32 reviews
Slow burner
Slower beginning than previous series's for sure but I'm happy to indulge Jed and co in the belief that we will be rewarded later. The 3 leads are all restless for various but understandable reasons - interesting to see how this plays out. Be patient and believe. They've never left us down yet.
- germanning
- Mar 21, 2021
- Permalink
A fair cop
A good start to the series after a poor series 5.
Kate has left ac-12 where a new case seems to be arising.
Typically of any drama in the past 10 years, there is a need for same sex inter-racial relationships but if does seem to be the fuel for Steve's new enquiry.
A good start but things do seem a bit tired despite the hype in the media surrounding the series.
Kate has left ac-12 where a new case seems to be arising.
Typically of any drama in the past 10 years, there is a need for same sex inter-racial relationships but if does seem to be the fuel for Steve's new enquiry.
A good start but things do seem a bit tired despite the hype in the media surrounding the series.
- xmasdaybaby1966
- Apr 24, 2021
- Permalink
Solid start to the 6th series that sets the scene
AC12 receive a tip off that something is wrong with a raid dealt with by a Murder Investigation Team.
There are a good number of interactions that show the dynamic between new characters and establish the situations of familiar faces. The personal involvement between two characters puts a interesting spin on the start of this investigation, as the uncertainty about motives being pure or possibly tainted by bitterness and jealousy is intriguing.
It is not quite as explosive as previous series' first episodes, which is fine with me as the dramatic opener was starting to feel a bit clichéd. I think the writer reveals just enough information to keep a level of intrigue about how events will unfold. As in previous episodes it links well to the overarching narrative of the show by brining certain characters who were on periphery into main focus.
All actors are on good form with very few having huge challenges quite yet, aside from Anneika Rose who has the strongest emotions to convey and does a great job.
For me it's a 7.5/10, but I round upwards.
There are a good number of interactions that show the dynamic between new characters and establish the situations of familiar faces. The personal involvement between two characters puts a interesting spin on the start of this investigation, as the uncertainty about motives being pure or possibly tainted by bitterness and jealousy is intriguing.
It is not quite as explosive as previous series' first episodes, which is fine with me as the dramatic opener was starting to feel a bit clichéd. I think the writer reveals just enough information to keep a level of intrigue about how events will unfold. As in previous episodes it links well to the overarching narrative of the show by brining certain characters who were on periphery into main focus.
All actors are on good form with very few having huge challenges quite yet, aside from Anneika Rose who has the strongest emotions to convey and does a great job.
For me it's a 7.5/10, but I round upwards.
- snoozejonc
- Apr 10, 2023
- Permalink
Rewatched like 3 times
- aliyakhan-30015
- May 4, 2021
- Permalink
Slow burning season premiere
- conca-628-183372
- Mar 22, 2021
- Permalink
Episode 6.1
By Jed Mercurio's standards, this was a subdued opening episode of series 6.
I am sure I was not the only one who thought Kate Fleming was working undercover, investigating DI Jo Davidson (Kelly Macdonald.)
In fact Kate has left AC-12. She and Jo are looking at the murder of a dead journalist Grace Vella.
On the way to arrest a suspect, Davidson spots an armed robbery in progress. A source tips DI Steve Arnott of her concerns about this.
Arnott is also looking to move away from Internal Affairs. The set up though looks like a likely reunion of the classic line up.
There were no shocks are surprises in the opener. There were some familiar characters that have woven in and out of the previous series.
Such as Terry, the man with Down's syndrome whose freezer was used in series 1 to hide the body of Jackie Laverty.
I am sure I was not the only one who thought Kate Fleming was working undercover, investigating DI Jo Davidson (Kelly Macdonald.)
In fact Kate has left AC-12. She and Jo are looking at the murder of a dead journalist Grace Vella.
On the way to arrest a suspect, Davidson spots an armed robbery in progress. A source tips DI Steve Arnott of her concerns about this.
Arnott is also looking to move away from Internal Affairs. The set up though looks like a likely reunion of the classic line up.
There were no shocks are surprises in the opener. There were some familiar characters that have woven in and out of the previous series.
Such as Terry, the man with Down's syndrome whose freezer was used in series 1 to hide the body of Jackie Laverty.
- Prismark10
- Mar 21, 2021
- Permalink
Not quite a load of Chis, but pretty good.
Massive viewing figures, and for good reason, it has literally been the best show on the box for years, all that hype, all that massive build up, does it deliver?
It partly delivers, and I did enjoy it, but I can't help thinking I was a little disappointed, it was good,. HF my expectations were so ridiculously high,
Google 'What's a chis?' how many times did they say that word, is that the in word for this series?
The usual questions arise, Who killed Gayle, and is that relevant to the story, and what's the lighthouse?
I did appreciate the presence of the Wonderful Kelly MacDonald as Joe, she was terrific.
I hope this becomes what I want it to be, 6/10.
It partly delivers, and I did enjoy it, but I can't help thinking I was a little disappointed, it was good,. HF my expectations were so ridiculously high,
Google 'What's a chis?' how many times did they say that word, is that the in word for this series?
The usual questions arise, Who killed Gayle, and is that relevant to the story, and what's the lighthouse?
I did appreciate the presence of the Wonderful Kelly MacDonald as Joe, she was terrific.
I hope this becomes what I want it to be, 6/10.
- Sleepin_Dragon
- May 4, 2021
- Permalink
Quality CHIS
Who'd have thought there were still acronyms the writers hadn't thrown at us yet!
Much CHIS was had throughout the show.
Much CHIS was had throughout the show.
- the-ribrob
- Mar 21, 2021
- Permalink
Bit slow
This episode lacks the atmosphere that was always in place in the first 5 series. The streets are empty, the acting is wooden. It is different. But I am not giving up on the best series ever made, because I hope to learn the identity of H. I am irtitated by people bringing up there PC remarks again. What the hell is wrong with you? I see people not colours. I don,t care who is playing what part. They are all just people. If you bring PC into every review you write then you have a strange way of looking at a tv show. It is just a series to enjoy yourself. Leave your stupid PC remarks behind. I guess they are the same people that PC at every other tv series. Pathetic.
- thekimberley
- Mar 29, 2021
- Permalink
We don't care about Gail Vella
Trying to hard
Previous seasons have been very good, this one, based on first episode, seems to be trying too hard. Rather clunky.
Where is the story writing from earlier seasons?
This might be my first and last review as I find it hard to express myself in English, but I want to give it a try.
First of all I don't want to spoil anything about this episode and I will only mention briefly some points from the first five seasons. But for a better understanding let me tell you where I come from (and probably most others who watch this series).
I started this series at the beginning of December 2023, so I still have memories about the first five seasons and while especially season 5 was a mixed bag in reviews ranging from a low ranking to superb ranking, I probably was still one of the people who still liked season five as I never ranked an episode below 8 points, up until now.
So it saddens me to do this but with the start of season 6 I have to give the pilot episode six points. Yeah the characters are all still there, there is still a connection to the overall case, but this feels rather lame executed, as they ran out of ideas.
The core structure of this series seems to have changed once again, after Kate Flemming stood above Steve Arnott which already has been a long stretch, as they never really cleared or mentioned it more than a few sentences, so that everybody had to accept this. So the team I have come to accept these past few seasons has once again changed.
Main actors felt like they were used as supporting actors. Actors who were a main part in AC12 season 5 (for example Tatleen Sohota) are nowhere to be seen and no explanation was made why. Sadly it also seems that Steve's accident in season 4 still affects him to this day. Maybe the script was telling him to be lacklustre because of this and because working for AC12 doesn't seem to satisfy him anymore, because this I could accept as an excuse for his monotone acting in here. Even Hastings, who only gets round about what feels like five minutes screen time, felt like hanging in the air not knowing what to do.
There were one or two minor surprises, which I didn't see coming, but they were so small, that I don't think they play a major role in the plot. It also feels to me, that they used "Kelly Macdonald" just for the sake of name dropping a known and probably successful actress, so the show gets the attention it needs after changing the channel, because this episode left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Just to let you know I don't watch many British series, so if the other actors are also big names outside of Line Of Duty I apologise for not recognising them.
Don't get me wrong I don't expect a drama series to 100 % realistic, which also seemed to be one negative point people dropped in season 5, but at least make it interesting. I know this can be done as the writer / director showed us in the first four seasons how to entertain and surprise the viewer. Maybe it was just a slow start as the next episodes seem to have a better rating as the first episode, so I try to believe next episode might grab my attention once again.
Overall I really hope they conclude the ongoing story, which started in season 1 with the caddy and masked underground clans, because if this goes on I am not ready for another season and that is coming from someone who enjoyed the early seasons extraordinary and compared this series to the excellence story telling of The Wire.
First of all I don't want to spoil anything about this episode and I will only mention briefly some points from the first five seasons. But for a better understanding let me tell you where I come from (and probably most others who watch this series).
I started this series at the beginning of December 2023, so I still have memories about the first five seasons and while especially season 5 was a mixed bag in reviews ranging from a low ranking to superb ranking, I probably was still one of the people who still liked season five as I never ranked an episode below 8 points, up until now.
So it saddens me to do this but with the start of season 6 I have to give the pilot episode six points. Yeah the characters are all still there, there is still a connection to the overall case, but this feels rather lame executed, as they ran out of ideas.
The core structure of this series seems to have changed once again, after Kate Flemming stood above Steve Arnott which already has been a long stretch, as they never really cleared or mentioned it more than a few sentences, so that everybody had to accept this. So the team I have come to accept these past few seasons has once again changed.
Main actors felt like they were used as supporting actors. Actors who were a main part in AC12 season 5 (for example Tatleen Sohota) are nowhere to be seen and no explanation was made why. Sadly it also seems that Steve's accident in season 4 still affects him to this day. Maybe the script was telling him to be lacklustre because of this and because working for AC12 doesn't seem to satisfy him anymore, because this I could accept as an excuse for his monotone acting in here. Even Hastings, who only gets round about what feels like five minutes screen time, felt like hanging in the air not knowing what to do.
There were one or two minor surprises, which I didn't see coming, but they were so small, that I don't think they play a major role in the plot. It also feels to me, that they used "Kelly Macdonald" just for the sake of name dropping a known and probably successful actress, so the show gets the attention it needs after changing the channel, because this episode left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Just to let you know I don't watch many British series, so if the other actors are also big names outside of Line Of Duty I apologise for not recognising them.
Don't get me wrong I don't expect a drama series to 100 % realistic, which also seemed to be one negative point people dropped in season 5, but at least make it interesting. I know this can be done as the writer / director showed us in the first four seasons how to entertain and surprise the viewer. Maybe it was just a slow start as the next episodes seem to have a better rating as the first episode, so I try to believe next episode might grab my attention once again.
Overall I really hope they conclude the ongoing story, which started in season 1 with the caddy and masked underground clans, because if this goes on I am not ready for another season and that is coming from someone who enjoyed the early seasons extraordinary and compared this series to the excellence story telling of The Wire.
- buddy-spitzer
- Feb 4, 2024
- Permalink
Worst episode yet
I'm a big fan of LOD, the cast has up until now been mostly great.
Casting Kelly McDonald for this part where she plays the lead as she's the DCI running a Murderer operation was a HUGE MISTAKE. She is awful.
She says her lines like she's on day one at drama school. Overuse of police speak acronyms also make what is usually a realistic and believable show, the opposite. I really hope this season picks up quickly.
Not nearly enough screen time for the start of all fiver series f this show - Ted Hastings.
- RKeenan200
- Mar 21, 2021
- Permalink
It has to get better
After the hype and anticipation, I watched this episode and scratched my head? Who cast Kelly McDonald and gave her top billing? Why has Adrian Dunbar become more Irish? What has happened to Martin Compton's razor? Are there more acronyms to be thrown at us?
Bad start but trust in Mercurio!
- martinwfairley
- Mar 22, 2021
- Permalink
Terrible
Some of the worst acting I have seen in a long time and the script-writing was not much better. I have watched all of the previous 5 series, but that's it for series 6 for me.
- pramsrmike-21923
- Mar 22, 2021
- Permalink
This episode was poor
I was really looking forward to this, but like many I've spoken to, this episode didn't have them captivated, Kelly Macdonald's acting was terrible, they should of cast another woman for this role, just didn't seem to fit in.
Poor opener
This is the worst 1st episode of all 6 series. Almost entirely without tension or suspense and "the interrogation scenes" were more painful than having teeth pulled. Hope it improves, but I'm sceptical as I don't know how something this dull slipped through. The makers obviously think they've got something. They haven't.
- craiglesuk-1
- Mar 21, 2021
- Permalink
The new lead
Oh dear what has happened and who cast the lead women, she is terrible and can't act. What a let down.
- simonkeane-53239
- Mar 22, 2021
- Permalink
Such a shame
Jo (Kelly McDonald) has a mouldy banana's charisma, and the episode was even less charismatic. I do hope her awful expressionless drawl doesn't dominate the forthcoming episodes. If they do, I will not be watching.
- daveraybould
- Mar 21, 2021
- Permalink
Oh please change the script writer
I don't know why I subject myself to this programme, I just I have invested so many hours of my life I now want to know the end.
I also hope that it will improve.
I initially thought the poor quality and stunted delivery was a fault of the actors but then when you see them in other stuff they are excellent and that is when you realise it is the script.
There is no fluidity to it, it is like they are reading a training package. They give more detail than they need to and it just sounds so unrealistic.
They even signpost the lead's depression with lots of tablets and take away containers on the counter.... for gods sake let the actors use their skills rather than label everything like we are stupid.
And please get someone who can write normal conversation.
I also hope that it will improve.
I initially thought the poor quality and stunted delivery was a fault of the actors but then when you see them in other stuff they are excellent and that is when you realise it is the script.
There is no fluidity to it, it is like they are reading a training package. They give more detail than they need to and it just sounds so unrealistic.
They even signpost the lead's depression with lots of tablets and take away containers on the counter.... for gods sake let the actors use their skills rather than label everything like we are stupid.
And please get someone who can write normal conversation.
- brucemiddlemissphotography
- Mar 21, 2021
- Permalink
Rubbish
Waiting forever for season 6 and episode 1 was dreadful, bad acting by the new lead, too much PC again by the BBC, what a load of bunk, will not bother with the rest....l..
Big ol' pile of doggy dodo.
I literally got 10 minutes in to episode 1 of this season and had to quit. This new McDonald girl is dreadful. She sounds like she's trying to over enunciate her words to compensate for her Glaswegian accent. Just so much dry, incomprehensible police jargon that is totally unnecessary. It also has that weird BBC look - you know like Coronation Street - the "film" quality/type is bizarre. It makes it look like a low budget indy film shot on a handycam. Anyway don't waste your time. It's garbage.
- debracurle
- Jan 4, 2022
- Permalink
Timberrrr!
I'm a huge fan of LOD, but this utter mess of an opening to a series has put me off for good.
Wooden acting and unbelievable script, it's just plain nonsense.
Not one member of the new cast can actually act!
Wooden acting and unbelievable script, it's just plain nonsense.
Not one member of the new cast can actually act!
- cliffwislon-62843
- Mar 23, 2021
- Permalink
Kelly McDonald is absolutely horrific
This tv show used to be a 10.
The first episode is a 7.
Now,Kelly McDonald has been given an important role and her acting is absolutely horrific.
How did the director overlook this?
She has destroyed this tv show.
A real shame!
Were the creators clueless?
She took the rating of the tv show from 7 to 3(or 2)
The first episode is a 7.
Now,Kelly McDonald has been given an important role and her acting is absolutely horrific.
How did the director overlook this?
She has destroyed this tv show.
A real shame!
Were the creators clueless?
She took the rating of the tv show from 7 to 3(or 2)
10 stars for all except -5 for Kelly McDonald.
- Debbie-Newall-5
- Mar 26, 2021
- Permalink