Law & Order UK - series 2

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I remember the US L&O episode that this one was based on, and the American actor who played the schizophrenic was Denis O'Hare (True Blood viewers may recognise the name). He was brilliant, and I'm happy to say that Rupert Graves was very very good as John Smith as well. I'm surprised that the scripts have so few changes from the US ep they are based on, and that they even keep the names of the characters the same.
 
I thought it was very good. I can't compare it to the American version because I have never watched that, only the UK one. I enjoyed the last series immensely. I think Bradley Walsh is excellent as are the others.

This episode was a tough one. I was extremely moved by the mother of the little boy.
 
Just watched the latest episode last night, and although it was brilliantly writtten and acted - I even felt sorry for the murderer - I lost track of the plot a bit.

If he pleaded (pled?) guilty, why was there a trial and a jury? Or did he originally plead not guilty, then change his plea at the end?
 
I'm confused :confused:

I've looked on IMDB and indeed there are many more episodes than we saw yet the ones we didn't are showing 'original air date' of the summer2009. Yet series two episodes are given as 2010.

There must have been an decision at the last moment to pull them.
 
I can clear up your confusion. The IMDB airdates are for when the episodes first aired anywhere in the world, not just Britain. The first seven episodes of season one aired on ITV, as you know. The final six episodes produced for season one were NOT shown by ITV, as ITV decided to save them for a later time. BUT, when Law & Order: UK was shown in Canada during the summer, ALL 13 episodes that were made for season one were shown (over 13 consecutive weeks), so the airdates you see at IMDB for the final six episodes are the dates those episodes received their world debuts, and those debuts were in Canada. In short, the airdates at IMDB for the first seven episodes are British airdates, and the airdates for the final six episodes are Canadian airdates.
 
Now that Linus Roach is back in the UK on Corrie, what are the chances of him appearing the show?

Just as a one-off, perhaps as a prosecuter.
 
If you think about it logically it has to be not guilty by reason of insanity. This then switches the burden of proof to the defence to show that they were insane when the event occurred.

Guilty by reason of insanity would do away with a trial and the defendent can then submit theirselves for treatment. They would then be miracoulously curred and be released.

A Not Guilty plea with a Guilty verdict means that insanity has been proved and treatment is appropriate. This would include all the correct tests both before and after trial.
 
Was last night's L&O UK episode filmed in the same deserted housing estate that the final episode of The Bill was? Looked like it to me.

They said in the programme shown after The Bill that the estate had been deserted for ages awaiting demolition and it made an ideal place for them to film.
 
Just to summarise. 13 episodes are a US/Canada friendly number. As this show was produced with close cooperation from the US original producers (whose series can sometimes now have shorter runs than the 22 or so they had when on US mainstream channels now that they are often on cable first) that is probably why 13 were commissioned with an eye on their US compatability.

It is likely why Dr Who does the same (13 is a not uncommon US commission these days on cable and audiences there would find a shorter number offputting - perhaps suggestive of a series axed mid run and not having gone the distance).

Merlin has followed suit as it had a US network airing as well.

So, yes, there were 13 episodes filmed in 2009 and another 13 have been commissioned for 2010.

Although ITV are billing these as series 2 they are clearly the last 6 episodes of those made as series 1 and screened elsewhere last year. Indeed Radio Times points this out and that it might confuse viewers as some not explained events assume you have just watched the previous episode the week before not months ago!

So series 2 (in the rest of the world) will be billed here as series 3 and maybe also series 4 if split again when shown in the UK.
 
But it is not as simple as saying "For the UK the first seven episodes alone will count as Series One," because Brits are going to be buying the Region 2 DVD boxset of "Series One" before too long and it has all 13 episodes on it.
 
Rupert Graves was excellent.

This series, especially with the current storylines of deep ethical and moral dilemma makes for uncomfortable viewing and that isn't really Thursday night fare. Most people want lifting at this point of the week.

The show also seems less polished somehow. It's made by Kudos and I thought both parts of S1 had a real Spooks production feel to them. The new series seems more pedestrian. :)
 
I thought it was the Heygate the instant I saw it.
I was looking for the security grills.
I know the estate, which is why I thought of it instantly although I haven't set foot on there for 20 plus years.

Not sure if that's the same estate as they used in the Bill, haven't watched that since Reg and Tony got sidelined.

Edit: Whichever poster it was who had problems with Bradley Walsh, it's not down to his acting IMO that you couldn't take him seriously.

If someone spots the repeat (I could spend a long time looking for it) please bump the thread or something, I want to watch it again properly.
 
Didn't phrase my earlier message very well. I think he said he would plead guilty but claim it was by reason of insanity but the CPS refused to accept it as they didn't think he was insane. Therefore it went to trial.

No doubt others will say if I'm wrong..
 
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