| These two episode reviews of Suffer the Little Children come courtesy of Peggles and Annie |
| The Brisbane Courier Mail's What's On Column: "Suffer The Little Children" "He likes to get 'em hooked young," spits DI Cullen contemptuously of drug baron Terry Barlow. Picture his grim pleasure, then, upon receiving info that Barlow has illicit narcotics stored in his textile factory. Picture also Cullen's grim displeasure when the ensuing drug bust goes k-flooey and, in a nutshell, that's the unremitting tone of tonight's episode of The Bill. No highs or lows, just grim cops and grim villains behaving grimly. As drama, it falls some distance short of satisfying despite a potentially engaging mid-stream story shift from drug peddling to a trade which may be even more insidious.The one flap of interest comes during an "about last night" conversation between PC's Harker and Rickman. He says sorry for kissing her, she tells him it's no problem as they were both "bladdered" - that is, drunk. Now there's an English euphemism I'd like to see enter the Australian vernacular. James Collie, |
| The Age's Green Guide: "Life must be tough for the police of Sun Hill. Not only do they have serious crime on the Larkmead Estate to contend with, but the minefield of sexual politics at the nick. So it's a relief when tonight's episode eschews sexual intrigue and opens in traditional Bill style - sirens blaring and lights flashing as police cars pull up to a factory to make an arrest. DC Danny Glaze's snout has told him that factory owner Terry Barlow is in possession of drugs, but the bust doesn't find anything. DI Alex Cullen is furious; he was desperate to nab Barlow, an old adversary. Meanwhile, PCs Cass Rickman and Sam Harker have arrested a man for shoplifting, but suspect there may be more to it when they find that their man has a record for using and dealing. Harker is sure that Barlow is involved. It's plod against plod: Harker is keen to make an arrest and put one over on uppity detective Glaze, while Glaze and Cullen aren't getting on either. It is clear that there is still a lot of unresolved tension between the old and new Sun Hill coppers." Olivia Hill-Douglas |