The Hunt for Raoul Moat

I had no idea they made this. Maybe they should've consulted my ex-girlfriend. She went to school with him. He was the only person at her school that didn't bully her, due to them both being 'foreigners'.

We arrived in Spain at her apartment late at night and chucked on Sky news (as you do, seeing as every other channel was in Spanish) and her jaw dropped as she said 'I went to school with him!'. We sat up and watched it all unfold. I think there was maybe an element of it being handled badly. He was one messed up cookie. Just because you're built, doesn't mean you're a monster. He'd had all sorts of rubbish thrown at him, winding him up and pushing his buttons. He was a man on a ledge, pushed to his extreme mental limits and pushed over the edge.

Don't judge unless you at least know even just a little bit about a person. Despite all, I don't think he was a bad person. Roid rage aside, he probably could have been rehabilitated.

Why is it that true life crime is far more absorbing and watcheable than the contrived drama being turned out these days.

We have given up on three contemporary cop dramas in recent weeks, but this was far more interesting.

Watching the companion documentary that followed the conclusion of the three episodes, it is clear that the drama was very accurate. No creation of additional scenes or stories like The Gold a few weeks ago.

All those involved in the hunt never got the opportunity to find out what was really behind Moat's paranoia. It was probably embedded in his youth, but this never came out.

It was mentioned at the end that the true victims of this crime have been largely forgotten, and this is true. It should never be forgotten that this was an extremely dangerous man who felt he had nothing to lose. He was a cold blooded killer, you can't get away from that.

As a working class Geordie myself this dramatisation felt authentic and realistic with a largely local cast. I'm happy to report that it didn't give a voice to Moat himself. Instead it focused on his toxic masculinity, his violent crimes, their impact and legacy and the race to capture him. Nor did it gloss over the errors made by the police.

I thought it was well written (by Kevin Sampson who also wrote the excellent 'Anne' last year) and produced and the cast was very good led by the always reliable Lee Ingleby.

Overall a strong and successful drama that is sadly timely with so many stories of domestic violence still featuring in our news every day.

For those of us outside the UK who've never heard of this story, I appreciate that the British seem to be able to convey the essence of this kind of crime without sensationalizing it. The acting was pretty solid and the pace was just right, apart from a few frantic camera shots that didn't add to anything except dizziness. What is clear here is that apart from the many victims (the ones shot and their families and friends), the other 'victim' is the empathy that all these social media/Facebook followers were lacking. However you feel about the police, the fact that psychopath (and he was a very damaged individual who made these choices) killed and maimed people and yet still was viewed by himself and his deluded 'fans' as a victim, is beyond comprehension. But sadly, this is far too commonplace these days and everyone wants to be a 'star' and be recognized, regardless of how or why. One has to despair of humanity that we have 'evolved' to this kind of mindless narcissism. This series at least tries to put some of that humanity back for the victims and show them the respect they deserved. Kudos to the whole production and shame on those who glorify killers of innocent people.

Raoul Moat is released from Prison, he shoots his ex partner Sam Stobbart, and shoots her new partner Christopher Brown dead, Sam has convinced Moat that her partner was a Policeman, prompting him to target The Police.

A very good three part series, it's a crime that I'm sure lives on for many, back in 2010 this story was huge, Moat was quite literally the moat wanted man in Britain.

The case highlighted several failings in the legal system, and highlighted the depths some journalists will sink to for a story.

Mark Stokoe is terrific as Moat, he looks like him, he adds a degree of menace too, he played the part well, very well supported by Lee Ingleby, Sonya Cassidy, Vineeta Rishi and several others.

Very well produced, they tied some original footage in very nicely, it looks great, the pacing is also a key success.

The one thing that I couldn't help but look at the whole way through, Sim's hair, she could well have stepped in from 1952, they could have toned it down a little.

There was one line that was white significant, people won't forget the name Raoul Moat, how true and incredibly sad is that. Learning the fate of that poor Policeman, that was upsetting to learn.

Very good series, 8/10.