We waited two years for the return of this gritty cop drama and the wait was worth it.
We waited two years for the return of this gritty cop drama and the wait was worth it. If the first season was fast paced and gripping with twists and turns, then episode one of the second series was just as spectacular.
This episode started with a bang and finished with one equally as loud, there was no return for the unit that was investigated in the first series but the team of AC-12 are all back. DS Steve Arnott (Mark Compston), DC Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) continue to the job that every copper hates—investigating your own and they return to our screens as if they’ve never been away.
Ashes to Ashes star Keeley Hawes in the unfortunate sod under suspicion this time around as DI Lindsay Denton and while she’s at first portrayed as a victim, as the first hour comes to a close you soon realise that she isn’t the innocent flower you first were led to believe.
One of the best hours on television
The story with Denton is predictable—she’s the only one to survive an ambush on a witness protection convoy, yet it works so well thanks to writing of Joe Mecurio. The abuse she gets as the sole survivor is strong and she’s left out to dry by her superiors. And the BBC need to be praised for allowing such a gritty portrayal to be broadcast.
In just one short hour, you were given enough appetisers to last you a life time. Other than the main story focusing on DI Denton who also pleasantly thumps her neighbour with a wine bottle, you’ve DC Fleming having an affair with the husband of one of the deceased officers who was caught up in the ambush and DI Anott trying his best to get in the knickers of closet alcoholic DC Georgia Trotman, the new member of AC12.
Sadly for Arnott though this is one woman he won’t be bringing breakfast in bed, as in a fast paced final ten minutes DC Trotman is meets her rather shocking and gruesome demise – I’d spoil it for you but that wouldn’t be fair.
Without the charismatic Lennie James as DCI Tony Gates, who chucked himself in front of a removal truck at the end of series one, there was always the worry that series two would sink without a trace. Yet it’s done the exact opposite, it puts you on the edge of the seat within the first ten minutes and by the end of the hour, you’re wishing it was next Wednesday already just to see what happens next.
More to come
It would have been nice to see the return of Craig Parkinson who was excellent as the corrupt DS Matt ‘Dot’ Cottan – it would have been good to see Anott actually realise he was the bad guy and not DCI Gates – but despite this, series two is still more than a worthy watch.
Where next? Expect more twists and turns than a waltzer. DI Denton is clearly very unstable, and while at this moment you feel she isn’t responsible for the ambush (although with the writing of Mercurio that is bound to change) there is something hiding in her closet.
The aftermath of the death of DC Trotman will also be interesting to see (I’m in still in shock at just how it happened) and of course, the DC Fleming’s affair is certainly going to come back and bite her in the arse.
Series one was BBC2’s highest rating drama in ten years and the viewing figures will undoubtedly be just as high for this series and it’s a real surprise that BBC One didn’t snap this one up. Episode one will have you teetering on the edge of your sofa, with your hand over your mouth as you gasp with shock and excitement of not only what you’ve just seen but also of what’s to come.
Here’s to the next five episodes.
What do you think of Line of Duty? Is it worth watching? Have your say in the comments section below.
