Warning: contains spoilers for the Line of Duty series 6 finale.
Perhaps thanks to the extra half hour of screen time (with seven one-hour episodes instead of five plus a 90-minute finale), or perhaps because there was a genuine sense of threads being tied up as AC-12 went into storage for potentially the last time, there are fewer questions left to answer than usual after Line of Duty series six. The finale gave us lots of certainty, and just a few things still to mull over. After you’ve read our weekly episode review, catch up on the post-finale theories and questions below.
So, Buckells was H all along?
He was bent all along, ever since being part of the corrupt team that investigated the racist murder of Lawrence Christopher. But Buckells only stepped into the shoes of ‘H’ or ‘The Fourth Man’ or whatever you want to call the senior...
Perhaps thanks to the extra half hour of screen time (with seven one-hour episodes instead of five plus a 90-minute finale), or perhaps because there was a genuine sense of threads being tied up as AC-12 went into storage for potentially the last time, there are fewer questions left to answer than usual after Line of Duty series six. The finale gave us lots of certainty, and just a few things still to mull over. After you’ve read our weekly episode review, catch up on the post-finale theories and questions below.
So, Buckells was H all along?
He was bent all along, ever since being part of the corrupt team that investigated the racist murder of Lawrence Christopher. But Buckells only stepped into the shoes of ‘H’ or ‘The Fourth Man’ or whatever you want to call the senior...
- 5/2/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Warning: contains spoilers for Line of Duty series 6 episode 4.
After all the excitement of episode four (read our spoiler-filled review here), fans could be forgiven for taking a recovery day before putting their minds to work and trying to figure out series six’s many mysteries. But did Steve and Chloe take a rest after that shoot-out? No, so in their honour, neither will we. After all, as Kate told Ted in that piss-stinking underpass make-up scene, we’ve got a case to solve.
Jargon of the week: Nominal
Anybody convicted, cautioned, reprimanded, warned or arrested of a recordable offence has a “nominal record” on the Police National Computer, and is therefore a nominal. In the show, it seems to mean the chief individual/suspect in an investigation. In the series five opener, AC-12 referred to both Lisa McQueen and John ‘Clayton’ (before they knew he was an undercover officer) as “the nominal.
After all the excitement of episode four (read our spoiler-filled review here), fans could be forgiven for taking a recovery day before putting their minds to work and trying to figure out series six’s many mysteries. But did Steve and Chloe take a rest after that shoot-out? No, so in their honour, neither will we. After all, as Kate told Ted in that piss-stinking underpass make-up scene, we’ve got a case to solve.
Jargon of the week: Nominal
Anybody convicted, cautioned, reprimanded, warned or arrested of a recordable offence has a “nominal record” on the Police National Computer, and is therefore a nominal. In the show, it seems to mean the chief individual/suspect in an investigation. In the series five opener, AC-12 referred to both Lisa McQueen and John ‘Clayton’ (before they knew he was an undercover officer) as “the nominal.
- 4/11/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Warning: contains spoilers for Line of Duty series six, episode two.
From the Brink’s-Mat Robbery, to predatory sex offender Jimmy Savile, the scripts for police drama Line of Duty are peppered with mention of real-world criminal cases. Blending reality and fiction cements the show’s naturalism and feeds into each series’ themes.
Series six revolves around the investigation into the murder of fictional journalist Gail Vella, played by Andi Osho. The first episode opens just over a year since Vella was fatally shot outside her home, in which time no suspects have been charged. The officer leading the investigation is suspected of a cover-up, which is thought to explain the lack of progress on the case, and brings Line of Duty’s anti-corruption leads into proceedings.
In episode two, a likely motive for Vella’s murder is uncovered. The journalist was investigating links between police corruption and organised crime,...
From the Brink’s-Mat Robbery, to predatory sex offender Jimmy Savile, the scripts for police drama Line of Duty are peppered with mention of real-world criminal cases. Blending reality and fiction cements the show’s naturalism and feeds into each series’ themes.
Series six revolves around the investigation into the murder of fictional journalist Gail Vella, played by Andi Osho. The first episode opens just over a year since Vella was fatally shot outside her home, in which time no suspects have been charged. The officer leading the investigation is suspected of a cover-up, which is thought to explain the lack of progress on the case, and brings Line of Duty’s anti-corruption leads into proceedings.
In episode two, a likely motive for Vella’s murder is uncovered. The journalist was investigating links between police corruption and organised crime,...
- 3/28/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Warning: contains spoilers for Line of Duty series 6 episode 1
Line of Duty requires attentive viewing. Try to watch it while doing the ironing and it’ll be burnt shirt collars and confusion for you, son. Every sly look, slight frown and worried swallow by the characters needs to be absorbed by fans if we’re to construct our usual baroque theories week by week.
You could keep a little notebook at hand in which to jot down and underline key info, or you could just come here every week after reading the episode review, and have your memory jogged to the relevant bits…
Acronym of the Week: Chis
Pronounced to rhyme with ‘fizz’. Stands for: Covert Human Intelligence Source, or informant.
Why did Kate leave AC-12?
She’s ambitious, for one, but the cracks started to show in series five. It was Kate and Steve who went to Acc Wise...
Line of Duty requires attentive viewing. Try to watch it while doing the ironing and it’ll be burnt shirt collars and confusion for you, son. Every sly look, slight frown and worried swallow by the characters needs to be absorbed by fans if we’re to construct our usual baroque theories week by week.
You could keep a little notebook at hand in which to jot down and underline key info, or you could just come here every week after reading the episode review, and have your memory jogged to the relevant bits…
Acronym of the Week: Chis
Pronounced to rhyme with ‘fizz’. Stands for: Covert Human Intelligence Source, or informant.
Why did Kate leave AC-12?
She’s ambitious, for one, but the cracks started to show in series five. It was Kate and Steve who went to Acc Wise...
- 3/21/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Warning: contains Line of Duty series 5 spoilers.
While each Line of Duty series welcomes a new guest character to be investigated by anti-corruption unit AC-12, there’s plenty of connective tissue between each run. Faces from the past regularly pop up in roles of varying significance – some just a face in a case file, others actively interfering with play. The production team works on the assumption that viewers have been paying attention, which is generally the case. When the series five opener welcomed back two characters – Miroslav Minkowicz and Ryan Pilkington – not seen on the show for seven years, fans made the connection within seconds.
It was a crucial connection to make. The return of organised crime group members Minkowicz and Pilkington confirmed that the bent coppers AC-12 has been chasing since the very beginning had all been linked to to the same Ocg. The people that killed Jackie Laverty in series one,...
While each Line of Duty series welcomes a new guest character to be investigated by anti-corruption unit AC-12, there’s plenty of connective tissue between each run. Faces from the past regularly pop up in roles of varying significance – some just a face in a case file, others actively interfering with play. The production team works on the assumption that viewers have been paying attention, which is generally the case. When the series five opener welcomed back two characters – Miroslav Minkowicz and Ryan Pilkington – not seen on the show for seven years, fans made the connection within seconds.
It was a crucial connection to make. The return of organised crime group members Minkowicz and Pilkington confirmed that the bent coppers AC-12 has been chasing since the very beginning had all been linked to to the same Ocg. The people that killed Jackie Laverty in series one,...
- 3/3/2021
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Louisa Mellor Apr 30, 2017
Blimey. The Line Of Duty series 4 finale did not disappoint. Major spoilers ahead in our review…
This review contains spoilers.
See related Justice League: the brand new poster Future DC films will be "hopeful and optimistic" DC Comics movies: upcoming UK release dates calendar The Crow reboot to finally shoot in January
Line Of Duty creator Jed Mercurio originally trained as a doctor; if he’s still licensed to write prescriptions, he owes us all a month’s worth of anti-anxiety pills and a sedative after that.
And perhaps something for finger cramp. After ten minutes of holding mine to my face, rigid as bicycle spokes, I can barely type. From the second Jamie arrived in the interrogation room to the moment he handed over his gun, I’m not sure I exhaled.
Even after Jamie gave Steve the gun, there was more cheering to be done than respiration.
Blimey. The Line Of Duty series 4 finale did not disappoint. Major spoilers ahead in our review…
This review contains spoilers.
See related Justice League: the brand new poster Future DC films will be "hopeful and optimistic" DC Comics movies: upcoming UK release dates calendar The Crow reboot to finally shoot in January
Line Of Duty creator Jed Mercurio originally trained as a doctor; if he’s still licensed to write prescriptions, he owes us all a month’s worth of anti-anxiety pills and a sedative after that.
And perhaps something for finger cramp. After ten minutes of holding mine to my face, rigid as bicycle spokes, I can barely type. From the second Jamie arrived in the interrogation room to the moment he handed over his gun, I’m not sure I exhaled.
Even after Jamie gave Steve the gun, there was more cheering to be done than respiration.
- 4/30/2017
- Den of Geek
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