Blue Lights

Being from, lived, experienced and witnessed the worst of NI through the troubles., I have just finished watching the complete six episodes of Blue Lights. And contrary to some other reviewers on this page I enjoyed the drama and laughed at the ni humour throughout this series. Naturally, it is a tv series and I suppose you have to allow for a certain amount of 'artistic licence' in these type of programmes. But I have to say the sequence of events on the drugs/gun running and or 'sneaky beakers' is very much a realistic story that occurred quite often in the quest for law and order in our we country N. I. I have to single out the character PC Gerry Cliff played by the excellent actor Richard Dormer. I do hope there is a second series to follow.

Having stinted in NI 1973-1981 this thought provoking drama brough back some happy, and a lot more unhappy memories of NI (during 'the troubles').

Realistic, excellent action and tension, my only very minor point of technical correctness would be that when 'out on a shout' you always parked up with your vehicle 'pointing' outward to enable a speedy 'escape' should matters turn nasty (as they often did).

The early scenes in the Creggan like area were so very typical of what was happening in those days, and I guess from recent news coverage what is still happening right now.

Every police character had been well thought out, so believable, and inner tensions were excellently captured.

Like other reviewers I sincerely hope there will be more series to follow. Once again, well done to the BBC drama dept, sometimes you just 'hit the nail on the head' e.g. Line of Duty, Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax etc.

Top drama with a great cast. It had humour, suspense and a believable plot. Some well known and not so well know actors and actresses feature. The setting was dark and edge of the seat stuff. I liked all the characters and they all played their parts superbly. It didn't show Belfast in a great light but not too dissimilar from many major cities when you look below the surface. I hope that the BBC will write more of this gripping series very quickly. This is what quality tv is all about and what writers should aspire to create. It's probably one of the best written series since the brilliant Happy Valley. Well worth watching.

Much of the first episode had me shaking my head at the seemingly over-the-top stupidity and incompetence of the show's newbie cops. Just another show with tons of frustrating idiot-factor lathered on, I figured.

But then a nice thing happened. The plot lines thickened. The characters assumed nuance and complexity. Every actor came through in spades. And each episode from then on just got better. Until, at the end, I was rooting for every single player on the show. That can only happen when there's outstanding character development; so thank you, writers, actors, directors, for providing me with several hours of very high quality entertainment. Bravo.

Series 1 : I'll start with a caveat. It's a drama not a documentary. If you made a police drama that reflected the real pace of things you'd soon get bored watching 90% same old mundane or hurry up and wait. Therefore some poetic licence and speeding up is required and the trick , that this series manages magnificently , is not to let that detract too much from the attempts at realism. Keeping that in mind this has the lot. Not all cops are heroes (though many are very much so ) , not all baddies are as they seem, some in authority or in responsible roles are far too far up their own whatever and some are simply stupid. There's fair amoint of of politics but balanced by lots of willingness backed up by humour be it dark or comic. It's a gritty drama well written directrd and acted that ranges from making you laugh through to holding back the tears. Most of the characters or type of characters are identifiable and are out there, maybe not all together at the same time but they're there.

Surely that's what it's all about and something many armchair critics who learn about police work from shall we say , less competent police dramas , miss entirely.

Series 2: All the above still applies . Its as easy as that . The original cast plus some great additions carry along the slightly different approach. That slightly different style is the excellent way they've slipped in a few more looks at the local residents behaviour (no spoilers), interactions with the "peelers" and the consequences. The behaviour , comments and attitude of the cops remain well researched , advised and well played, still subject to a bit of artistic licence but that keeps it going . All the unpredictable plots and sub plots keep you wondering whats going to happen next and are you watching a baddy , a hero or an anti hero . Thats what its all about and as a result it remains a fantastic series and I wish I could give it more than 10.