cool, thanks!
Law and Order UK
- Thread starter firehawk12
- Start date
I've started catching up on some of the episodes I'd missed (which was like the last three weeks). As others have said, I think the episode with the guy defending himself and attacking James was really, really good. It was also the first time I was more engaged in the CPS storyline than in the cops part (although that part is always good, I feel).
Although the episode was pretty intense and serious, there was one scene that really made me laugh. Brooks and Devlin are at forensics with Philips. The forensics guy makes some mention of materials or organisms you might find on matresses.
Devlin then makes some really cheap moves at Philips, commenting on how they're no such things on HIS matress. That, by itself, would probably be really cheesy. However, I felt the look on Brooks' face when he hears this was priceless.
On another note, I also started watching some Dr. Who series 3 and 4. When I saw Martha for the first time, I thought, my, that type of woman seems to be really popular these days. Later on, I was thinking, hang on, this is the same one, isn't it?
What's really cool, though, is that even though the thought of the Doctor popping up on L&O:UK had occurred to me (and I think it's funny to imagine it happening), Agyeman's performance on both shows is really very different. So I've never actually FELT as though the Doctor might just pop up in court.
Although the episode was pretty intense and serious, there was one scene that really made me laugh. Brooks and Devlin are at forensics with Philips. The forensics guy makes some mention of materials or organisms you might find on matresses.
Devlin then makes some really cheap moves at Philips, commenting on how they're no such things on HIS matress. That, by itself, would probably be really cheesy. However, I felt the look on Brooks' face when he hears this was priceless.
On another note, I also started watching some Dr. Who series 3 and 4. When I saw Martha for the first time, I thought, my, that type of woman seems to be really popular these days. Later on, I was thinking, hang on, this is the same one, isn't it?
What's really cool, though, is that even though the thought of the Doctor popping up on L&O:UK had occurred to me (and I think it's funny to imagine it happening), Agyeman's performance on both shows is really very different. So I've never actually FELT as though the Doctor might just pop up in court.
I wasn't too fond of the last episode. I know the episode was about racial tensions and all that, but that stuff with Philips saying Steel was doing it because of racism against Turks was a WTF moment for me, as was Steel's Turkish friend also trying to make it same like that was his motivation. To me it seemed like Steel was trying to make sure his friend was clean because he would come under scrutiny, not out of some racist "All Turks are corrupt" line of thinking.
So to me it seemed like this was the first episode where there was a real step down in quality.
So to me it seemed like this was the first episode where there was a real step down in quality.
You're right, that bothered me too, but the whole story didn't make much sense.
The show seems so artificial somehow, I hope they stop recycling old Law&Order scripts ASAP and write their own stuff instead.
The show seems so artificial somehow, I hope they stop recycling old Law&Order scripts ASAP and write their own stuff instead.
^They can't, it's a contractual obligation. All 13 episodes of this series are recycled L&O stories, and they're unsure to what extent they'll be able to do their own stories if it gets a second series.
Why would you write that into a contract? That's just bizarre.
I don't know. I read an interview with the producer, Richard Stokes, and this is what he said:
Hmm, that doesn't sound too good. I haven't seen that one yet, so I'll have to reserve my judgement.
I thought the before that, with the boy's remains in the fireplace, was pretty strong. Maybe not quite as strong as the one before it but still pretty powerful.
I wonder when we'll see the first time the bad guy actually walks free in the very end.
Oh, and I had to smile when I recognized that Colin Salmon was playing the defense attorney shortly after I'd seen him as Dr. Moon on Dr. Who.
I wasn't mad gone on the last ep either. It felt confused - as though they wanted to do an episode on racial tensions, but couldn't decide what tack they wanted to take. The whole episode feels very muddled, and my only really lasting impression was a desire to tell the entire 'Order' team to get over themselves.
On the other hand, the police trio just seem to get cuter every week. I think I'd probably quite happily watch a full episode that was just Chandler, Devlin and Brooks going out for beer and pizza.
According to the folks over on the L&O LJ comm, next weeks ep is the last one for this season. They're keeping the rest of the 13 they've filmed for next season, probably not airing until September. Which, if true, sucks. (I've checked some TV guides, and L&O isn't listed for April 13th)
On the other hand, the police trio just seem to get cuter every week. I think I'd probably quite happily watch a full episode that was just Chandler, Devlin and Brooks going out for beer and pizza.
According to the folks over on the L&O LJ comm, next weeks ep is the last one for this season. They're keeping the rest of the 13 they've filmed for next season, probably not airing until September. Which, if true, sucks. (I've checked some TV guides, and L&O isn't listed for April 13th)
Well that would make it more like an average ITV series, 6 episodes at a time.
I agree, the police characters are the ones I really like, the CPS ones are getting there, but not quite as good just yet.
Me and my roommate watched this via download because they obviously won't show it in here. He has a big crush on Martha Jones which is why he wanted to watch it. Most of our good TV comes from England so I was curious if they could make our generic, shitty TV watchable. I hate crime and punishment shows but I always put up with Law and Order because it was the original and the most well done. It was pretty good. They have hundreds of LAO shows to get stories from and make better. Because, well I've said it before, all British TV is better for the most part. I don't think they could show it in The States sadly. People wouldn't understand why everyone wears robes and wigs in court. In fact, I don't understand that either.
Walsh is no Lenny, but who is. He's pretty good actually. I liked the ADA. He had that obsession with punishing the wicked that Jack McCoy does, which is always a plus. My roommate was floored that Apollo is British. Because he really does an excellent North American accent. Which led to "OMG! Captain America Jr. is British!". Which, I have to wonder why the heck couldn't he have used is natural accent on BSG, considering it's a fantasy and none of that really matters as a result. I knew he was a Brit because I saw the bonus features on Season 1 BSG and he was showing the differences between the accents "We say Buggah. You say Buggerrrrrrr." And I was like, yeah, that's about right.
I was confused about a few things though. Does the government really have video cameras watching everyone at all times? And is it true that guns are outlawed and not even cops carry them?
Walsh is no Lenny, but who is. He's pretty good actually. I liked the ADA. He had that obsession with punishing the wicked that Jack McCoy does, which is always a plus. My roommate was floored that Apollo is British. Because he really does an excellent North American accent. Which led to "OMG! Captain America Jr. is British!". Which, I have to wonder why the heck couldn't he have used is natural accent on BSG, considering it's a fantasy and none of that really matters as a result. I knew he was a Brit because I saw the bonus features on Season 1 BSG and he was showing the differences between the accents "We say Buggah. You say Buggerrrrrrr." And I was like, yeah, that's about right.
I was confused about a few things though. Does the government really have video cameras watching everyone at all times? And is it true that guns are outlawed and not even cops carry them?
Robes and wigs is just tradition, and being phased out in some cases I believe.
There are about 14m CCTV Cameras in the UK, so yeah on any well travelled street you'll probably be seen by one at some point.
Yes, guns are banned, and in general your average police officer doesn't carry one. There are specially trained units and authorised officers who have them, but no police don't carry firearms as a matter of course.
Oh, and I was just thinking, probably the reason for an episode not being on on the 13th is that it is Easter Monday, there will probably be a family film on around 8pm which will cover the usual slot.
There are about 14m CCTV Cameras in the UK, so yeah on any well travelled street you'll probably be seen by one at some point.
Yes, guns are banned, and in general your average police officer doesn't carry one. There are specially trained units and authorised officers who have them, but no police don't carry firearms as a matter of course.
Oh, and I was just thinking, probably the reason for an episode not being on on the 13th is that it is Easter Monday, there will probably be a family film on around 8pm which will cover the usual slot.
Just caught up on the arson episode. I do agree that it was a step down although it had some powerful moments.
It just seemed weird that everyone was trying to paint Steele as a racist or at least as somebody motivated by racial prejudice. But really, I felt it didn't come across that way at all. He seemed very matter-of-fact and extremely dedicated to the case.
And what was that about the cops starting to smash stuff in that sports shop? I didn't like that scene, I have to say.
It just seemed weird that everyone was trying to paint Steele as a racist or at least as somebody motivated by racial prejudice. But really, I felt it didn't come across that way at all. He seemed very matter-of-fact and extremely dedicated to the case.
And what was that about the cops starting to smash stuff in that sports shop? I didn't like that scene, I have to say.
No, I didn't like that scene either. Seemed out of character, especially for Brooks.
And it does look like it's true that tonight's is the last episode until the autumn, which seems daft since it seems to be holding steady in the ratings.
^
That does seem daft.
I wonder if they struggled transferring the original script to L&O: UK. A lot of what went on did, indeed, seem out of character. Maybe they simply weren't able to reconcile the differences here the way they could in the episodes that preceded it.
That does seem daft.
I wonder if they struggled transferring the original script to L&O: UK. A lot of what went on did, indeed, seem out of character. Maybe they simply weren't able to reconcile the differences here the way they could in the episodes that preceded it.
I just saw today's episode when it aired. Quite suspenseful in parts and with strong performances across the board, I felt.
However, I can't say I quite understand why Philips did what she did. Or better why she did it the way she did. Even if what actually happened to her was substantially worse than what one might expect, I felt it was clear by then that the doctor was a rather dangerous person.
Why didn't she at least clue somebody like Devlin in? I had the impression he would have helped her (providing backup in case of an emergency, for example) although he would probably have tried to dissuade her first.
Also, after she was in the practice for the first time, when she was abused, I didn't quite understand why she was so hard on the police and her colleagues. She knows how hard it can be to build a case, she knows how easily a case can fall apart if you don't have enough to back it up.
I can very much understand how upset she was. I just kind of wished a bit more of her professionalims had shone through. Or maybe I'm just being too hard on her.
I'm curious to hear what others thought about this.
However, I can't say I quite understand why Philips did what she did. Or better why she did it the way she did. Even if what actually happened to her was substantially worse than what one might expect, I felt it was clear by then that the doctor was a rather dangerous person.
Why didn't she at least clue somebody like Devlin in? I had the impression he would have helped her (providing backup in case of an emergency, for example) although he would probably have tried to dissuade her first.
Also, after she was in the practice for the first time, when she was abused, I didn't quite understand why she was so hard on the police and her colleagues. She knows how hard it can be to build a case, she knows how easily a case can fall apart if you don't have enough to back it up.
I can very much understand how upset she was. I just kind of wished a bit more of her professionalims had shone through. Or maybe I'm just being too hard on her.
I'm curious to hear what others thought about this.
^I thought the same thing, before it became obvious she was doing it to get justice for her friend, I thought she was stupid for going back. I mean she's a prosecutor who's seen rape cases before, she had to know how it'd look with her returning to him after accusing him. After it became obvious about her friend, I just thought why didn't she bring it to the attention of the police and try to find others?
But I can see why she was upset and why she wanted to bring him to justice.
Good acting all round I thought. Freema was a lot better than people ever give her credit for, too.
But I can see why she was upset and why she wanted to bring him to justice.
Good acting all round I thought. Freema was a lot better than people ever give her credit for, too.
^
I think she's very good myself. One thing I really have to give her credit for (and I mean this seriously) is that I'm NOT expecting The Doctor to suddenly pop up in courtroom. The Philips character is very different from Martha, and the actress's performance is really what makes this work in my opinion.
I think she's very good myself. One thing I really have to give her credit for (and I mean this seriously) is that I'm NOT expecting The Doctor to suddenly pop up in courtroom. The Philips character is very different from Martha, and the actress's performance is really what makes this work in my opinion.
To be fair, the Canadians at least wear robes. And they've cropped up on the odd SVU episode.
The wigs and robes are a tradition of Crown Court, where indictable cases are heard (what you call 'felonies') - the idea is to act as a sort of 'uniform' for the judge and prosecutors, so they're not so easily identifiable out of work - i.e. to reduce fear of reprisals. In the Magistrates Court (the lower court, which hears 'summary offences' - what you call misdemeanors), they wear normal suits.
Well that's a bit of an exaggeration, but as Bob said, there are a lot of CCTV cameras in Britain, the average Britain is reportedly caught on CCTV 300 times a day (although I'm not sure how that figure is calculated, I assume it means every camera in a large supermarket, for example). Now the majority of those cameras are in specific places like train stations, shops, and private businesses, but most big city centres also use CCTV on the streets in the areas most prone to drunken violence.
It is illegal for local councils to place cameras in such a way that they can view the inside of private property without a court order.
This is true. Some large rifles and shotguns are legal with licences for some specific purposes, such as pest control on farms, but for the most part guns are illegal. Handguns and automatic weapons are flat out illegal.
The police service in Britain has never carried guns as a matter of course - the belief here is that to do so encourages a vicious circle of escalation of violence. Recently, however, there have been moves behind the scenes to roll out the Taser less-lethal stun gun to front line uniformed officers as part of the equipment they're issued as standard. A mistake, in my opinion, but sadly I have no say whatsoever
