male actor apparently has good reputation. After my first encounter, I'm left with the impression that producers hired a spouse's woebegone cousin to 'act' this role. I have no interest in seeing this guy in anything else. Same for the supporting actor. Why all the whispering!?!
I am familiar with the lead actress, and can only assume she was obligated to suffer through this garbage. Lots of looking shocked or as though she's about to be found out, for some reason. Standing around, mouth agape.
ALL the actors are paper-thin superficial, little better than a first-draft run-through. This is a function of terrible writing (no hint of research or real interest in the subject, no evidence that anyone aspired to quality) and directing. But, it's also on the actors, who may have just given up, and are just going through the motions - clocking in and out as day laborers. There are no characters to care about, no one who engenders interest.
And, the music. The unrelenting 'music'. It is theost obvious indicator that the producers know this is garbage: they use music to push viewers along, to try to stimulate another sense, and to distract from the more conscious processing of the acting & dialogue. No subtlety; the soundtrack does complement or support the visual, it overwhelms it. By design. The endless phones ringing in the background gives way to endless electronic music, accompanying the endless facial expressions of.... what is it supposed to be: despair? Worry about something more specific? General helplessness? It's all just 'off the shelf' tripe.
Everything here has been done before, many times and much, MUCH better. This is a terrible waste of time.
Sometimes the writing in this is too basic, and obvious. Sometimes its laughably bad.
connorundrumme15 July 2023
Vivienne Is played by a ridiculous actress, as far as the character of Sgt. Mophead goes. (Holy bad hair, Batman. And, what is with those shiny black therapeutic lifts she's wearing?)
Whenever she thinks she's sniffing out a lie she becomes insufferably, visibly skeptical and snarky. Its like an instant transformation into a 13 yr old mean girl. Ugh, the revolting, off-base 'gotcha' faces she pulls! Meanwhile, she's a common liar, herself. Also, she's controlling, acting as though she knows best at all times, and is the only one able to place appropriate guardrails in front of the actions of others.
Unfortunately, novice DC Billy that every so often pairs with her, leans into this childishness too hard, and so she comes off as a bit of a petty fool, here and there. Mostly, she just seems acquiescent, is smiley and accepting, with a generally pleasant demeanor and slightly dumpy clothes you could go chop wood in.
Detective Rob is just walking while sullen, constantly. What an angry bore! And, I'll never understand a painted-on looking comic book/cartoon-cutout hairline. He gets targeted at times in S03 and S04, but maybe it's all those waist-belted leisure jackets he wears that get people prejudiced against him?
I know nothing about the average fitness level of a detective in London, but these people largely cannot chase down suspects effectively. When they run, they seem... heavy, like they're slogging through thick treacle.
Sometimes they figuratively pat each other on the back for piecing together practically nothing, playing like they're making sly, intuitive moves instead of putting together basic facts.
Their boss is often ignorable, although frequently petulant and rude, and he gets to dress with a modicum of wrinkly flash. He plays fast and loose with power and rules, Mr. Edgy does, and with touches of privilege, alcoholism, and sexism laced in.
I didn't mind the double-decker bus shots so much in watching S03, it was the dozens of times the metal box exterior of their office building appearing, and too much footage of them getting in and out of cars, and seeing the exact same 'uniformed officer footage' walking the hallways that did get annoying over the last two seasons.
Unfortunately, novice DC Billy that every so often pairs with her, leans into this childishness too hard, and so she comes off as a bit of a petty fool, here and there. Mostly, she just seems acquiescent, is smiley and accepting, with a generally pleasant demeanor and slightly dumpy clothes you could go chop wood in.
Detective Rob is just walking while sullen, constantly. What an angry bore! And, I'll never understand a painted-on looking comic book/cartoon-cutout hairline. He gets targeted at times in S03 and S04, but maybe it's all those waist-belted leisure jackets he wears that get people prejudiced against him?
I know nothing about the average fitness level of a detective in London, but these people largely cannot chase down suspects effectively. When they run, they seem... heavy, like they're slogging through thick treacle.
Sometimes they figuratively pat each other on the back for piecing together practically nothing, playing like they're making sly, intuitive moves instead of putting together basic facts.
Their boss is often ignorable, although frequently petulant and rude, and he gets to dress with a modicum of wrinkly flash. He plays fast and loose with power and rules, Mr. Edgy does, and with touches of privilege, alcoholism, and sexism laced in.
I didn't mind the double-decker bus shots so much in watching S03, it was the dozens of times the metal box exterior of their office building appearing, and too much footage of them getting in and out of cars, and seeing the exact same 'uniformed officer footage' walking the hallways that did get annoying over the last two seasons.
Buses, buses, buses
phhdvsc9 August 2023
What is the fixation with London Transport buses? EVERY street scene used to connect plot changes has several buses passing through. We get that this is London. Not necessary to have buses passing by time and time and time again. Also, how about a different view of the police building and the CCTV sign? The technique of having actors exchange knowing glances is tedious as is the out of focus shots inside the police station. Why does Vivienne always show up after the two constables at each opening murder scene. Not much imagination. It could be better. Aside than all those negative comments we watched and enjoyed the series.
Brave reinvention of a tired genre.
Imnotacouchpotato27 June 2019
Why the hell not make this show exactly the way Acorn TV have made London Kills? It's a little creaky to start and they need an edit on some of the dialogue but it's still a great opener and the next eps get better and better. Especially today's charmingly named Sex Games.. It's British, it's London, it's gripping with a great cast and if you want NCIS then watch it instead. You can't compare US cop shows with shows made on a British budget. But this stands up anyway.
3 seasons in, 1 to come, not much changed
wotviewer18 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The fact this was commissioned for a USA audience explains the shortcomings of the series. Huge holes in the plot lines, reflecting the very limited budget it must have used. Yes standalone plot for each episode makes you want to stick to the end for the outcome, but the overarching seasonal long plot is very poorly strung together.
To call it a police procedural is a massive insult to a huge body of much better UK police dramas that go before it (and hopefully after it). The seasonal killer is a cop, but the "prominence" given to the murder victims is nonsense. Two PC and a DCS are murdered yet the "investigation" is non-existent.
If you value procedure, then Line of Duty leaves London Kills dead in its own backwater.
Lots of (repeat) London scenery backdrops as though the Tourist Board was funding the programme. The 4 person team has too much unexplored backstory to support the frequent references to aspects for the individual characters which we are left to fabricate for ourselves to make sense of anything.
Yes I will watch season 4 when it comes out but because it would leave the previous 3 as a complete waste of time otherwise.
To call it a police procedural is a massive insult to a huge body of much better UK police dramas that go before it (and hopefully after it). The seasonal killer is a cop, but the "prominence" given to the murder victims is nonsense. Two PC and a DCS are murdered yet the "investigation" is non-existent.
If you value procedure, then Line of Duty leaves London Kills dead in its own backwater.
Lots of (repeat) London scenery backdrops as though the Tourist Board was funding the programme. The 4 person team has too much unexplored backstory to support the frequent references to aspects for the individual characters which we are left to fabricate for ourselves to make sense of anything.
Yes I will watch season 4 when it comes out but because it would leave the previous 3 as a complete waste of time otherwise.
Very good at keeping us guessing
cibrocsa19 April 2019
What a huge disappointment
brettsmythe14 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
British crime series Tv has produced some real gems so how a program like this gets made is completely beyond me.
The holes and mistakes in the 10 episodes are legend but take the last episode as an example. Breathing body (inspectors previously missing wife) therefore living person, found in a graveyard. The police arrive and give her CPR! Come on. Massaging a beating heart isn't surely something that's written into a direction for actors.
Sharon Small's hair is just annoying!
The writers really should take a good look at themselves and their output and then look at Killing Eve. Chalk and cheese I'm afraid.
Passable homicide show with pedestrian yet confusing scripts
msghall15 April 2020
Detail specific to the point you have to watch every second or you'll miss something, this series has some high points (acting, pacing) but is weak on keeping interest. Too many repetitive scenes make you double take and wonder if you go back and replay some parts. You never really feel apart of the action; this show keeps you at arm's length, never really building enough tension to overcome the predictability of some parts of the plots.
Ridiculous, are there no consultants on this show??
nigelbiggs-1834517 June 2021
In what world can police solve a murder in a day, receive DNA results in hrs, and move across London as if they have been teleported. This is laughable. The assumptions, lack of warrants are just a couple of many basic misses, just like this show should be. I never review, and yet felt compelled to warn all others.
Police procedurals ... my cup of tea
lvdd4722 May 2019
Pretty Pedestrian
Vindelander22 April 2020
Rubbish
ladawnclarepanton8 October 2022
This show is so far removed from the reality of policing it is incredulous. Disappointed that the BBC would allow such rubbish to be aired. Could have been better if it had been routed in at least some reality. Not a single uniformed officer responds to a dropped 9s call and not a weapon in sight when there is clear and present danger. Suspects openly questioned without legal representation. Confrontation between senior officers and rampant bullying. There is no way officers who repeatedly conducted themselves so unprofessionally would be allowed to continue their careers without involvement of IOPC.
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