'Line of Duty' (BBC2) is one of the best things 'thetvreviewguy' has seen all year. Set in a Police Force which is obviously the Met, the plot is compelling. The opening almost explicitly mirrors the de Menezes shooting and sets up the premise of the series; DS Steve Arnott, (Martin Compston shining as the naive young copper) alienated from his colleagues after telling the truth, gets re-assigned to fight police corruption with AC-1. They target a charismatic black police officer, Tony Gates (played brilliantly by Lennie James) who they suspect of doctoring his clear -up rate. His mistress, (Gina McKee, superb in the role) is responsible for a fatal hit-and-run which Gates gets sucked into. There's an undercover operation directed by a Superintendent Ted Hastings, a figure whom Gates calls a 'zealot' (Adrian Dunbar has rarely been better, with his character bearing all the scars one would expect from a Catholic, ex-RUC Officer). 'Line of Duty' has a remarkable ensemble cast; from Vicky McClure as DC Kate Fleming (ambitious and highly-motivated) to Neil Morrissey. The dialogue is crisp, the pacing is spot-on and Jed Mercurio has produced an excellent piece of scriptwriting which had 'thetvreviewguy' rhooked after five minutes of the first episode. BBC 'score', this TV Cop Drama at its best; 'Line of Duty' is a short, sharp, shock of a series that promises much for the remaining episodes.
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