Line of Duty (TV Series) Episode #6.7 (2021) User Reviews

Simple changes would have helped

[irldonalb · 7/10 · 3 May 2021]

Like a lot of people, I'm disappointed with this episode. But the writers were never give us a big fish today. If Chief Constable is involved, that's a full series in itself.

That said I think two changes would have made a huge difference.

There should have been more suspense in the chase scene. It was over before it got going. That was really weak compared to similar scenes in other episodes.

Secondly in the integration scene with Buckles, there should have a Keyser Söze moment or Walter White's "thread lightly" comment. They could have revealed a mastermind rather than a patsy. The outcome would be been the same but there would have been a sense that he tricked us.

Solid Season. Underwhelming Finale.

[nottaproblemuk · 6/10 · 2 May 2021]

Very anticlimactic. Given the way they ended it, I think they're either going to take a hiatus, or stop making Line Of Duty altogether. Either that or they've just decided that they've run this 'H' storyline into the ground, and wanted to wrap it all up and clear the way to refresh the show with a completely new storyline in Season 7. Either way, after all the tension and anticipation that has been building throughout this season, this finale felt a little rushed to me.

Having said that, I think Jed Mercurio is probably a victim of his own talent as a writer and storyteller to be fair. The mystery of 'H' has been literally going on for three seasons now, and it basically got to the point where there was no character in the show you'd have been shocked to find out was H (except the main 3 which was obviously never gonna happen). Whoever was revealed to be H was either gonna be too obvious, too ridiculous, or too underwhelming. In the end it was the latter...

I expected so much better.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 5/10 · 8 May 2021]

AC12 are on the hunt for Gail's killer, but there's a big fish to catch at the top of the pile, H.

I think the reviews I've written for Line of Duty over the years show that I'm a lover of the show, I often watch series two and three, and even here, parts three and four had me in raptures.....

...but, sadly there is a but, did this sixth series sign off in style, the way it deserved to? I would state not, was it as bad as some of the reviews make out? Absolutely not, there is some good stuff here.

On the plus side, the acting, how could you give this a score of one, having watched the scenes between Dunbar and Maxwell Martin, acting of the best standard possible, wonderful. The episode certainly had suspense, it teased and made us guess, and finally we learned who H was.

That really was the stumbling block, we've had multiple suggestions, most people, myself included, didn't opt for the one they presented us with, was said person the best option? I'm not too sure, I was disappointed, what I would say is their acting was tremendous, real misdirection, that negative could also be flipped as a positive, nobody has their she on said person, as they were believed to be incompetent, how many times have we seen that happen on life?

So where next? Does the appearance of James Nesbitt mean another series, or has it reaches its natural conclusion, I have my answer.

It should have been all guns blazing, apart from the big reveal, it was quite dull, beautifully acted, but dull, 5/10.

Terrible

[Richardtaylor131985 · 1/10 · 2 May 2021]

This ending was awful for and makes no sense. A terrible ending to the story that has ran the last six seasons. Felt rushed, and Buckells as H makes no sense. It's like the script was given to someone who had not seen the tension; the suspense of the last 35 episodes. 1 star may seem harsh, but when you invest time into this and effort you want a satisfying ending. This did not deliver.

No explosion

[thekimberley · 8/10 · 2 May 2021]

Not the explosive final I hoped for. But honestly, Buckles was the only remaining suspect and the misspelling always suggested that there was a bit of an idiot pulling all the strings. And only he fits that bill. Who gives himself away like that? So it was no suprise that he was the fourth man. The way he looked when they murdered his so called new celmate was a total give away. It was clear that he was more then just a bent cop. But it was not the explosive end i got to like so much in this series. AC12 ends up with a bureacrat. Nothing really changes at the level of institutions and politics. So that is basically like in real life. Perhaps the endings was more realistic then the rest of the whole series. What we like to see is the ultimate happy ending : Hastings getting his job back, Buckles getting what he deserves, a big clean up at the highest level of the force and everybody happy at there job. The world is saved. But now there remains unfinished businesses, not everything is clear and is that not a good reason for a new season. I hope so but I am afraid not. Sometimes the actors themselves are just finished with a show or the characters they played for many years. It is not like death in paradise where you can change the cast every 2 years without changing much. You have to keep the main cast complete every season. Especially this show.

10\10 show bad finale

[conor-39939 · 6/10 · 2 May 2021]

Started off like a house on fire then, as usual as all these shows it rushed the ending and sht the bed, after all that. Unless there is a season 7 planned that was just disappointing. Been one of the best shows iv ever watch that just sucked.

Disappointing

[richardpennystan · 1/10 · 2 May 2021]

Can't express how empty & disappointing that episode was, just faded out and didn't have any sense of drama surprise or resolution.

Benefit of the doubt

[aimeelumitchell · 8/10 · 3 May 2021]

So it wasn't the finale we had all hoped for.. but we can only deduce from this, that this isn't the conclusion to the plot. Loose ends still need to be tied, and the writer is still excellent for making us want more.. Jed has written far too many good season finales, to know what sells and what doesn't. He has planned this, and maybe not to the viewers taste, but he is fulfilling his own vision of the plot. So let's wait to see what he brings next! Brilliant acting all round!

The show has lost the fire from its belly

[xmasdaybaby1966 · 6/10 · 3 May 2021]

Having watched all 6 series in the past 2 weeks, I have noticed this slide in quality in the show despite the publicity it has been receiving in the media.

I appreciate it was difficult to film during a pandemic and certain actors (I e. Owen Teale) appeared separately to others but this could DEFINATELY be much better.

After all the hype, the conclusion should have been so much better.

Like Peaky Blinders, it was so much better hidden away with a cult audience on BBC 2.

The last two episodes could easily have been done in one installment.

Maybe the show will belt up without Bucknells but hopefully, this is the conclusion and doesn't go on for years destroying a once great reputation.

Underwhelming ending to an uninspired season

[msghall · 4/10 · 19 July 2021]

There's a serious sense of Deja Vu about this season that never seems fully formed or realized, ending with a dubious thud. It helps somewhat that Anna Maxwell Martin turns in a stellar effort, appearing so empty and suspicious that you can't help but dislike the character, to put it mildly. On the other hand, the character of. Kate all of a sudden becomes naïve when in previous seasons proved to be a competent officer. Three are some wonderful episodes mid way through but the whole thing feels like it peaked with Keeley Hawes setting the standard for a new kind of evil and this series never truly recovered its footing after that.

The Return of the Fan Theories

[andrewliam-price · 8/10 · 4 May 2021]

Maybe if people stopped coming up with ridiculous fan theoires, they might actually start enjoying TV shows again.

Another fine series comes to a satisfying conclusion. Bring on Series Seven.

Mother of God, people, get a grip.

A calm review

[breadfanmetal · 7/10 · 29 May 2021]

About 23% of people who have voted have given a rating of 1/10.

In my humble opinion, a 1/10 rating should be reserved for shows which, if given the alternative of watching paint dry, one would take the latter option.

This is not such an episode.

It's "definately" not a great episode, but it does what it's intended to do.

I've given it a 7 out of 10, because it's clearly not intended to be the series final episode. The creators had to balance between creating something that could be considered a decent ending if the series doesn't get renewed, and something that would justify a 7th series.

Such a balance is almost always hard to maintain.

I understand that people need closure, and this episode failed to deliver. But if it had, the next season would seem contrived. When the 7th season comes, people are going to be happy that season 6 ended like this.

Anti climax

[x_xsweetrevenge · 1/10 · 2 May 2021]

What a terrible way to end the series! Great foreplay but a terrible orgasm.

Need some of Steve's painkillers after that

[georginabarkerw · 1/10 · 2 May 2021]

Underwhelming, disappointing and a waste of time.

G.

An intelligent ending

[chris-83359 · 9/10 · 5 May 2021]

Don't be taken in by the , frankly, ridiculous, attention seeking low marks for this final episode.

It is incredibly thought provoking and serious in it's outcome. AC-12 were fighting a long battle that in all liklihood they would never win. "Sometimes you don't lose, you just run out of time" says a downbeat Ted and he is absolutely right.

The reveal of who the 4th man was, needs thinking about, if you wanted a big bad, and there were a couple of candidates such as Osbourne or Carmichael, yes, you will be disappointed, but they would have have been even more ridiculous than those who are claiming the real ending is ridiculous.

Now we know it is Buckles we have set about watching it all again and it makes pure sense. Most people in the real world are promoted one or two stations above their skill levels, why should a disparate crime syndicate be any different.

Buckles didn't climb the ladder, he fell up it as more skilled, dangerous and deceitful coppers were nabbed by Ted or killed by the OCG. By being underestimated (quite rightly) by people on and off screen (it can't be Buckles he's an idiot) he always crept off early to consolidate his position.

So ignore the thoughtless reviews who want the obvious, the DieHard reviews who want shoot out after shoot out and the romantic reviews who want the most hated character to be the lynchpin. Think about it and realize why it was always the guy in the background, the muppet who couldn't spell, the guy who always wanted to go home on time. He was there from series 01, getting in the way, making an pain of himself, doing the wrong thing. Others came and went, but at the end of the day, what held everything up was Buckles.

Most Definately.

What an anticlimax !!

[Vindelander · 6/10 · 2 May 2021]

Whilst series 6 has been exciting in much the same way as the previous ones, the over acting and melodrama throughout make it farcical imo. Police officers do not speak in gobbledygook all the time throwing acronyms around like confetti and referring to everything as "said this" and " said that". Mercurio's over the top writing style really spoiled what could have been much better.

It's only because there's so little else in the way of competition around on the BBC at the moment that this series has scored so highly. And as for the big reveal - total let down.

Dull!!

[lewishorgan-37149 · 4/10 · 2 May 2021]

Thought this season never really took off and the ending is disappointing!

WandaVision all over again

[christophermball · 8/10 · 3 May 2021]

It's a real shame that fans allow theories and speculation to ruin their own enjoyment of a show.

Was this the standout episode of the show? Probably not. This whole season, and arguably the last three, have led to this moment and I think the direction they went in was entirely satisfying. 'The fourth man' reveal was the only logical answer left. They were the only character who has been in it from the beginning and had been regularly appearing (other than our core trio which would have been awful if it had been one of them).

If you take away all the hype and speculation you're left with a bleak look at the police system in this country. There will never be a perfect resolution because that's not how life works. Finding out it was a series of corrupt officers rather than one man was fascinating. There will be no end to this search and that's exactly what it should be.

Some see an anti-climax, I see a bleak look into the real world. Jed Mecurio went for theme rather than pleasing fans and he should be applauded for trying, and slightly missing, than doing what was expected.

Bravo and thanks for a great run.

Distinctly underwhelmed

[BlooartStooart · 6/10 · 5 May 2021]

I don't think the finale was 'bad', but when the show on the whole has been very very good at worst, and some of the best TV ever made at best it just felt underwhelming.

After a few days for it to sink in I don't think disappointed is the word to use. I expected more as I've often been captivated and wowed by the twists, turns and shocks used by Jed Mercurio - The finale contained small morcels of this.

I was perhaps expecting either a significant twist that steered us to season 7 or a detangling of a very intricate web of deceipt and lies perhaps not just by the fourth man, but by a number of bent coppers.

I would do anything for more of Ted Hastings, and think another season could potentially resolve a lot more, or could prolong the fact that it's run its course.

7 hours wasted

[orbitalvenatus · 1/10 · 2 May 2021]

This season finale resulted in an empty, non resolved ending. Nothing was resolved , no loose ends were tied up. Feels like the show makers just couldn't be bothered to come up with a proper ending and picked the "baddie" out of a hat.

Don't see what all the negativity is all about

[kjhllk10220 · 10/10 · 2 May 2021]

Sure there wasn't a lot of action in this finale but that isn't always what LOD is about. The reveal of Buckles as the fourth man was surprising and many seem to think of it as disappointing. But to me it is a perfect subversion of expectations and when thinking of it on reflection, it isn't completely out of nowhere and there is reason for this twist. Throughout the whole story, Buckles has been the detective placed in charge of an operation that is currently under investigation by AC-12, in series 1 with Gates, series 4 with Roz and now in series 6 he was the superintendent on the Gail Vella murder. A murder which he was involved in ordering.

Furthermore, the casting of Jimmy Nesbitt as Thurwell, a character we never actually meet in person was another brilliant example of a subversion of viewer expectations.

The ending of this series suggests to me that there will be 7th and possibly final series, no longer focussed on 'H' or the 'fourth man' storyline which has been a focus since the end of series 4, but instead can now turn focus on CC Osborne for his failings and cover-ups going all the way back to the first ever episode.

Overall, I loved this episode and season as a whole and hope for season 7.

One last series Jed. Save your legacy!!!!

[Filmfan68uk · 6/10 · 22 January 2022]

Dear Jed Mecurio, I know you read these reviews. Please save your legacy, this is your defining TV masterpiece. Give the fans the ending they want. Don't be a House of Cards, Game of thrones or Lost. Only you have the power. Use it wisely.

Definitely underwhelming

[audelshirin · 1/10 · 2 May 2021]

So a full season just for 2 dodgy prison guards to be arrested and for it to be framed that Buckles was the mastermind of it . Downhill finale in comparison to season 1,3 and 4 . Disappointed.

Damp Squib

[robson-02523 · 5/10 · 2 May 2021]

Excellent blood pumping season, goes out like a wet flannel. Boring. Simply boring.

Yes acting was good, and consistent. However the climax was just not there. I think the hype was just too much for this one.

If that really is the ending of LOD for good then it will be majorly disappointing. It feels though that they are continuing from just how lacklustre they finished of their stories.

ALSO - they make out like the only evidence is the misspelling of definetly and then provide mountains of evidence against buckles?

Carmichael continues to be one of the most dislikable characters ever written with ZERO PAY OFF. Normally they have redemption, her saying that she will turn a blind eye to Teds mistake is not enough to make up for how awful she is.

All in all I hope they do another season and truly finish off in style. Now that they don't need to hang onto the 'fourth man' story line.

To finish off I will say again the season was overall impressive. Compston and. McClure make this show. Along with the force of nature Dunbar. Acting 10. Ending 5.

No idea where all the hate is coming from

[rajaasimgolden · 9/10 · 3 May 2021]

This episode did tie up the loose ends. Brilliant as usual.