Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Between the Lines launched Neil Pearson's career big time, and he became the hero that attempted to crack down on police corruption. Between the Lines was a huge hit and got under the skin of British police culture under the then Conservative government (this was a few years before Tony Blair and New Labour took power).Neil's character had a fondness for the women but that didn't stop him from his commitment to his work. Tom Georgeson deserves commendation for playing the Neil's sidekick.One scene was really gratuitous. Neil's and Tom's characters, along with others, were at a seminar hosted by a nerdy guy, and before the meeting started the nerdy guy politely and condescendingly asked everyone to put away their cigarettes. Then what happened? Everyone assertively put their cigarettes in front of them as an act of defiance to the nerdy guy and probably "political correctness". Oh dear. You can imagine the writer for that episode got some satisfaction that the audience were cheering for these cigarette- wielding heroes up against the nerd.

"Between the Lines" was a show which reflected British television's attitude to the police in the Thatcher years...namely, that the police are brutal, corrupt and fascist. If the show was merely about corrupt officers, then it could have made for gripping drama, but it had a heavy political agenda so corruption was always from up on high and institutionalised. One or two episodes of this might have been gripping, but it was constant and often Neil Pearson's character would often act as an apologist for the criminals. One of the more ludicrous episodes featured Pete Postlethwaite as a senior Metropolitan Police commander putting down a riot (by good lefties or course) which he agitated and he ends up quoting the speech made in the Falklands War: "The flag is flying over Port Stanley"...oh, is this a dig at Thatcher? But apart from the student level politics, the show gained notoriety and earned the nickname "Between the Loins" for its preponderance for sex scenes bang on the stroke of the 9 o'clock watershed. Any chance for Pearson to drop his trousers (but always in a sensitive way) and he'd grab it. Sometimes it seemed he'd abandon a case to get some more sex...can't say I blame him.

Investigating corruption is a police matter. But what happens when the corruption comes from inside? When those entrusted with keeping law and order are those who break the vital code of conduct? Between the Lines is a powerful and controversial drama which tackled the touchy subject of the police investigating themselves. Created by John Wilsher and produced by Tony Garnett, the man behind the controversial 1970s series Law and Order, the drama is a tough and uncompromising analysis of that dilemma.Neil Pearson, perhaps best known for his role as womanising reporter Dave in Drop The Dead Donkey, took the lead role as Det Supt Tony Clark, ambitious head of Mulberry Street police station, who is asked to launch an investigation into his own men. Recruited by the Complaints Investigations Bureau, he soon finds himself in the uncomfortable and loathesome situation of infiltrating his own station.The first two series were superb, with great support from Tom Georgeson, Siobhan Redmond and the late Tony Doyle of Ballykissangel fame.However, by the time a third run was commissioned, Garnett went against his better judgement and obliged with a lacklustre end to the saga.It was a mistake he wouldn't repeat a few years later for his outstanding series This Life.

I have watched every episode at least twice over the past 5 years (we got this series a little later than the UK of course). It's realistic cut throat, no holds barred depiction of UK police corruption was leading edge. Presented in the UK at a time when confidence in the UK police was at a record low, this show encapsulated the feelings of the day. It is very well acted, the principals gelling nicely right from the first episode. The third series is less tight and focussed, which explains why the main cast members refused to sign up for a 4th series. Neil Pearson (one of the sexiest men on the screen these days) is extremely convincing as Tony Clark. In fact, I can't think of any weak performances at all. great writing too. certainly a "10"