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Line Of Duty Series 4 started with a bang and didn’t let up – literally, as Polish waitress Hana (Gaite Jansen) was run over, kidnapped, then trapped in a house rigged to explode in flames…
The suspect, Michael Farmer (Scott Reid), is accused of the deadly deed in this heart-stopping opener which began an hour that was electric from start to finish.
Leading the case is DCI Roz Huntley (Thandie Newton), who’s certain she’s got her man, but while her superior, Hilton (The Thick Of It‘s Paul Higgins) has nothing but praise for her, pouring oil on trouble waters is uppity underling DI Tim Ifield (Jason Watkins) who thinks he’s innocent and is determined to prove it. Oh, and add in the uber-cute Claudia Jessie as one of Roz’s DC’s Jodie Taylor.
Naturally, I can’t tell you what happens (not that I’d want to, because otherwise there’d be no point watching the programme and this series is rarely less than absolute dynamite), but as the hour drew to a close, I was on the edge of the edge of my seat!
So, is Roz dodgy or one of the good guys? Only watching the series will answer that. I remember when Keeley Hawes was interviewed on This Morning as she started series 2, saying she’d read the scripts for episodes one to five – so with one left to go. She asked creator/writer Jed Mecurio, “So, am I a goodie or a baddie?”
He replied: “I haven’t decided yet.”
Jason Watkins is on top form as always, the stunning Thandie Newton hasn’t aged a day in 20 years since 1997’s Gridlock’d and everyone at AC-12 is as reliable as ever. And after watching the first episode, you’d best tell work you’re taking a week off, because you’ll struggle to move from the sofa for the tension you’re feeling until episode 2 begins next Sunday.
Oh, but I did crease up at the snoozing solicitor 🙂
Line Of Duty Series 4 is available to pre-order on DVD, as well as in a Series 1-4 DVD boxset, ahead of their release on May 8th, and the drama continues next Sunday on BBC2 at 9pm. If you missed it, you can watch the first episode on BBC iPlayer for 30 days after transmission, and click on the DVD packshot for the full-size version.
Episode 1 Score: 10/10
Director: Jed Mercurio
Producer: Cait Collins
Creator/writer: Jed Mercurio
Music: Carly Paradis
Cast:
DCI Roz Huntley: Thandie Newton
Tim Ifield: Jason Watkins
Hastings: Adrian Dunbar
DS Steve Arnott: Martin Compston
DC Kate Fleming: Vicky McClure
Michael Farmer: Scott Reid
Sophie: India Ria Amarteifio
Jade: Harriet Cains
FARS OIC: Frank Cannon
Hilton: Paul Higgins
Nick Huntley: Lee Ingleby
Hana: Gaite Jansen
DC Jodie Taylor: Claudia Jessie
Ollie: Kwame Che Kandekore
DC Daniel Brightway: Simon Millar
Gemma Riley: Elva Trill
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.