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So, what did we think? I thought it was great and we’ve already had the first twist!
I think it's going to be a few flips along the way, anyone in the line for copping for it all in Ep1 will almost certainly not be in the frame or be dead by the end then resurrected to be the king pin for it all!!
Oh and whatever the final reveal is somebody will be along to say they worked it out after 5 mins of this episode 😉
Enjoyed that!
Thought it was excellent. No idea who to believe in and very intense but loved it. Makes The Bay look like Emmerdale.
im calling it early, its the AC gaffer, ted hastings.
I'm with sadexpunk, H will end up being Hastings. He was a bit quick to put some dosh behind the bar considering he's skint.
Oh, and just as a marker, the big undercover OP will be an internal sting type thing on AC 12. Hastings is short of cash and in some shady business. The woman who we all thought was UCO had Hastings number, he's been feeding her info for a cut.
^
^^
Nope, too obvious.
im calling it early, its the AC gaffer, ted hastings.
That's clearly what they want you to think. Showing him looking a bit shifty, trying to lay everything at the door of the dead ACC, and living in a Travelodge because he's got no dosh, are all typical diversionary tactics!
the big undercover OP will be an internal sting type thing on AC 12. Hastings is short of cash and in some shady business.
Well obviously, I worked that out in the first 5 minutes!
Edit- thinking about it, if Ted was shady, wouldn't he have the 25k roll under his floorboards and not be living in Linton Travel Lodge?
Nope...... in true line of duty style, halfway through the penultimate episode they will introduce a new character who hasn't been eluded to previously - turns out, they did it. Probably an evil twin brother or something, or somebody will find an old photo picturing said new character with one of the victims.
All of your painstaking attention to the storyline, evidence and analysis of the potential suspects will turn out to be completely wasted. All of those little things that don't quite make sense that you are trying to piece together - nah, we won't even mention those again and just leave them hanging/unresolved at the end.
LoD is the equivalent to a locked-room mystery, but in the end they just write-in a hidden trapdoor under the rug.
ACC Derek Hilton, who turned out to be a veritable lodestone of police corruption before he apparently killed himself
"apparently".... Hastings was keen to point this out. He would be too obvious as ring leader, right?
Martin Compston is a Scot. You don’t need to know this, I just like to remind people occasionally that he is not only doing the same filigree acting work as the rest of the cast, but he’s doing it in an unnatural accent. Linguistically, he’s doing everything backwards and in high heels – the Ginger Rogers of AC-12.
Not sure if this is impressive or, now I think about it, his accent is just rubbish. It always seemed quite overt either way.
H is obviously Hastings wife. She’d been pumping him for information and passing it on to the OCG for years.
He looks shady because he’s covering up for her. She appears in a photo in the first episode.
The first twist was more obvious than an obvious thing shouting 'look over here'. However that don't mean much what with it only being ep1.
However, who the top dog of the tree is, who knows, I suspect what will happen is either what batfink says (boo), or it will be Hastings, cause, who else we got? Unless they get busy introducing some more contenders in ep2.
Either way Stephen Graham is a welcome cast addition.
Remember the Beeb have bought two series - season 5 and 6. So if you think H is going to be revealed in the next 5 episodes you are strangely mistaken.
Either way Stephen Graham is a welcome cast addition
Definitely. He makes the other actors look a bit 'Amateur Dramatics' though... All the confused frowns and surprised looks every time a new lead or clue comes up.. er you're cops, you see this stuff all day every day!
Yeah I enjoyed that too - a great start to the new series.
Loved the "Lagan in a bubble" line from Hastings. Superb.
Spoilers follow:
Was the place that Maneet croaked the same place that Hilton met his end? (which seemed quite casually ruled as suicide previously)
The great thing about this series is that from the beginning you know it'll be utterly ludicrous so you don't have to think what the hell has happened to something that was once entertaining but just about plausible.
That is actually a very good point avdave2. I shall stop expecting any realism 😀
OCG DOB EDB ED-209 and out baby.
Was the place that Maneet croaked the same place that Hilton met his end?
I said last night that I recognised the location but couldn't remember where from - you may well be right.
Yes, where Hilton died and also the site of a historic murder.
It was a teacher/youth worker from one of the previous series who got done in there I seem to remember - also got labelled as suicide.
I missed the previous four series of Line of Duty and also missed last night's first episode of the new series. Is it one of those series where there is some form of continuation from previous series e.g. character development, links to previous plots etc. and therefore would be difficult to fully immerse yourself in the new series, or is it a series that will completely stand up in its own right and be worth watching as a LoD newbie?
Needs to be seen from the beginning I think. I started with the second series but only 10 minutes in stopped watching and went to the first on demand.
+1 from the start. They're all on iPlayer.
The first two series in particular (and much of the third) are awesome.
I was enjoying it until the undercover cop killed 3 cops, I’m out !
I was enjoying it until the undercover cop killed 3 cops
Do we know it was him (they were wearing balaclavas). And even if it was, we do not know if he has gone rogue because he's been off grid for months.
Start with the last series and you can quickly gauge what a load of rubbish it is.
Not the first time there has been speculation about Hastings but as others have pointed out if he’s a crook he’s not a very good one - living in Travelodge! I’m sure there will be plenty of moral hazard in there for him though..
I thought it was good enough. I’ll keep watching it out of habit - just to see what twists they shoehorn in. I’m a bit conflicted about the acting though - some of the actors are good and some are shite. Dunbar, with your various “...for the love-a-Jaysus...” type invocations, I’m looking at you especially. None of these high budget cop dramas, LoD, Bodyguard, etc have come near to how good Informer was.
I was enjoying it until the undercover cop killed 3 cops
Do we know it was him (they were wearing balaclavas). And even if it was, we do not know if he has gone rogue because he’s been off grid for months.
Stephen Graham stopped one of the balaclava's from shooting the driver as he ran away, so he might not have actually shot anyone there. But he did sanction Maneet getting topped, so he's a bit of a wrong'un.
I bumped into Stephen Graham outside an Arctic Monkeys gig about 12 years ago. I was drunk, I said something stupid, it was embarrassing. But I'll basically watch anything he's in 👌
I was enjoying it until the undercover cop killed 3 cops, I’m out !
Of course it's all rather far fetched but if you have Netflix go and watch The Miami Showband Massacre and then decide if it's quite as implausible as you think.
Not seen any of the previous series, but last night was a blinder!
So they’re trying even more now to make us think it’s Hastings!
Too obvious I reckon - all those shots of him ominously watching the interrogation were a bit too OTT. That, and we weren't shown the photo of who recruited the arrested officer.
Still can't work out whether Mercurio is a top writer or a bit of a hack? Having said that, this series so far is magnificently 'grey' in terms of who's straight or bent. Is Arnett being played and slipping over to the dark side? Corbett said a couple of times he'd protect those who were straight but didn't care about what happened to the corrupt, but he spared Caffery's life and she was/is (albeit coerced) bent.
True to form, it'll go totally bonkers at some point in the next couple of episodes but so far this series is better than the last couple for me.
The female DI is ex undercover and so far smelling of roses....
Makes you think.....
I am definitely becoming a LoD nerd. Did anybody else spot Vicky McClure’s Forest scarf?
It made me smile when I saw the scarf, well placed and has made me think if there have been other placements etc
Conversation with the wife after last night's episode...
Wife.. Who did she point to?
Me.. I don't know.
Wife... It was Ted wasn't it!
Me... I don't know, we didn't see which photo she pointed out.
Wife... It was Ted, its got to be Ted!
Me... I don't know we didn't see the photo.
5 minutes later.. It was Ted wasn't it
Definite training need for Kate and Steve in that they need to stop looking at each other all flabbergasted when someone says something significant. Or is that just a story signpost for those who aren't quite following it. I think i'll watch it again with Audio Description (aka voices in my head according to our 4 year old) to hear how it's described.
Not sure the Forest scarf was a nerd spot. It occupied the centre of the screen for about 10 seconds.
Proper enjoying this but still struggling to forgive Kate's 1 in a zillion gun shot in a previous series.
Kate and Steve in that they need to stop looking at each other all flabbergasted when someone says something significant
Glad it's not just me! Mentioned it on page one. I think it's probably just poor/over acting.
I think the acting issue is caused by the lines they are supposed to deliver. That look is - was that right what I just said, I've no idea what the hell this all means. And the return look is search me I've no idea what any of this is about either.
Anyway it can hardly be Hastings or anyone else who knows the identity of the undercover officer as they'd of had him disposed off by now.
Definitely not Kate or Steve because they took a photo and if she had identified either of them it would be the end of the series right there. one would have arrested the other and the duty brief would have been the witness. Unless it's a pre-arranged drill between Kate and the copper giving the statement.
Hastings seems too obvious
I'm going to pause it and use the same IET as they have to see who the photo was.
Apparently there's a clue on the drawer label she took the other two photo's from, I shall have to re-watch and pause it later.
DezB
Subscriber
I’m going to pause it and use the same IET as they have to see who the photo was.
If that IET existed I'd have already used it to see what the message was that popped up on Hastings' laptop in the hotel room - same messaging app that H used to contact Corbett earlier in the episode.
swavis
Subscriber
Apparently there’s a clue on the drawer label she took the other two photo’s from, I shall have to re-watch and pause it later.
Good call. It says 'Current AC-12 Personnel'.
I think the acting issue is caused by the lines they are supposed to deliver.
Totally this. It's like they're making a presentation and have memorised the lines and are concentrating so much on getting the jargon right (OCG, PPC, AC-12, red 15, etc) that it doesn't flow. Unless, this is how the police / anti-corruption unit actually talk to each other?
Hastings’ laptop in the hotel room – same messaging app that H used to contact Corbett earlier in the episode.
Bleepy-bong in Hastings' hotel room is of significance though don't recall if it's the same bleepy-bong. Not Hastings tho...
Unless, this is how the police / anti-corruption unit actually talk to each other?
I have a mate who does this kind of thing for real. That is generally how he talks.
He’s like a robot or summink.
I have a mate who does this kind of thing for real. That is generally how he talks.
Interesting. Also they are never in doubt about anything that comes out of their mouths. Everything is straight fact, no ambiguity, no erring, no umming, just facts. Definitely robots.
Hastings will be looking more and more guilty until around the end of ep4/middle of ep5 when we find out its not him, but it'll take him until late in ep6 to actually come through and arrest the real H. Then right at the end we'll discover that H was reporting to someone else...
I reckon this is easy if you use the Midsomer Murders rule. If you look at the possible Hs, minus Hastings, then you aren’t left with many proper actors...
Also if your real name is Hastings why on earth would you choose ‘H’ as your villainous codename?! I guarantee it will be somebody whose name does not begin with H!!!
H is the Home Secretary who faked her own death in a bombing in order to pursue a life of crime on a full time basis.
What about the Chief Super? Would she be included in the AC12 mugshots? Also how many pictures were taken off the wall, 6 pictures were presented in the interview room
H is the Home Secretary who faked her own death in a bombing in order to pursue a life of crime on a full time basis.
Avengers crossover stylee or do Home Secretaries regularly get blown up in BBC dramas? I can't honestly remember. Steve vs the angry scottish bodyguard man in the dependable but lonely microwave-meal-for-one stakes?
6 pictures were presented in the interview room
There was a seventh.
Surely if Hastings was H he wouldn't be skint?
Good call. It says ‘Current AC-12 Personnel’.
Yep it helps with the way hastings was told to look like he was waiting on the results of a difficult paternity test - It could well be him, but it could be any of the others depending on the timeline.
Surely if Hastings was H he wouldn’t be skint?
It's either a really good act ie not spending a penny of it and hiding it all away for retirement or when he needs to run.
This series, for the first time I feel I'm being played for a mug. Ooh, look over there... Gotcha. Ooh, look over there... Gotcha. It's like they've decided to try to bring the ITV crowd over. But they're not as subtle or sincere as the makers of Endeavour or Doc Martin. But they've had more practice.
Ted Hastings has a single out ...
So who thought Hastings was going to be under the balaclava??
Luckily they have no shortage of senior policemen whose surnames start with H..
Liked the 3-7 and 4-5 radio call signs in a nod to Bodie and Doyle.
zzjabzz
Member
Liked the 3-7 and 4-5 radio call signs in a nod to Bodie and Doyle.
+1. Thought I'd imagined it at first.
I knew it wasn’t him - way too stocky a figure. Did anybody else spot the spelling mistake in ‘H’s text - definately rather than definitely - can’t believe that won’t be significant!!
timbog160
Subscriber
I knew it wasn’t him – way too stocky a figure. Did anybody else spot the spelling mistake in ‘H’s text – definately rather than definitely – can’t believe that won’t be significant!!
Yeah, mentioned that at the time. Was waiting all episode for someone to be writing on a whiteboard somewhere...
They still seem to be trying very hard to put Ted in the frame. The disposal of his laptop and general shiftiness when discussing the case. Triple bluff?
They still seem to be trying very hard to put Ted in the frame. The disposal of his laptop and general shiftiness when discussing the case. Triple bluff?
I thought in this age of security we all shredded our laptops weekly?
I'm no IT expert, but do you really go to the trouble of getting a new roll of bubble wrap to protect a laptop that you then take to a high street shop for disposal?
Last one we binned, we just ran dban a couple if times and dropped it off at the tip.
Last one we binned, we just ran dban a couple if times and dropped it off at the tip.
Not quite as visual is it....
I still don't think we have found out what pic she pointed at yet.
Yes that’s a good point - it obviously wasn’t Dot’s picture based on their reactions? But was it Hastings - I somehow doubt it.
Also if you’ve lost a load of money on a property development and some bloke in a pub says give me £100k and I’ll help you get it back, what is the correct response? (Here’s a clue - it’s 2 words!)...
So who thought Hastings was going to be under the balaclava??
Surely nobody, at this stage ? 🙂
Here's a theory - Hastings is in fact straighter than a straight thing and thinks Mr Developer is lining him up to be blackmailed and recruited to H's network. He's going along with it to unmask H. Meanwhile Bodie & Doyle will build a case against him, and discover the dodgy financial goings on as part of that. That's the last step before they nick Hastings. Meanwhile Corbett has kidnapped Mrs Hastings and is using her as leverage to unmask H. At the same time Hastings' dinner date has built her own case against him (again) so at the end of Ep 5 it'll be looking proper bleak for the gaffer. Obvs once the bubble wrapped computer that Hstings used to log all his plans is found (being kept, not destroyed) it'll all unravel in an improbable way in Ep 6, and H will in fact be someone who doesn't have an H in their initials at all.
(Here’s a clue – it’s 2 words!)…
Or three, if you need to say 'Fella!' for extra emphasis.
Here’s a clue – it’s 2 words!
Sucking diesel?
It's a very strange series. Really can't engage with it, and I think I worked out what it was last night: The dialogue. It's awful.
It was when that female cop came over to Sgt. Steve and presented him with some evidence - the words and phrasing coming out of her mouth were in exactly the same style as all the other characters.
Then there's the "They're going for the CCTV!" (in case we wonder what the ladder is for); "There's locks on the outside" (in case we don't spot the big bolts and padlocks on the outside); "How old is she?" (in case we don't realise the girl is young) commentary type dialogue - it's irritating.
I've decided it's appallingly written and I won't miss a thing by not watching anymore!
I'm still enjoying despite all the glaring errors or set ups:
The Police Depot - anyone who's been to an Escape Room would know that these places are filled with "dead man rooms" and no way would all that stuff just be sitting inside the door.
How does Sergeant Arnott drive around in a Top end Volvo yet Superintended Hargreaves is in a Passat?
Hastings is getting setup by the lady lawyer - harvesting DNA - cause he doesn't go to brothels.
Arnotts' ex is at it too.
No one actually supports Forest anymore.
It’s a very strange series. Really can’t engage with it,
It is certainly not a patch so far on some of the previous series. There are simply not enough characters left to mould a decent plot. They're implausibly dragging people like the lawyer lady back in. Is there really any way that Hastings would have anything to do with her after her behaviour last time around?
Stephen Graham is a decent actor, but has next to nothing to work with. There are no protagonists of the deviousness and complexity of those played by Lennie James, Keeley Hawes, and Thandie Newton.