The Field of Blood

Why are there these great mini series made years without another season leaving us hanging? Good acting and interesting stories just wasted for some other tripe that's on I don't get it?

The second series of The Field of Blood returns to Glasgow and again blends politics, intrigue and the changing newspaper industry.

Once again we follow novice female reporter Paddy Meehan as she tries to make a career for herself. She is working the night shift on the call car with a tough reporter and she is soon following up a murder mystery.

The main backdrop is the Miners strike and the dirty tricks campaign against it.

However, we are also looking at new, tougher executives entering the newspaper industry, less principled and happy to do the dirty work for the government in a propaganda war.

There is no doubt the story takes place with the benefit of hindsight. With or without media help, the Miners strike was very unpopular in some quarters and most media outlets were very happy to be negative against the Miners Union with very little persuasion.

There is an element of looking back with rose tinted spectacles. It is a decent enough second series, we see Paddy's ongoing difficult relationship with her parents but nothing too special.

Paddy Meehan lands a job as a journalist, and quickly gets entangled in a murder. In a man's world, she battles against sexism and misogyny.

It's a real shame that this wasn't further developed, this show definitely had some mileage. The first episode, The Field of Blood, was terrific, it has so much content. The second two parter isn't the same standard I think, but it's still very good, it was great to see the show return.

Jayd Johnson is excellent throughout as Paddy, I am stunned that she hasn't had a prolific career since, I think she's excellent.

There was some terrific acting, David Morrissey and Peter Capaldi in particular were terrific. I also really liked Bronagh Gallagher as Paddy's mum.

It's very well produced, it looks marvellous, they really capture the visuals of the 1980's, and okay some cracking music too.

I wish there were more if them, 8/10.

Arghhh! I only just discovered this by trawling through BBC Scotland and was intrigued as I love crime drama. This was absolutely brilliant over four episodes and finishes to give us ample plot lines to continue. Why oh why oh why do we have no more as relationships are just building? The main characters are superbly profiled and the tension and subversive battles during the miners strike of the 80's and beyond is brilliantly portrayed. Shock of the new overlaps with the old tradition and like two juggernauts collide. It's fantastic stuff but so, so brief. I suppose the argument could be that it's fitting as it exploded with so much verve and power that it needed no more. I'd not read any of the books this is based on but will search them out as I'm completely hooked. Just sorry this was all done on TV eight years ago and I missed it. Well done to all involved and to BBC Scotland for reshooting. Pure class!

This is a good movie, with a well acting female lead as the newspaper copy-girl Patricia who dreams of becoming a reporter and stumbles upon clues on a child murder in the area. However it is not great, and the thick Glasgow accent of all involved makes it even less accessible to non English audiences.

I don't know why they called it a series, either, as it is really a two parter film. Maybe they intended to continue it with the adventures of this tiny girl in this tiny community of uber-Catholic tiny minded people, but what would have been the point?

Bottom line: a nice watch, with convincing acting and script, some thrills and a true glimpse of Glasgow in the 70-80's. Subtitles don't hurt, either. Peter Capaldi plays in this one, as a secondary character.