Floodtide

This passed me by when shown nearly forty years ago, but have now watched both series over a week on youtube. It centres on Dr Ramsey, who is based in France, who decides to turn detective to bust a drugs cartel. The drama takes place in both France and England, so plenty of nice scenery and 80's cars. Can't say much about the plot because that would involve too many spoilers, but one thing I noticed about Ramsey, played by Philip Sayer who sadly died soon after filming this, is that in series one he appears as a likeable mild mannered man but in series two he behaves like a fervent detective from the Sweeny. Anyway, an interesting eighties crime drama well worth a watch.

No plot spoilers.

This is an interesting watch.

It is very 1980s.

I like the moral angle to the story but it all seems unrealistic.

It is a slow telling of a good story.

I can imagine a remake.

Successful doctor Ramsey gives up everything to pursue a private vendetta he knows he can't win, against forces he can't fully know. His nemesis is Lambert, ruthless principal of a powerful European drug smuggling cartel. Personal tragedy and simple private heroism develop into a pursuit from which there could be no retreat. Echoes of Holmes and Moriarty leading to Reichenbach Falls, but brutally modern. Sub-themes of the miniseries are the nature of addiction and the unspoken pact between user and supplier against those who really care, and the pitfalls in attempting to break that collaboration. It's been fifteen years since this series was aired, but much of it is still with me. If it were available on DVD I'd be a customer.