The Responder

Watched first episode and thought Martin Freeman was really good but the whole thing was depressing. DH wanted to continue with it so sat through a couple more and found it quite riveting. Very gritty and down to earth of course but written by an ex-policeman and I think could well be a reasonable example of what the police and other emergency services have to deal with.

Like quite a few of you have said it’s pretty depressing. I watched first episode and then a second. I’m not sure will watch anymore though.

Madmother21

I’m going to hunt for Tenko now! I loved it at the time. It’s just all police dramas these days, I’m bored with it. I have been enjoying This Is Us, though.

I am completely overwhelmed with Tenko. I remember it was amazing, but the realism is incredible. The sweat-stained clothes, the skin sores, the tatty shoes are all so authentic. You are there with those women as they explore their feelings and come to terms with their imprisonment. They don't make them like that any more. It's on UKTV Play.

EllanVannin

Sadly, gone are the days when youths got a good hiding, a wake-up call to many I suspect, when officers once took off their jackets to those who thought they were above the law then they got another thick ear if the parents knew they'd been in trouble with the police.

It's a good thing you didn't watch Panorama which was on just before that, EllanVannin!

Like bluebell subtitles definitely help, and the swearing doesn’t bother me at all, it seemed essential for the part he was playing, I am guessing it is exactly like that for probably far too many police people ( can’t assume gender any more) working in horrible inner city ghetto like estates.i found the humour refreshing ‘City Centre Casey’ but the constant use of “lad” was more irritating than anything, I really don’t think the scousers I know use it quite that much, but it was rather used like ‘innit’ for Essex wide boys in films and tv series.

I thought it was excellent.
The acting, the drama, the storyline.

Although I do think there are far too many police dramas scheduled all at the same time.

If you have lived a fairly sheltered life, then you will probably be offended by the bad language.
Unfortunately, that’s mainly how it is on the streets nowadays.

It doesn’t sound like my cup of tea. I don’t like dark and depressing, there’s enough dark depressing stuff in real life.

I’m going to hunt for Tenko now! I loved it at the time. It’s just all police dramas these days, I’m bored with it. I have been enjoying This Is Us, though.

Yes there was mumbled dialogue which wasn’t helped by the Scouse accent, but the acting was brilliant. Swearing doesn’t bother me, it’s real life BUT I couldn’t understand why he was still in the job! I kept willing him to give in his notice and get a job as a security advisor.

Sadly, gone are the days when youths got a good hiding, a wake-up call to many I suspect, when officers once took off their jackets to those who thought they were above the law then they got another thick ear if the parents knew they'd been in trouble with the police.

Why keep reminding us of the rotten crime that we have in this country. ? Why not do something about it instead ?
It's just encouraging more and more crime and ugly anger that people know that they're going to get away with and so it goes on.

Someone needs to come down heavily on criminals when/ if they ever reach a courtroom. There is no deterrent !!
I can appreciate that many officers are trying to do their jobs---with one arm behind their backs in case the miscreant sues over a bit of rough-handling. This has to stop to give the power back to proper policing.

I thought the girl (was it Cassie ?) acted the part extremely well switching between the vulnerable little girl lost to the hardened drug dealer
I m certainly not surprised at the language or the people and problems the police have to put up with I was surprised at the violence and attitude of the police themselves and if that’s true to life I can see where a lot of problems are made worse for everyone

Binge watched all episodes on iPlayer and enjoyed it. Regardless of where the location was set, and given the subject matter, foul language was and is prolific. Loved MF in this off piste role and showed a completely different take on policing. Drugs are rife in every single village in this country nowadays, you can buy them for less than a pint of beer costs. Unfortunately we all know the consequences of addiction.

How sad Bluebelle that the f word is not considered a swear word. I find it a highly offensive word I have never heard my adult children say it or their other halves, if I did it would be the first and last time that's for sure. And, I am not a prude!
Breaks my heart to hear parents/adults using it without a thought in front of younger children, what chance have they got?

I too, gave up on The Responder.

Yes, understood the storyline and Martin brilliant actor and his role being more of a "tough" but caring cop to then feel for this poor young woman when her boyfriend to say he "cant pick you up due to being on a computer game" - bloody hell - what - poor girl. Typical response of some young men no doubt !! Equally didnt enjoy the amount of swearing and upset me somewhat as came from the north and gives a bad image like been said above of Liverpool as friends of ours only the other week had got train up to Liverpool for some gallery event, as the 2nd episode was quite awful viewing and for sure there are some very dangerous places in most of our cities these days. Interesting policing, showing some who are corrupt and it being a very difficult job at the best of times but generally yes gives the wrong impression of Liverpool.

This proved for me what a great actor MF is and I didn't have a problem with the swearing or the accents I hated all the characters and had no interest in spending any more time in their worlds

We did watch it, but with subtitles! The bad language appears sadly to be a part of everyday life now and has no longer any power to shock. I wonder if it will ever change? I did find it depressing and wonder how many people thinking of joining the police force had thought better of the idea!

I turned it off after 20 minutes ?. I think the ITV dramas are much better than BBC's at the moment.

I recorded this but haven't watched any of it yet. I'm glad I read this thread as I won't be watching it now

My son is about to be invalided out of the police with PTSD brought on by the things he has had to deal with during his 17 years in the force so I don't think it would be a good watch for me

GrannyGravy13

I watched the first 35 minutes and then gave up.

I have decided that I only want light and fluffy entertainment at the moment.

As Chris Ewbank says “ I want light, beauty, joy and love not this ( referring to Killing Eve) It just lowers my frequency”
I’m with Chris.

This programme is a pretty true reflection of society that the police have to deal with every day and as a retired patrol officer I know. It was common place to be single crewed when I was at work, in fact it was policy in my force and it still remains the same. I think with this series, you are getting a much more realistic view of what happens daily in cities, towns and to a lesser extent villages.
The acting is brilliant and I will be watching it all, even though I can feel myself getting anxious as some scenarios unfold.
MF character is a bit of a maverick, but every serving officer will know someone with these attributes in their station.

I agree about violence, swearing, blood and guts. I don’t want to watch any if it anymore, although I did watch the Tourist and managed to get through it on iplayer.
Last night I took the opportunity whilst I have a free trial month if Amazon Prime to watch the documentary about Shane Warne and thoroughly enjoyed it, what a bloke! I’m not even a big cricket fan, except for the T20 and other cricket for dummies formats but it was very entertaining and I really liked Shane Warne at the end of it.

Actually this is TOO real!! In a family of retired and serving cops it was like doing a shift! Boring trudgingly grim dealing with absolute eejits!! Anyone worth their salt gets on in the job and off the basics asap! No wonder he had a breakdown of he was dealing with this cr4p all his ten years! Hardly entertainment is it? I prefer my cops along the lines of Life on Mars!! Ahh.....happy days....!

Was feeling a bit tense by the end by enjoyed it. Martin Freeman excelled. I think there will be a good number of folk who would like the Police to be able to deal with people how depicted. To be able to tell someone they truth about their behaviour, how pointless some procedures are and how pathetic the justice system can be. Looking forward to next week.

Have to agree with grannyscott. I know it is based on real experience but surely these days he would not be working with his obvious mental health issues and not alone (although I believe he is forced to work with a partner in later episodes. Only watched the first one so far but will try another, even though I found the whole set up and portrayal of Liverpool incredibly depressing.