Of English Matters

[selenak]

Life is good to me: next week I'll be in London from Monday till Friday. kangeiko, londonkds, kathyh, rozk, I hope to meet you all!

Also, I've been watching the first season of Between the Lines, a show londonkds recommended. From the early 90s, centred around a team in the Complaints Investigation Bureau (CIB) at Scotland Yard, which has the job of investigating misconduct by other policemen. It's excellent, as noir and shades of grey as the premise promises. Watching it, though, one thing struck me that might simply be a different way of narrating when compared to some other shows whose first season I've seen this last year - Dexter, for example. (Heroes is too different a promise and too widespread an ensemble show to compare.) One of the qualities I loved about Dexter was that we didn't just know how everyone in that police station in Miami related to Dexter but how they related to each other. How Doakes and La Guerta were old partners, how Angel was basically everyone's friend but hid his disintegrating marriage, how Doakes developed a gruff regard for Deb and Deb and La Guerta had tension to the max, and so on. Whereas in Between the Lines, you have in the pilot the leading man, Tony Clark, being more or less drafted into CIB. The other two members of the team, Harry and Maureen, have already been there for ages. So has their superior, Chief Superintendent Deakin. But there is no sense on what kind of relationship Maureen and Harry have with each other, and not until the very last episode of the season, when it's important to the plot, do we find out what either of them thinks of Deakin. We know these people strictly in the way they relate to Tony Clark and do their job, and I find myself missing those other dimensions.

Mind you, this doesn't make the show less interesting. Each of the cases the team investigates doesn't have an easy solution, and there is an ongoing arc through the season, case-wise, which pays off in the finale. Of the regulars, I liked Maureen best; smart, competent, and as opposed to Tony Clark, who is something of a chronic adulterer, not falling for people trying to distract/bribe her with sex. All the actors are good, but I think Siobhan Redmond, who plays Maureen, either gets the best lines or has a way of making hers sound like that.

Comments

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

Good point about the lack of relationships not involving the central character. I do tend to think it's something to do with an earlier style of TV, but I'm having trouble trying to think of examples. Harry and Mo do both get more attention paid to their personal lives next season.

not falling for people trying to distract/bribe her with sex

And if you're talking about the scene I assume you're referring to, it was quite unprecedented in the early 1990s for the subject to be dealt with in such a matter-of-fact way.

All the actors are good, but I think Siobhan Redmond, who plays Maureen, either gets the best lines or has a way of making hers sound like that.

I've seen her in a number of things, and she really is fantastic.

On the series in general, I think it says something that the UK produced a series on this subject, while in US cop shows, even ones which are quite thoughtful and morally grey, "Internal Affairs" people are always played as heartless careerists or fanatical inquisitors who destroy good cops' careers and have no idea of What Has To Be Done on the street.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I do tend to think it's something to do with an earlier style of TV, but I'm having trouble trying to think of examples

I first wondered whether it might be a British/American divide, but then I recalled Spooks, which provides ensemble relationships (not just lead-ensemble) as well.

And if you're talking about the scene I assume you're referring to, it was quite unprecedented in the early 1990s for the subject to be dealt with in such a matter-of-fact way.

It was lacking any sensationalism and that put-down of Mo's was fantastic. Mind you, I thought Jenny wasn't a very sympathetic character throughout the show, but then I didn't have the impression she was meant to be.

"Internal Affairs" people are always played as heartless careerists or fanatical inquisitors who destroy good cops' careers and have no idea of What Has To Be Done on the street.

That's true. Through in the occasional sadist, and they're really one bashed group.

[kathyh]

I've been watching the first season of Between the Lines

Otherwise known as Between the Sheets for reasons that should be obvious to you by now *g*. The other characters get more development in the second and third series and Siobhan Redmond is indeed fantastic, but for me Harry will always rule.

next week I'll be in London from Monday till Friday.

That's excellent. I'm away on Monday, busy on Tuesday, but we're going to a Prom on Wednesday evening so Wednesday afternoon would be possible and Thursday and Friday (daytime) are both clear. It would be great to see you.

[kangeiko]

Yay!! *dances* I claim you for an evening. *clears entire calendar* Which evening would you like? :)

(P.S. am loving your icon - The Lives of Others?)

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

I liked "Between the Loins".

btw I am free all week except for Wednesday and Thursday evening.

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

There's also the film Internal Affairs with Gere as the secretly-corrupt hero cop and Andy Garcia as the IA guy trying to bring him down, but it gets far too melodramatic and silly when it tries to turn into Othello.

[leyenn.livejournal.com]

If you're swinging by Heathrow at any point next Friday, I will be at the Thistle Hotel conning it up (http://www.wolfevents.co.uk). :)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Then let's say Wednesday afternoon, with tea and a nice chat? Place yet to be determined, because now that I know I'm going, I shall try to find out what exhibitions etc. are on!

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I'll drop by at the British Library then, since I need to go there anyway - maybe another lunch at the Indian restaurant you introduced me to, on Thursday noon?

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's Wiesler from The Lives of Others. Ulrich Mühe's death made me want to do the fannish thing, and adopt this icon...

Hm, Wednesday evening, would that work?

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

That would be very nice.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Hm, my flight leaves at 13:15, so if I get to Heathrow early - how far is the hotel from the airport?

[kangeiko]

Yeah, Wednesday is good! Shall we say 7pm, somewhere central? I'm coming in from hackney (bus to bethnal green, which is on the central line) so take your pick, really. :)

RE: Lives of Others - he died? Oh, that's so sad! I loved that movie, it made me cry buckets. :(

[kathyh]

Perfect! We're away from early Friday until late Monday without internet access, but I should be around on Tuesday so let me know where you want to meet then (or earlier if you already have some idea). Very much looking forward to seeing you again :)

[leyenn.livejournal.com]

About a fifteen minute ride on the hotel hopper bus, but I doubt I'll be there by 13:15 anyway. Probably be still on a bus myself at that point. Damn. Next time!

[srichard.livejournal.com]

If you're not already a fan of Cracker, from the same era, may I highly recommend? I really believe it's literally the best show to ever have been on television.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I do love Cracker and watched it faithfully back then. *feels old*

Which led to the frivolous exchange linked here (http://cadesama.livejournal.com/171690.html?thread=590762#t590762).*g*

[srichard.livejournal.com]

Hee. That's lovely--I remember watching Cracker back in the nineties--not quite when it was first on, but back when it was first coming to the U.S., anyway, I'm pretty sure. When I got Netflix, Cracker DVDs were almost the first things I rented. That show can still mess me up hardcore, and there are some eps I'll never be able to watch again. Love it like mad.

And yes, I can proudly claim that I was shocked and excited to find out that new Who starred C.I. Bilborough. *g*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Would you be okay with watching "Wicked" and hence meeting at the Apollo Victoria theatre opposite Victoria station? (Which, considering the name, is, you know, just asking for our visit.*g*) 7pm would still fit, the performance starts at 7:30, and I've seen I can get tickets for both of us. )

[kangeiko]

Yay! *g* That works for me. I'll see you then! *bounce bounce*