In the fine tradition of two-sided, cat-and-mouse narrative, following on from Korea’s brilliant Infernal Affairs and BBC 2’s The Shadow Line, there’s great power in creating a work that gives viewers a clear window on both a pursuer and the pursued. In Line of Duty, however, the usual criminal/cop dichotomy is abandoned in favour of a more interesting pair: superstar cop/internal affairs investigator.
This series is directed and produced with the sort of crisp, high-minded detail that’s becoming the hallmark of the BBC crime procedural; cultural realities, tight scripting, unimpeachable acting talent and judicious deployment of budget for maximum effect. There’s even some wobbly camerawork for that edge of gritty reality.
DCI Tony Gates (Lennie James) is at the top of his game: named Officer of the Year, he’s clearing cases like golf balls at a driving range. DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) is a new recruit to Anti-Corruption, having refused to help cover up a botched anti-terrorist strike that ended in an innocent man’s shooting. With Arnott reluctantly assigned to investigate Gates’ unlikely clearance rates, and Gates sliding down a slippery slope into a lake of serious moral and personal hot water, the series has a feel of inevitability that is anything but boring.
Much of the show’s quality rides on Lennie James as Gates: irrepressibly likeable despite his shortcomings, personally conflicted, dedicated to police work, his family and furthering his own career, slowly watching all of the above go pear-shaped. James is utterly riveting at every turn, and without him, it’s hard to see that the series would have been such an unashamed success. There’s also some great work in the increasingly complex character of DC Kate Fleming, played by Vicky McClure, while Adrian Dunbar, as Arnott’s anti-corruption superintendent Ted Hastings, pretty much steals every scene he’s in.
The series’ great triumph is its ability to make the viewer empathise with all its major players, no matter how many lines they cross, and no matter how doomed the situation seems. While it does have moments where one senses the giant invisible hand of the writer somewhat transparently pushing the actors away from making good decisions, it’s all in the service of an otherwise gripping progression of events. Lines are blurred, facts are revealed,
In fact, the only real criticism to level at Line of Duty is that some of the bit-part characters are a smidge two-dimensional; in particular, Gates’ on-screen wife and kids suffer from a classic case of Oblivious Cardboard Family Syndrome, and his team, while showing commendable diversity (probably designed to make Gates look like a Good GuyTM), all suffer from attacks of Predictably Laddish Chauvinist Copper Disease. That said, there’s more than enough going on in the foreground to distract from any background made of plywood.
While Line of Duty doesn’t really have a groundbreaking or innovative TV format, it is certainly a solid, quality crime drama: interesting characters, unimpeachable acting, more plot twists than a corkscrew factory and plenty of nail-biting moments to keep the entertainment flowing.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Line of Duty Season 1
World Productions
Written by Jed Mercurio
Directed by David Caffrey and Douglas Mackinnon
Cast includes Lennie James, Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, Gina McKee and Adrian Dunbar
DVD Release 3 February
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