Line of Duty (2012–2021) User Reviews (486)

Another show which has not enough recognition

[robin_should · 8/10 · 11 May 2016]

Once again I stumbled onto this show by accident. Thank goodness. I find British police drama much more intense than the run of the mill American shows. This one is no exception. The acting is very convincing on all accounts. You think in the beginning how can this "kid" be a good main character. He then proves you very wrong and you see that his conviction to the case is what makes him compelling to watch. All the main players are only too human. The stories all have their own twists and turns, keeping you on your toes all the time. Making this show fascinating to watch. I admit there was an awful lot of binge watching as I couldn't leave the plot at the end of each episode.

Please give this a chance and be rewarded for doing so.

This has become the Series of the year (again)

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 27 April 2017]

A very difficult show to review, overall I'd give Series 1 an 8/10, a very good show, strong characters, intrigue etc, however something happens in the second series and has continued through to the present day, since that very first episode of Series 2 (or in fairness Part 6 of the opening Series) Line of Duty has become the best thing on the box. The cast work together in a way that you don't often see in many shows, the degree of realism each of them injects makes the show feel very real. Dunbar, Compston, McClure, Parkinson etc are all utterly phenomenal, I think though, it was the performance of Keeley Hawes as Lindsay Denton that increased my interest in the show, she was utterly amazing.

The transformation in the character of Steve Arnott has been intriguing, plaudits for Martin Compston, incredible actor, so diverse.

I suppose you could argue it's made in the style of the Scandinavian noir, but it goes deeper then that somehow, offering even more for the viewers. The series treats the viewer as if they have a degree of intelligence, it's deep and intricate without being too clever for its own good.

It comes as no surprise that the show's viewing figures have almost trebled, if you've not seen it, you have no idea what you're missing out on. 10/10

Bring on Series 5

Excellent Series!

[baronetdedlock · 9/10 · 1 May 2014]

This is a review of both Season 1 & 2 of this wonderful British series. Although there is a different story line in each of the seasons, there is some continuity in the important characters: the actors Martin Compston, Adrian Dunbar and Vicki McClure, among others, appear in both seasons as the same characters. The story in each season deals with a conflict within a police department between the regular forces and the internal affairs or "anti-corruption" unit. Thematically, it is concerned with the moral ambiguities that arise when policemen investigate their own. I think this is one of the best British police procedurals that I have seen. The acting and the writing are uniformly excellent, and I hope it comes back for a third season.

First season good, second season unmissable

[pk1873 · 10/10 · 16 March 2014]

I watched series one last year, it was a good cop show, it came at things from a slightly different angle as it had the anti-corruption unit (internal affairs) as the 'good guys', so my rating was a solid 7.5... i enjoyed it enough to tune in to the second series which as i write this has one episode left to air and i have to say it has been TV at it's very best, from the opening few minutes it had me glued eagerly anticipating each weeks new developments, no spoilers here i only recommend you watch it for yourself to experience the shocks, the thrills and the suspense which it has in abundance, the casting of Keeley Hawes as DI Lindsay Denton was a masterstroke, the character is complex to say the least and she will trigger every emotion you have in your arsenal. Superb character acting, it really is. My revised rating overall is 9/10 but i'd give series two 10/10 after 5 of the 6 episodes...Well I thought I'd return for an update as I love this show so much now.. Needless to say season 2 finished as it had began.. sheer class and a great example of how good TV is right now.. Keeley Hawes we salute you.. now we are 1 ep into season 3 and Jed Mercurio has done it again the season opener quite literally blew me away I was so looking forward to it and it was like welcoming an old friend back into my life.. I can't wait to see where the show is taking me next

Strong British series, in the Scandinavian style

[BeneCumb · 9/10 · 31 March 2015]

In recent years, I have generally "moved on" from Poirot-Wallander type of series (usually 1 episode - 1 solved case) to more sophisticated and intertwined series where events take place in parallel and with flashbacks, and for full comprehension, one should watch all the episodes in sequence. It take more time and dedication, but there are more versatile characters and more complex situations where one can ponder on and over more intensely.

Line of Duty is a really fine example of the above. The two series - so far - have been really catchy to follow, there is both mind-work and twisted turns, and they are more or less equal (in my opinion, One has a bit stronger performances thanks primarily to Lennie James as DCI Tony Gates, but Two has a bit meatier script). But anyway, I did really enjoy the course of events, the often thin line between cops and crooks (what about its actuality?), and nice round-up of things that really took place. I would juxtapose Line of Duty with e.g. Engrenages (France) and Ørnen: En krimi-odyssé (Denmark).

I am looking forward to next seasons already.

PS. 3, 4 and 5 are meaty as well, please proceed :) PS. 6 has somewhat less interesting outcome, but interesting twists and turns still visible.

4 days in binge watch heaven!!!

[clivejamesrd · 10/10 · 21 May 2021]

Laid up with my back issues, this series had me riveted and I watched all six seasons in 4 days. I consider this the UK answer to Breaking Bad. Excellent televsion entertainment from all angles: Amazing performances, writing, story, the works! Totally credible!

Complex AF but left no untidy loose ends when it wrapped up. Who could ask for more?

I can. More of this caliber please?

Superb crime drama

[peterrichboy · 10/10 · 12 March 2017]

I have been a huge fan of this show since season one and it's a rare feet when seasons 2 and 3 surpass the quality of the first. It draws you in and keeps you gripped never failing to end each episode on a cliffhanger which makes you desperate to see the next instalment. The cast is UK A list Aidrian DUnbar, Vicky Mclure, Martin Compson and Keely Hawes who gives the performance of her career in seasons 2 and 3. I'm not one to give plots away, but if your a fan of quality crime drama or Nordic noir I cannot recommend this show highly enough. Just one note of caution if your planning DVD series binge then expect some late nights!

The world we have now

[stevepb · 9/10 · 3 May 2021]

Yes, the final episode of series six of "Line of Duty" was, in a way, disappointing, because we didn't really get all the answers and we didn't get "justice" for everyone. "Chicago P. D." it's not.

What we got was something much closer to reality, the real world, as sad as that may be.

Since "Children of the North" I'll give anything that Adrian Dunbar appears in a chance. Ted Hastings is a truly memorable character, perfectly realised, but everybody connected with "Line of Duty" deserves a standing ovation.

en captivating, best of the British film making

[sas2014 · 10/10 · 17 April 2017]

I am a crime story lover and by far this is the best (even better than scandi crime Bridges and killing)I have ever seen. The characters are complex and specially Tandi N in series 3, is the most clever criminal police woman ever! I cant say enough to justify watching this best of the British film making, so 100% try

Stuck. Φοβεροοοοοο

[sir_1973 · 8/10 · 11 October 2013]

Being fan of British TV, i was hooked and couldn't stop this series. Has everything. Plot, dark and right timing. Great TV. The characters are natural and great acting from all of them. The suspense comes at right levels each episode and there is no way to stop until you find what will come next.

There are some very ... i don't know the right word(not with the bad meaning) with "The Wire". The characters are almost real like the classic good British TV.

The atmosphere is not annoying dark and the lines between "Right and Wrong" are not clear, (like real life).

Absolutely RECOMMENDED...

A series to watch

[caitlinbiwer · 9/10 · 7 October 2015]

Line of duty is an exceptional police drama. My parents first found it on BBC2 which I find unusual by the fact that it is hidden amongst a less popular channel. Furthermore, the acting is brilliant and you'll be on the edge of your seat at the end of every episode - it is indeed one of the best police series I have watched yet. I suppose it could be down to the fact that it is very unique, in which the producers have found a huge gap within the crime genre of focusing upon AC12 which is an anti-corruption unit. This means that the entire series one and two focus upon entirely different story lines but withholds the same cast in both the first and second series. All I can say is it is a must-see and you will be hooked from the first episode - and I cannot wait till the third season!

Straight down the line

[paul2001sw-1 · 7/10 · 27 July 2012]

Last year the BBC brought us the superb, slightly strange police thriller 'The Shadow Line'; this year, the rather more conventional 'The Line of Duty' has aired. Aspects of this programme are quite good, although it never feels exactly fresh. Anti-corruption units, and undercover agents, have been on our screen before ('Between the Lines' - there's clearly something magnetic about that word 'line' and 'The Ghost Squad') - and some of the conspiracy elements seem both far fetched and perfunctory. Perhaps the greatest problem is that Lennie James' protagonist is a hard man to connect with: an almost-clean copper brought down by a bad friend, he remains a hard man to like, and while he appears to be driven by his own private sense of ethics, this moral code seems completely self-centred - he's torn when he fails to live up to his own expectations of himself, but it's hard to see why we should care. And the portrait of feral kids on the local housing estate seems both lazy, and again relatively loosely connected to the more serious crime in the background - if you're looking for the forensic detail of 'The Wire', you won't find it here. None of this actually makes for a bad series - it does all the standard things you expect a show of this sort to do reasonably well, but it doesn't add much you won't have seen before.

Fantastic and Gripping start but .

[rowie55 · 3/10 · 6 July 2014]

This series had me hooked in the opening episode, and I quickly checked on IMDb to see it rated very well. However as the series progressed I had to ask whether the writer had any Police consultation at all, because there were so many holes in the plot and unbelievable actions it begged disbelief. The mere idea that anti corruption officers can just come and go as they please, trying to search staff cars, check their computers, smash office windows, waltz in and try and take part in any investigation is simply so far from the truth.

To add to that I found Martin Compston and Vicky McLure completely miscast, insipid and unlikeable not to mention lacking credibility. I do not know much about these actors, but they simply were not believable in their roles. As I watched the demise of it episode after episode I rechecked on IMDb and read more reviews, quickly warming to the ones that awarded it a lower rating. Lennie James was good, and the stress and desperation of his characters situation came across brilliantly. That I am afraid is where the positives ended.

I really enjoy writer Jed Mercurios Strike Back, while having some unlikely scenarios at least has some expert and experienced consultation, and Bodies is fantastic. But this??? meh….

Brilliant: riveting viewing

[grantss · 10/10 · 21 July 2021]

(Reviewed after Season 6).

Police Sergeant Steve Arnott is forced out of the Anti-Terrorism unit when an operation goes terribly wrong and he refuses to cover up the truth. He finds himself in AC-12, an anti-corruption unit tasked with finding, investigating and arresting corrupt police officers. The unit is run by Superintendent Ted Hastings, an old school, by-the-book policeman with a passion for exposing police corruption. His zeal, and the fact that AC-12 even exists, often makes AC-12 pariahs within their own police force.

Brilliant series. At first glance you might think: surely a series that focuses on cops investigating the wrongdoings of other cops can't be that exciting? Furthermore, you might even think you don't agree with the fact that they even exist, as they could, through interfering with police operations to the point of undermining them, hinder the police more than help them. However, that theory gets dispelled pretty quickly as you see what AC-12 do and the sorts of cases and criminals they investigate.

Storylines are excellent: solid, clever plots that are far from predictable. Just when you think the story is headed in a certain direction it takes a wickedly unexpected turn, upsetting all your forward thinking. Allied to this is the fact that hardly any characters are unexpendable, further adding to the unpredictability of proceedings. This all makes for riveting, edge-of-your seat viewing.

The broader, inter-season, plot is very well done and adds another dimension to the series. The writers do well to weave seemingly minor characters in and out of the different seasons. It's as if they've got the plot planned out several seasons ahead...

There's also some great character story arcs, not all of which involve the main characters. The Lindsay Denton arc was particularly interesting and engaging.

At a more granular level, showing how police go about investigating crimes and interrogating suspects is very meticulously done and makes for interesting, edifying viewing. The forensic aspect is always intriguing and gets a thorough examination.

A must-see.

The best police drama that has been on TV !!!

[chloegalley · 10/10 · 25 March 2022]

Review after watching the full box set series 1-6.

My mum was the one who told me how good this was then I started watching it. OMG so good keeps you on the edge of your seat with loads of twist and turns, very good. You do have to to concentrate when watching it as the story continues throughout to series 6 and possible could be a series 7. Excellent acting with superb cast and a great storyline. A brilliant police drama/ Thriller with plenty of action in it. The best police drama than has been on TV ever and has won a lot of awards for it. If you have not seen it then you should is definitely a brilliant watch and you won't be disappointed. Get comfy and you can watch the full box set on BBC iplayer right now.

Best detective show hands down

[bobou-513-708245 · 10/10 · 14 February 2018]

Probably too well done to be a smash hit. But this is surely the best detective show ever produced. The incredible twists and turns in the plot line will keep you glued to your screen. Absolutely brilliant script writing supported by perfect casting and acting.Simply, as good as it gets.

Probably the best drama the BBC has ever done

[arab-61505 · 10/10 · 31 January 2019]

Can't believe it hasn't had more awards or recognition. Every series is as good as the last. Blows the likes of The Bodyguard and Killing Eve out the water. The acting is so much better with Keeley Hawes (good in The Bodyguard but brilliant in this), Vicky McClure, and Thandie Newton (series 4) all particularly magnificent. Can't wait for series 6!

Lennie James got screwed

[lotekguy-1 · 8/10 · 21 September 2021]

I devoured the first three seasons in two days. The scripts are intelligent, intense, and simultaneously wonderfully and appallingly cynical about corruption within police departments and other phases of law enforcement. The dialog is brilliantly written, making long interrogation scenes bristle with tension, never seeming overly talky. The series is ideal for binge watching, since seeing each season of episodes back-to-back helps keep the complicated plotlines sorted.

After viewing the first season, I checked IMDb's listing of the show's awards and nominations, and was shocked that Lennie James only got one minor nomination, with no wins, for his outstanding performance. The role he played called for all the tools in a large talent box, juggling the good, bad and ugly of his character, and the wide gamut of emotions evoked by his rapidly-changing circumstances. Admittedly, I haven't seen all the other honored dramatic performances of that year, but it's hard to imagine his star could shine so brightly in such a high-quality series and be so egregiously overlooked by so many industry groups.

brilliant

[prosper1 · 9/10 · 28 April 2016]

This is a brilliant series. It is what I expect from the BBC, rather than the dreg they've been commissioning lately. The writing is tight and unrelenting in keeping upping the ante. It is complex, that is, we have great character arcs, as well as story arcs. The casting is so sublime that you would have to restrain yourself meeting those villains on the street and let's face it, drama is most often successful due to great villains. Shows like this, the tunnel, undercover, etc., make it nearly impossible to watch network TV in Amerika, where it is the same thing over and over again. The conclusion and arrest is telegraphed usually in the 1st five minutes. Kudos, and I don't give these freely, to the team that created this show. I look forward to more with baited breath. Bravo

Gripping drama with a fantastic cast

[alixandra-40504 · 10/10 · 17 May 2017]

The show consists of four series and whilst relatively short, the writers certainly have packed a lot into each series. I loved this show and would class it as one of the best series I've ever seen. The characters are brilliant and its very clever how you are kept guessing the whole way through. Each episode ends on a shock discovery so you are desperate to flick straight to the next episode. Nothing is predictable which only adds to the experience.

After watching the first series I couldn't believe they managed to make the second series even better. I was on the edge of my seat for most of it! Fantastic writing. Jed Mercurio has his masterpiece and I can't give enough credit to him for managing to keep the momentum going.

If you like fast-paced police dramas - don't miss this one.

Amazing piece of work

[snowyprecipice · 10/10 · 3 June 2017]

This has been an amazing series so far (just finished season 3). It feels so real, so gritty. The characters are so nuanced and complex; they have good and bad sides to them, and you can't help but root for them at different points (both the 'bad' and 'good').

Most notable were Lindsay Denton and Dot Cottan as the troubled and complex characters. The main AC-12 team were all riveting to watch. Can't wait to start season 4!

Great British Series, but...

[rsriley-95016 · 7/10 · 7 August 2018]

My wife and I are thoroughly enjoying the plot line of this series, but sadly whomever is in charge of cinematography thinks that cheap jerky-cam effects are something people want to see. It's distracting and unnecessary. Buy a tripod guys!!

Sorry, but no

[Bluegull99 · 3/10 · 12 May 2019]

For months I've been hearing raving reviews about this show. I finally tought, ok, I'll give it a try as I am a fan of classic police crime shows. I have watched the complete first season now and will not go on watching. Reasons for that are : 1. What the hell is wrong with the camera man? Did they engage a pigeon to film this? What about this steady shaking and zooming in and out? Even in scenes where everything is supposed to be steady, like, when people are sitting at their desks talking? It really spolied this for me and I have no idea what the idea is behind it. Make it feel more realistic? Seriously, no one watching anything in real life would shake their head all the time like that unless they had a severe illness.

2.About the show itself: I did not like or remotely identify with any of the characters. They all seem cold, stale, no background story, nothing likeable about any of the characters, not the main characters, and not side characters. They all seem like horrible people and after having watched a whole season I know nothing about the main investigators, only everything about Gates, who I can't stand either.

3. Why would I want to watch this? It's about unlikable people at the police, combined with the worst scum out there. Why would I want to want to watch nasty children and drug addicts beating a man with down syndrome and peeing into his plants? Why would I want to watch a 10-year-old boy repeatedly saying 'bastard' to everyone and torturing a policeman? Why would I want to watch a horrible man (Gates) strangling his poor dog, who was only hurt in the first place because he is a complete, arrogant and vain human failure on two legs?

This show just made me uncomfrotable, I didn't like anyone, I didn't get any kind of background info about the characters, and I was shown brutality and human nastiness par excellence, all with this ever shaking bl 00dy camera which gave me a headache after a while.

Sad to say that there indeed are excellent actors in this show, like Dunbar, and obviously later Keeley Hawes etc. But the show itself is just made like 'The Sun' in TV-show format, no thanks.

Believe the Hype!

[Kurt_Bludgeon · 9/10 · 27 April 2022]

Outstanding series that started off tight and small and, necessarily, became a wee bit more complicated as it grew and was, perhaps, a little too sprawling in Series 6.

However! The acting was uniformly excellent, from the leads, through the rotating regulars, to even those in smaller roles.

There was definite and genuine chemistry between the three leads and fluctuating relationships, although always with a strong sense of loyalty.. There were in-jokes a plenty - "mate", staring, leaning over railings, Hastings' ever lengthening catchphrase. Above all else there were moments, sometimes minutes of (literally!) unbearable tension - not something you often find in TV drama.

And that leads me to my biggest gripe - I cannot believe the amount of reviews that treat this show as if it were a documentary. It is a TV drama, a diversion, and entertainment.

I tend not yell out during a Mission Impossible film that "The CIA don't work that way!" or get all out of shape because Sherlock is a bit far-fetched!

A great , in-depth body of work that does not insult your intelligence and likes to keep you guessing!

I'm obsessed

[catherine-campbell · 10/10 · 5 February 2022]

Found this by searching IMDB data base. Never heard of it before. Watched the first 4 seasons in a few days. Now I can't find season 5 or 6, but I will. Excellent series. Great character development, circuitous plot twists and thoroughly entertaining. Feels like Hastings and AC 12 officers are good friends now.