Line of Duty and Undercover, Crime Drama that is Suspenseful, Believable and Deals with Poignant Issues

So my post today will be talking about two brilliant dramas that are gracing our TV screens at the moment. As other critics across publications have said British drama is on a winning streak at the moment, from Call the Midwife to the Night Manager, A Word or Thirteen there is quality drama across the BBC. Currently two of the most powerful and nail biting series on are crime dramas Line of Duty and Undercover. Both showcase a first class acting, intriguing plots and the ability to provoke the public’s moral conscience; therefore I thought I’d share my thoughts on them.

Firstly Line of Duty, the internal police crime drama based around anti -corruption investigations is in its third series and right from the off we have had surprises; usually in the plots of Line of Duty it centres on Anti-Corruption Unit 12 (AC12) investigating and trying to catch a corrupt police officer. However writer Jed Mercurio has changed things up a bit this series as the ‘bent copper’ in question was killed off in the second episode; because of this the series couldn’t develop how others have done in the past allowing for a much more multi stranded plot.

AC-12

For a couple of weeks we played a game of guess who bumped off Danny Waldron(Daniel Mays)? As his three fellow arms squad members were put under questioning by AC12 however after one was killed off and the second confessed all that mystery was wrapped up but masterfully led to another who ordered the murder? That question remains unanswered however the audience do know who organised it non other than AC12 DI Matthew ‘Dot’ Cottan. By already telling the audience who is the real guilty party it is frustrating as a viewer to see Cottan gain a commendation from supposedly capturing Danny’s murder Hari when in fact Hari’s actions were ordered by Cottan who then tricked him into capture. It is this suspense, waiting to see who will figure out what we the audience already know that makes the programme all the more exciting.

Hari killed Danny in episode 2 but who ordered it?

Dodgy 'Dot' Cottan

The third series has provided even more intrigue in how it has tied in links from its predecessor. The end of episode 3 we saw previously convicted police offer DI Lindsay Denton (Keeley Hawes) let free. Criminal Tommy Hunter featured on Danny’s ominous list of abusers and interviews have been conducted with previous police inspector Nigel Morton (Neil Morrissey).

The whole series has been nail biting stuff but episode five stood out to me as the most powerful in the series to date. From the start it has been inferred Danny was abused as a child at a children’s home, after it is discovered he killed one of those abusers, AC12 investigated this further leading to them suspecting a high profile paedophile ring. In a an interview with a former Chief Super Intendant  in relation to this a picture is show of a fictional politician, the Chief Super being interviewed and real life celebrity and paedophile Jimmy Saville. I thought the decision to include this was as other people have said, brave. I wold also say successfully executed. Line of Duty is very much a real world drama and so far the programme had dealt with the issue in a very real life way. From Joe’s (Jonas Armstrong) devastating reaction to questioning about his abusers to the investigating teams drive to find who did this. The photo of Saville really brought home the idea that something like this could be plausible. Overall the drama has handled a sensitive and still very current topic with tasteful sensitivity and purpose.

The episode featured a fictional photo featuring Jimmiy Saville a brave move by the programme

However that wasn’t the only big shock of the penultimate episode. On finding we also witnessed the demise of Lindsay Denton who was shot dead by non-other than Cottan. However she didn’t go out without a bang, first sending the list of abusers to AC12 leader Super Intendant Hastings and (we hope) landing dodgy Dot Cottan in it. The latter of which seems uncertain, with Cottan shooting Denton in fellow AC12 officer Steve Arnott’s car and wiping the gun. As an optimist I would bet, despite his attempt at a set -up there will be some genetic evidence to plant Cottan at the scene, perhaps a hair or gun residue?  My other wild card guess is fellow AC DS Kate Fleming has known Dot was dodgy from the start and went to seek authorisation on an undercover operation to catch him! This seems plausible as there is always something they don’t show you up front in Line of Duty. All will be revealed in the final part this coming week. If week five was anything to go by I am sure it will be a hair raising affair!

As well as Line of Duty Sunday nights serve us with more intriguing drama with Undercover. The series tells the story of Maya Cobbina and Nick Johnson; Maya is a defence lawyer who has been headhunted for the job of Head of Public Prosecutions which she uses to right a miscarriage of justice from twenty years ago without realising her husband was an undercover officer on the side of the law.  I have found the series so far both thought provoking and educational. According to other articles Undercover is based in real life facts, there have actually been cases of women marrying or having children with an undercover police officer and they only learn some 10-20 years later the true identity of their partner. This makes Undercover all the more chilling. It is clear this is an area that is not well publicised and it almost inconceivable to imagine now someone would feel discovering such a fact. It is clear Nicks reveal to Maya will be a highly emotional exchange.

Maya and Nick in Undercover

From the second episode onward the action is split between 1996 and the present day. The flashbacks tell the story of Michael Antwi his death of which tied Maya and Nick together. In the 90’s Maya was part of a political activist group led by Antwi campaigning for an end to discrimination to black people by the police. Nick, not his real identity is recruited onto an undercover operation to get close to Michal. At a protest march Antwi and his followers are set upon by skin head thugs, while the police stand back and let the carnage unfold. Antwi is eventually arrested along with others including Nick who is later set free. The protest scenes resembled something you imagine happening in America in the 1950’s.

Later we see a skinhead thug put into Antwi’s cell. From this point on there is a strong sense of foreboding doom for Antwi, we know he will die. The bludgeoning that unfolds is evocative of that in Shane Meadows This is England with the action similarly visceral.  However the most shocking thing to me as a young woman who grew up for the most part in the 21st century was how the police practically engineered his death, I had no idea that life was so tough for black people in the year I was born.

In episode three Maya’s friend a black journalist working for a tabloid paper gets set up into putting her name to a deeply racist report on Antwi’s murder. In turn showing it was not just the police who were unjust to people of colour in 96’ but many facets of society. Like I have said I never realised there was so much racial tension in such recent history, it’s definitely a largely unmentioned part of history so it is kudos to Undercover for making a generation of people aware of a largely forgotten part of our history.   

However the programme shows the police weren’t only unfair to black people. Nicks previous

operation to the Antwi case is a drugs bust; he is not the only OC officer another woman called Abigail Strickland is also on operation, posing as the girlfriend of the gang leader. However as part of the operation she has unavoidably got addicted to heroin resulting in her losing her job (coincidentally she is sacked the day of the Antwi murder). It amazed me that the police would let someone do that much damaged to herself on their behalf and then sack her without any support. It makes you wonder how much has changed today. Furthermore in the modern day she is actually murdered by Nick’s handler as she prepares to meet Maya to confess the truth of Antwi’s death, which she witnessed. The discourse from this is Nick tipped off the name of the witness to the police and obviously hasn’t told Maya.

You can feel the reveal of this web of lies and falsehoods that have being woven will destroy Maya beyond repair. The build-up of tension between the two lead characters has been executed superbly, coupled with quality acting, Sophie Okonedo and Adrian Lester are both brilliant. Undercover is perhaps one of the bravest dramas on TV at the moment; dealing with a story that shines light on one of the murkiest parts of the police service. It is immensely powerful and meaningful. Keep up the good work BBC!

A Killer Frock, Theatrical Staging and a Poor Quality Winners Single was how The Voice 2016 came to a close.

The show was kicked off by introducing the finalists and there coaches, as coach Paloma lost both her acts last week she made a grandiose entrance after the others wearing in her words a ‘killer frock’. It was certainly an eye catching number; the dress was strapless and floor length in tones of grey, the fabric built up of fine layers of fabric providing texture. Her golden hair was woven into a Grecian goddess style up-do which complemented her golden skin well.  The other three coaches looked respectful smart with Ricky in a suit and black bow tie, Will.i.am in a modern cut suit similar to last week and Boy George characteristically individual in a funky patterned coat, drapey white top and trousers and large orange felt bowler.

The coaches were all well dressed for the final

It was then time for the finalists individual performances, Jolan was first to the stage performing a cover of Heard It On The Grapevine his performance was enjoyable and had a funky, groovy vibe. I have decided Jolan has a tone similar to John Newman. He was also wearing a rather retro red/orange jacket. It was a sound performance; however some of the coach feedback was a bit random to say the least. When asked to give his feedback Wil.i.am looked like he was struggling with what to say, probably because he wasn’t really listening to the performance and was devoting his attention to twitter. Instead of talking about Jolan Will.i.am decided to keep re alliterating it was the last BBC Voice. It is safe to say I was left feeling so what was all that about Will?  

Jolan sported a rustic retro style jacket

Second to perform was Lydia. As you have probably gathered from the semi -final review I am not a huge fan of Lydia I find her voice to shrieky for my taste. However her rendition of No One did once again show off her voice well, Boy George commented it was her most vocally controlled performance and I would agree with this. She did sing well. The staging for her performance was quite theatrical too. She started the song suspended mid -air, sitting on a cloud seat in a starry night, although she is still not my cup of tea it was definitely a better performance than last week.

Kevin and the Triangles

Next up was Mr nice guy Kevin Simm, who had a bit of a makeover this week; dressed in a holey black jumper the stage was lit by tiny bright white triangles (held by dancers) that created shapes around him whilst he sung. The overall styling had a cool hipster feel and gave Simm a more youthful vibe which he has been lacking in the past. His performance also carried more passion than before you could really feel his emotions. The judges seemed to think so to as he got a standing ovation from them all!

Cody cast under dramatic white lights

Last to perform was Cody, her rendition of Tears for Fears Mad World was both stylishly staged and mesmerizingly sung. Atmospheric projections of dystopian woodlands floated behind her. While the lighting cast her striking face eerily in dramatic shadows. Coupled with her pure voice the performance was artistic and hauntingly beautiful.  

Now we had the duets starting with Ricky and Jolan. Their performance of Are You Gona Go My Way was energetic, rocking and oozed confidence from contestant and coach alike. It was an enjoyable, a feel good number and they looked like they were having a ball.

Next we had the creative collaboration of Boy George and Cody who covered the iconic John Lennon song Imagine, with George describing it as a hymn earlier in the show I was hoping for something moving and poetic. The result was a little disappointing; although their voices blended better than last week I still felt it failed to showcase Cody's voice to the best of her potential. Georges voice just seemed to drown Cody out, at times she was a subtle echo which although pleasant was too weak; it felt like she was fighting to be heard.  If only they had turned Georges mic down a little. I also felt it was the wrong song for her voice as it’s quite a monotone song. Don’t get me wrong it was enjoyable but wouldn’t set the house on fire. Despite this their costumes were striking creating a yin yang effect with George all in white and Cody in black.

Ying and Yang

Ricky then took to the stage for a second time, this time with Kevin where they dueted a cover of The Killers Mr Brightside. I felt this started off a little weak but it gathered momentum. The chandelier suspended above the stage was a nice link to the original music video. The performance had plenty of life and vigour if it was a bit northern pub karaoke. I think this is partly because both Kevin and Ricky are English and Brandon Flowers is American. As someone who loves the original, it was going to be a steep challenge to take on such an iconic song but I think they did it justice. 

Kevin and Ricky sung Mr Brightside by The Killers

Last up was Lydia and Will.i.am, who performed Will.i.am’s song Girls and Boys. The performance started with some very creepy babies lined up in prams all with Will faces. It was very strange. It also looked like Will and George swapped costumes as the former was now all in white as well. The song was good in a techno, dance club way and was sung well by Lydia, you could see her making music in this style however it didn’t showcase her range as her other songs have done.

We then had a guest performance by Meghan Trainer followed by a cheesy re- cap of the series showcasing the best, worst and funniest moments as well as all the gossip and drama. This was followed by 18 year old singer songwriter Shawn Mendes singing his hit single Stitches; a really catchy song with enough edge to give it an indie vibe but also a lighter hearted pop sound, you can see why it went to number one a few months ago.

It was then time for the first result to decide who would go on to sing the winners single. It was announced that Jolan and Kevin were the final two, so Lydia and Cody were out. Both contestants were commiserated by their coaches with Will announcing he would do a free show at the Royal Albert Hall with Lydia; while George said Cody didn’t mind being out of the running because she didn’t want to sing the winners single any way. At first glance this appears to be a rebellious joke but when we heard the winners single I think it was quite possible he was telling the truth.

Halftime Vote - The Final Four

The song entitled All You Good Friends was a pretty poor song, very generic reality show style and the lyrics weren’t very inspiring either. Whoever wrote it is a poor songwriter. It would have been much better to let the contestants choose their own song. It’s a good thing in a way that Jolan and Kevin where the ones to sing it because I don’t see how Lydia or Cody could have made it their own.

The two finalists made the best of the bad situation but there wasn’t much difference between them; by this time I didn’t really care who won as neither seemed much different from the other. My personal opinion was that Jolan sung it well but was a bit predictable, although he was praised by the coaches for it being vocally flawless. Kevin meanwhile I felt harnessed more emotion. You could really see he thought this was his one last shot. Therefore out of the two I was glad that Kevin won although any of the final four were capable in the end.

So that’s it my round up of the final of The Voice 2016. Kevin Simm won, arguably the favourite from the start. I just couldn’t help thinking Paloma must be gutted she got rid of him in the battle rounds! I wish Kevin all the best in a successful career although it would be nice to hear from some of the other talents that have been uncovered on the show. I hope Boy George will help Cody to get a record deal; she was so special and deserves to be heard a unique talent as does Jordan Gray. In all it was an enjoyable season invigorated by the new coaches (I really hope Boy George and Paloma transfer onto ITV). Hoped you enjoyed reading.

Class singing, interesting set and costume choices and ultimately a predictable public vote was the story of the Semi- Final of The Voice 2016.

On Saturday night I watched the semi- finals of The Voice UK singing competition. The live shows of The Voice tend to focus more than usual on the production and styling side of things so I thought I’d share my thoughts on Saturday’s episode.

Paloma Faith adding a touch of drama in a black power suit

First of all the judges all looked very swarve, donning personalised variants of the suit: Ricky Wilson had a touch of the 70’s with his hipster style brown jacket and paisley red tie. Is it just me or does his latest looks have a feel of Mumford and Sons recently abandoned homely country look? Boy George once again had dramatic flair with a blue and gold circular swirl pattern jacket and striking black trilby. Paloma Faith opted for a bit of vintage nostalgia with a slinky satin jacket, white shirt with a massive bow tie and marcel waved hair. While techno man Will.i.am cut a dash in a simple modern tux.

Now we come to the performances, we started off the night with ex Liberty X contestant Kevin Simm doing a rousing rendition of Adele’s 'Rolling in the Deep'. The set however looked more appropriate for Set Fire to the Rain as plumes of fire flickered behind him throughout. However this was the fieriest thing about the performance, despite comments in previous weeks for Simm to convey more emotion in his singing, Will.i.am still didn’t think he delivered this, commenting: ‘our industry isn’t really about how well you sing. It’s about this other mystery thing you have to unlock’. I believe this sums up Kevin, a nice guy with kids, the masses can relate to and undisputedly a good voice but one that ultimately doesn’t provoke emotion (in me) which is quite possibly why he’s on The Voice and didn’t get a record deal after the Liberty X breakup. 

Kevin Simm with his firery set

Next up we had rapper, beat boxer and singer Lyrickal. His performance oozed urban charm and soul however it didn’t live up to his stunning performance in the knockouts of ‘Read All About It’. Although he does have a warm experience in his voice; in keeping with Will.i.am’s love of alliteration I would describe him as lovable Lyrickal.

Heather Cameron Haynes, the youngest contestant left in the competition was next to take to the stage, the high IQ teenager showcased her maturity turning Justin Biebers club hit ‘Sorry’ into an emotional ballad. Her ability to morph the superficial into the meaningful is definitely her strongest asset and although her voice may not have had the wow factor of the other contestants she definitely shows that it’s the ability to connect with the audience that can make a star. Visually though, Heather and in turn coach Paloma played it a bit safe; repeating last week’s quirk of matching Heather’s dress to her piano and the surrounding backdrops, this time in a deco pattern. This, coupled with a similar song twist meant it was clear Heather was a bit samey.

Cody Frost performing 'The Chain' by Fleetwood Mac

Punk Rock teenager Cody Frost followed Heather performing Fleetwood Mac classic ‘The Chain’. After a disappointing performance last week (conceded by contestant and coach) Cody really needed to pull something out the bag to avoid elimination. Ricky described her vocals as ‘galactic’ and the performance was certainly stratospheric hitting many a powerful note. Frost made the song her own giving it a much heavier rock vibe with her gravelly voice. At times I felt her stage presence lost impact, she looked a little lost wandering around the stage, her movements a bit school rock concert. Although this was only for a few flickering seconds as her emotive face and stirring vocal pulled the performance to a dramatic conclusion. Her voice alone won my vote.

To follow was Lydia Lucy performing the Jacksons ‘I’ll be There’ in honour to her dead sister. (The emphasis in her pre-performance video on this makes me cynically think this was a tactic to lure the public into a sympathy vote). The performance was polished and showcased her vocal range, but ultimately was rather uninspiring. What’s more she was dressed up rather too much like Taylor Swift in a rather odd white top and skirt with a large gap at the front and a pair of shorts. Her movements seemed to rather mimic the American singer too. Which only begs the question do we need another Taylor Swift?

Last on Paloma’s team was Jordan whose rendition of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Dancing in the Dark’ was the most vibrant up lifting moment of the entire show. As Paloma said ‘it was a celebration of life and humanity’. Jordan being a transgender woman has a unique vocal range which she showcased to full glory tonight. Her performance was once again theatrical like last weeks ‘Shake it Out’. Unlike any of the other contestants Jordan showed she can dance, leap and jump whilst singing a significant skill. She was undoubtly the performer of the night and as Boy George said ‘in a fair and just world you would win the show’. In my opinion she is the rightful winner, the most unique of them all.

Jordan Gray more a slinky green, satin number and leapt around the stage to 'Dancing in the Dark'

Penultimatly we had Vangelis who sung a smooth rendition of Christina Aguilera’s ‘Beautiful’. The performance featured striking lighting breaking up the stage and providing an intimate atmosphere. The performance was enjoyable but a bit lacklustre. I really liked Vangelis’s tone, more so than Kevin's but his performance didn’t carry the same drama as previous acts.

Last to the stage was soul boy Jolan who performed a grandiose rendition of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’. The classic track was big shoes to fill but Jolan produced a solid performance of suitable stadium filling standards. Despite this I don’t feel swayed one way or the other by him. His style is quite safe and dare I say it ordinary. Probably a safe bet for the final though by all accounts.

Now it was time for the group performances where the contestants perform with their coach; First off was Ricky’s team singing ‘Power of Love’ (the Huey Lewis and the News song). The most notable thing about the performance was how the three men jelled. You could have a three man boy band made there and then. Their voices all harmonised exceptionally well and also showed Jolan’s and Kevin’s range. The rocking vibe of the song suited all their voices and it was a feel good performance. 

In contrast was team Boy George singing Culture Club classic ‘Victims’. As much as I am a fan of Boy George and his acts (Cody and Vangelis respectively) I felt this song choice did not serve them well. It was very good at showcasing Boy Georges smooth honeyed vocals but I felt he just overpowered the whole performance. Cody and Vangelis did have moments to shine but these were really bit parts in a song dominated by their coach. The small snippets we did hear from the others were very good but too fleeting. Vangelis harmonised well with the Boy, whilst Cody showcased her raw edge and ability to convey emotion and pain in her voice.

In spite of the mixed performance it was interesting to see close up in the video beforehand of examples of Boy Georges past stage costumes. As a fan of Boy George’s creative style this was a treat for a costume student who loves eighties counter culture fashion. Unlike Ricky, George, ever the fashionista did have a costume change opting for a plain black suit and white felt top hat for his performance.

Paloma Faith then turned Saturday into ladies night with her all girl team of Heather and Jordan joining her in a rendition of ‘Take Another Little Piece of My Heart’. They put on a strong sassy performance with their voices again harmonising well. The costumes however were not at all flattering. Heather and Jordan were dressed in red and black stripy dresses and it appeared to be one size fits all; with Heather’s looking rather too fitted, making her appear dumpy while Jordan’s hung off her slim frame and being a lot shorter was worn as a tunic with trousers. However the outfit conjured up a style carrying more resemblance to drag than class. It is safe to say neither were flattering unlike Paloma who was clad in a dramatic floor length (and beyond- the hem dragged on to the floor) gown. At least she made an effort to change which is more than can be said for Ricky.

Team Paloma

The last performance of the night came from Will.i.am and co (Lydia and Lyrickal). The trio created a colourful feel good routine of a 70’s medley the majority of which was performed on bikes. The performance was vibrant and energetic if a little crazy but then it is team Will.i.am.

Team Will Taking us back to the 70's

After some recapping and guest performances from Zara Larsson and Birdy it was time for the results which saw Kevin, Lydia, Cody and Jolan go through to the final.  This result was hardly unexpected as Kevin, Lydia and Jolan were the safest, most commercial acts on the show. However it does seem a shame that even with new more avant garde judges picking the more individual and quirky acts the public still end up voting for the most boring. I also feel disappointment for Paloma Faith who lost both her acts, arguably two of the most creative, inspiring contestants in the competition. It is clear the finalists reflect the type of audience who vote for them.

All the Contestants

If I could pick who would have made the final, I would have gone for Jordan, Cody, Lyrickal, Heather, and ultimately I think Jordan should have won the show. However it’s clear the world isn’t ready for a transgender popstar so on that basis I am now backing Cody in next weeks final because individualism deserves to shine and I would just love it for Boy George to win!