No Offence

I dispute the IMDb tagline, "Follows a group of police officers on the front line wondering what they did to end up where they are now, on the ugly side of Manchester." This seems written offhand by someone not in the know who didn't actually watch the series. One of the most distinguishing features of this fictional police unit is its being led by an intelligent, funny, high-spirited woman who is confident, with reason, and doesn't conform to the image stereotype of women on TV. She doesn't care about her body type and doesn't care about anyone who does. The bonding among the female and the male members in the unit is more convincing and appealing than in other police dramas I've watched. The humour is just plain fun. I've been thoroughly entertained watching the first 3 series on Acorn TV here in Canada and I really hope there'll be a 4th series.

Just to strike some balance against the review titled 'total trash'. (Written by someone in the US two days before the UK show premiered in the UK??)

It's not 'shocktainment.' I have no idea which scene that's supposed to relate to, if any. The only body you see is on a mortuary slab: just the face, rest beneath a sheet. There is a mildly gross X-ray image in the background, relating to an, er, unusual car crash. You might not like the humour, but it is included AS humour.

If he/she means the 'splat' moment at the start, it only lasts a second and you don't see anything, really. It's no worse than any of the deaths in Midsomer Murders, and no one compares those to torture TV.

It's a black comedy. And if some of the humour seems, as another reviewer says, to 'belong in the playground,' well, the clue is in the title of the series. People say 'no offence' when they are about to say something awful. It's meant to be outrageous in places.

It parodies the standard police drama, while still being one. Turns a few clichés on their heads. And adds some realism: a heroine jumping in a city river to save someone probably does need antibiotics more than a medal afterwards.

Can't wait to see where it goes from here.

I've read the previous reviews, one stands out. So I'm making my stand, on my opinion of the show. From the first episode, I have not only watched the story progress, due to the camera work, the actors and, for me, a totally new feel to a cop show. The character development hasn't felt forced, it seems to have evolved with the main story, leaving questions at every turn. I would suggest, which I have, to anyone who likes a clever plot and very likable cast to give their 'once over'. Again I must mention the acting, after seeing Elaine Cassidy in Paradise I had just the one image of her, and I took her for her character. Boy does she shine in this show. Alexandra Roach playing the 'by default' boss is truly awesome. This show is a joy to watch, and a pleasure to suggest. Happy Viewing :)

It's dark comedy, and I find it amusing. It's not supposed to be overly serious and factual, just entertaining (although there are some serious parts that I also find well done). A lot of people seem to be over-thinking it. One reviewer likened it to the car crash channel, shocktainment and carried on about mangled bodies; they have apparently confused this with some other show, because I didn't see anything like that. Nothing even close to the violence and gore on say "Criminal Minds" or even the beloved "NCIS". I take offence at the reviewer who said "only childish adults who never left the playground" would find it funny. Lighten up people, this isn't Shakespeare, it's a TV show, and not everyone's cup of tea. Criticize the show but you don't need to slam everyone who enjoys it; just makes you sound sanctimonious and arrogant. I hope the show continues, and I personally will continue to enjoy it.

This took me by surprise. I didn't expect any of this. I thought it was a conventional detective, procedural series. And I was very delightfully impressed. The storyline is original, gritty, very well developed in terms of thriller and crime situations. The humor is really great, twisted but really refreshing. But the best of it, the characters! A very welcome show!