Out of the Blue

'Out Of The Blue' was the British answer to 'Homicide Life On The Street' and so suffered the same problems as the classic American series. Great reviews but low ratings. Viewers at the time seemed uncomfortable with the hand held camera work and bleak Yorkshire back drop. This was no 'Heartbeat' but instead Brazen Gate Police Station was an over stretched service dealing with the dregs of society. More of an ensemble piece than a star vehicle because writers Bill Gallagher and Peter Bowker were more interested in character development over plot. However the series did not shy away from strong topics including male rape and euthanasia. John Hannah, fresh from the success of 'Four Weddings and a Funeral', was the most well known face in the show and his character DS Frankie Driscoll was regarded as a tough thief taker who finds his career threatened when he suffers a mild stroke in which battle to hid from his fellow officers. The light relief came from the excellent Neil Dudgeon who as DC Marty Brazil became more and more angry as each week passed as his disillusionment set in. In the second season David Morrisey came in for Hannah but 'Out of the Blue' was finished and more shame on the viewers for that.

I found this gem recently and enjoyed every moment of season 1 with the stand alone episodes that build a complex character arc overall. Season 2 delved into a little bit more interpersonal drama, which was very good, albeit unexpected. The 90s were a time world wide and television was no exception. The cast does a phenomenal job with each other, on screen chemistry is great as these detectives work out murder and other crimes without all of the fantastical tech of fancy crime labs in city settings. The players deal with each other and the work in such a realistic way, it was a pleasure to watch.