| Suffer The Children |
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| This is one the major Cullen episodes - they let him have: (a) lots of screen time (b) some history (c) a trip outside the office! Even better more exciting - he got to smile!! And to click his fingers happily! He yells. He pulls rank. But, also, he smiles. Charmingly.~Jo I could write pages (and probably will!) and not sum the episode up better than that. That smile..... *sigh*...... It was quite a good episode in terms of plot and characterisation - I didn't particularly recognise the name of the writer - Paul Powell - but I'd be happy to see it appear again. Not only did this ep feature lots of CULLEN!!!!!!!!!! it also had a good chunky Sam and Cass storyline. I love Cass - wish I could be her should I ever grow up - and like Sam, so I was extra happy. I don't want soap as such but I do love seeing the SH people relating as people - particularly as friends. To summarise very briefly alowlife named Terry Barlow, whom Cullen knew from West End, had moved onto our patch and Cullen was out to get him. Now you can believe, as barlow did that this was personal vendetta or you believe what Cullen said to Duncan - No, Duncan, it's not personal - it's my job. On balance I believe our mysterious DI. Yes, there was a real degree of urgency in his desire to get Barlow but Barlow had been offered up to him by Danny and his snout - and there seemed to be very good reasons to believe that he was up to no good. It's not as though he was stalking someone purely on the basis of past misdemeanors with no evidence to link him to current crimes. Seeing Debbie as a human being (not to mention as a functioning sergeant) was good, shame she isn't always like that. I thought it was a very good idea, actually, that all the little people (except for Debs who is tough enough to look after herself) were kept out of the way of the rampaging DI ;o) As Ainsel said it was also nice to see a human and reasonable social worker - overly optomistic IMO but helpful and open-minded. Social workers up and down Britain must have stood up and cheered because, boy, they usually get a pasting in TB. I thought the writer etc had Duncan's characterisation down very pat. He does have a habit of addressing all as though they were his equals - leading to: I'll tell you what, Duncan. When you're a DI you can decide how best to use your time - until that happy day you'll do as I say - all right? It was interesting to see Alex when his cage had been rattled - and in keeping with the true Cullenness of Cullen the ep was thick with the unexplained and unexplored. Who was this fourteen year old boy they found OD-ed? Surely a teenage runaway dying of a heroin OD wouldn't be that exceptional in the West End unless there was something that marked him out from others. How did Terry Barlow's 'drug squad pals' save him last time? Who was DS Sharp to Cullen? What exactly did he go down for? I could go a little further and come up with some Chandler and Cullen questions too ;o) (BTW - many brownie points to the writer for managing an explanation as to why the complaint didn't go to Chandler.) I could wonder whether Chandler (who, if Alex was his oppo at WE, must have some background knowledge about Barlow) was very cleverly staying out of the way because (a) he also thinks Barlow is utter scum and didn't want to have rein Alex back in or (b) he would have liked to have reined Alex back in but has met him before when it is 'personal' like this and figured it would be better if the DI didn't refuse a direct order from the DCI ;o) Don't mind me - I just enjoy playing around with characters. Let me see - what else struck me about the episode? Oh, the length of Cullen's fingers! There was that shot when he was tapping his fingers on the car body and I swear they were longer than my hands (which wouldn't be all that hard, I have to admit). Thre were some great Alex lines in the ep - though his lines are less able to be ripped out of conext than, say, some of the Burnside-isms. It is the way they are delivered and the expression on his face/in his eyes that really gives them their punch. Barlow likes to get them hooked young - train 'em up as dealers. Short career, high risks - no prospects. Terry, what brings you here? Nothing too trivial, I hope. RIGHT! Let's get back to work then, shall we? *SLAM* There is a God! Astound me. Let's see if the information is any good before we start cracking open the bubbly. Isn't this cosy. And I just want you to know, Terry, that it has been well worth the wait. Never better... and when Barlow is sent down I'll be a very happy man. I loved the scene with Jack. First of all it echoed every DI - DCI confrontation down through the ages and secondly it was good to see that Jack had got ovr his initially dislike/distrust of Alex (because he was the Super's man) and seemed genuinely concerned. I also felt Jack was probably going 'Oh &^%&$& - and I thought *this* one was quiet and reasonable! Now I could be looking at Boulton's stubbornest face!' Cullen: I'm not happy about this - Terry Barlow is a very dangerous man. Jack: Yeah, and he's not taking you down with him. Should anyone want to know Cullen's outfits in this eps were: *palest of lemon shirts with yellow/green tie with dashes on it (not a fave of mine!) I trhink he had as grey suit on but he mostly had his coat on *Pale mauvey-pink shirt and maroon tie with a blue suit. Happiness!!! |
| Tie Rating |
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