Protection

I am writing this after series 1. I assume there won't be a second. This was a good series until the finale.

Maybe it was the strong cast that had kept me engaged (a lot of familiar B-listers but none of them really top billing) but the story just seemed to fall apart at the end. Maybe 6 episodes was too much for the writers.

I love Siobhan Finneran but this probably goes to show that she is a great support actress rather than a leading lady (even in Rita and Sue and Bob too see came second each time. The one time she came first there was an unsatisfactory outcome and the same goes for this show).

To have Siobhan, Katherine Kelly and Catherine Tyldesley in the first episode won me over but why they got as big a actress as Catherine Tyldesley for such a small role is beyond me (I guess she had a ship to catch) and she and Katherine Kelly are similar in looks and acting style.

I loved David Hayman as the cantankerous father, reluctantly having to give up on his independence as his health wanes and the way he acts with his daughter who dutifully followed him into the force is brilliantly written.

For a story made mainly in Liverpool, it did seem to have very few scousers but some great northern actors seeing the story through to a poor and convoluted conclusion.

I had high hopes for this with such a strong writer and cast, and it's nice to get a different perspective (witness protection) to the usual procedural. Unfortunately though it's confusing, full of holes and has that annoying thing where people who have presumably reached management or leadership by being good at their job for many years suddenly start making frankly daft decisions. At the same time rules that apply to everyone else are exempt for important characters in order to give them space to further the story. It gets increasingly confusing and annoying so by the denouement I'd really stopped following/caring what was going on.

I typically jump at watching most all Brit crime shows, especially with a great cast of actors. Sadly, this plot was at best confusing and at worst not believable for the most part. I often enjoy mystery pot boilers, but this is not on that level. I hate to blame this mess on anyone in particular except for the writer.

It is difficult to stay invested in a story that includes inane plot lines, unbelievable twists, and no reason to believe that this would end in any way other than "black ops control everything," even without any rhyme or reason. If you want to watch an escapist mystery with no need to worry about the plot, this is for you!

As usual, as the plot thickens, the supposedly capable characters start doing stupid things to make it last longer?

I would say that the beginning episodes are the best, the last ones revolve around stupidity by characters. (Like why are they no using prepaid phones, not removing the sim cards, not saving information to an outside cloud,) and the list goes on...

Some good acting by supporting characters, main actor is not even in good enough shape to run without having a stunt double. Much better than American shows. More complex, more interesting. I would recommend if you ignore the logic flaws.

Another great British police story with a brilliant Siobhan Finneran as always. She has really turned into one of my favourite actresses. The story line keeps you engaged throughout the episodes and without too many plotholes as well. I watched it over a couple of days and never felt bored at any point of time. It's really amazing how these Britt's can come up with one exiting series after another in this specific. If you liked Happy Valley and some of the other similar police stories you will definitely also enjoy this one. Without revealing the story I can say that the plot and the ending also was well crafted indeed. Highly recommended!!