Recommendation of the Month: The Shadow Line

I love British television and I love a good drama.  When you put the two together you, more often than not, have the perfect series.  The Shadow Line is no exception to that.The series was created, written and directed by Hugo Blick and stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Christopher Eccleston, Rafe Spall and Stephen Rea.  It follows the investigation into the murder of Harvey Wratten over the course of a seven episode run.

The Shadow Line is anything but just another run-of-the-mill cop drama.  When Harvey Wratten is murdered just hours after receiving a Royal pardon along with his nephew, Jay, the investigation begins.  However, it isn't just the police wanting to know who murdered Harvey.  His nephew, Jay Wratten (Rafe Spall) wants to know as well and conducts his own investigation in his own way.  This also isn't a buddy cop drama in the least.  DI Gabriel (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and DS Lia Honey (Kierston Wareing) don't spend thier evenings laughing and chatting at the pub.  There is real tension between them at times.  They work together for the good of the case but she isn't afraid to question him and has seen at least one of DI Gabriel's secrets with her own eyes.  DI Gabriel was involved in a shooting where he was shot in the head and his partner was killed.  He has amnesia related to the shooting but not everyone believes his claim of remembering nothing is legitimate.  Even DI Gabriel knows everything isn't as it appears when he finds a briefcase full of money in his closet.

Television: Season Finale and Premier Dates

Here's a quick list of the finale and premier dates for the shows you can find on this blog.  The dates compiled here were found on TVRage.  If these dates change or when information currently unavailable becomes available this post will be updated as will the list on the left-hand side of the blog.

Finale Dates:
Blue Bloods (US):  Friday, 13th May, 2011
Breakout Kings (US):  Sunday, 29th May, 2011
Hawaii Five-O (US):  Monday, 16th May, 2011
Vampire Diaries (US):  Thursday, 12th May, 2011

Premier Dates:
Luther, Series 2 (UK):  Date currently unknown
Offspring, Series 2 (AUS):  Monday, 16th May, 2011
Rookie Blue, Season 2 (CDN):  Thursday, 23rd June, 2011
Tangle, Series 3 (AUS):  Date currently unknown
White Collar, Season 3 (US):  Tuesday, 7th June, 2011

Updated 25th May, 2011 to reflect new airdate for Rookie Blue.

UK Television: Luther, Series 2 Preview

BBC One has given fans of Luther a very exciting present today:  a preview clip of series two!

Ever since the last second of series one ended I've been eagerly awaiting the start of series two.  As of right now, there isn't a set date when the series will begin but that information should be coming soon.  The clip certainly doesn't give any major plot points away but that's a good thing, I think.  It's always much more fun to see the shocking developments as they happen than to see/read spoilers and nothing be unexpected.

You can watch the clip here off the BBC's official YouTube network or you can go to the official BBC web site for Luther and watch the clip there (for UK residents only).

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Currently Airing New Episodes

New episodes of Law & Order:  UK have started!  As the shows have already aired in Canada, posts for each of the six episodes to finish up series two are already on the blog.

You can find each of the posts at the following links:

Help:  http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2011/02/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-45.html

Denial: http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2011/01/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-42.html

I.D.:  http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2010/12/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-41.html

Shaken:  http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2011/01/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-43.html

Duty of Care:  http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2011/02/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-44.html

Skeletons:  http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2011/02/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-46.html

You can find every other post related to Law & Order:  UK either by clicking on the entry for the show in the "Categories" list on the left-hand side of the blog or by visiting the "Television Shows" page in the "Pages of Note" section on the left-hand side.

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episodes 1.1-1.13

Season 1, Episode 1, Care
Care, Original Air Date, February 5, 2009
Based on Law & Order (US) "Cradle to Grave", Season 2, Episode 18 (31st March, 1992)
A suspicious bag is found in a hospital car park leading to the evacuation of the hospital out of fear the bag contains a bomb.  Once opened, the contents of the bag are much more disturbing and horrifying:  the body of a dead baby.  The investigation leads to a near-empty apartment building with sub-standard safety and unscrupulous owners wanting to renovate.  Could the want of money have led to the baby's death?

Season 1, Episode 2, Unloved
Unloved, Original Air Date, March 2, 2009
Based on Law & Order (US) "Born Bad", Season 4, Episode 9 (16th November, 1993)
The body of a teenage boy is found not far from a homeless shelter.  Brooks and Devlin's investigation take them to a a troubled mum struggling to overcome her addictions so she can be reunited with her son.  The investigation takes a shocking turn when evidence points to the foster home the young boy was placed in and an even more shocking turn when two surprising suspects come to light.

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Introduction

For the past twenty years Law & Order has been one of the biggest and most successful franchises in television history.  The original Law & Order series began on NBC on September 13, 1990 and spawned two popular spin-off's:  Law & Order:  Special Victims Unit (SVU) and Law & Order:  Criminal Intent (CI).  A short-lived summer series, Crime & Punishment, a focus on real cases and real trials, aired in 2002.  In 2005, a one-season series, Law & Order:  Trial By Jury brought the wildly popular Lennie Briscoe character briefly back to television following his departure from the original series.  A new series, Law & Order:  Los Angeles premiered in 2010 after the cancellation of the original series. 

The story lines of Law & Order made the phrase "ripped from the headlines" common television vernacular, the ever-evolving cast kept the series fresh and gave us favorites such as Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Mike Logan (Chris Noth).  The flagship of the Law & Order franchise is gone now (and Criminal Intent is soon to be gone as well) but Law & Order:  Special Victims Unit and Law & Order:  Los Angeles remain to keep the franchise alive in North America and around the world.

UK Television: Law & Order: UK Cast Changes

Crime/legal drama Law & Order:  UK was recently given the green light for another 13 episodes by ITV1.  With news of the new episodes comes news that two new cast members will be joining the show as two depart.

Peter Davison and Dominic Rowan will be stepping into the vacancies left by Ben Daniels (James Steel) and Bill Paterson (George Castle).  As fans of the show will remember, Daniel's character, James Steel resigned from the CPS following him having been charged and tried for interfering with the course of justice.  Dominic Rowan enters Law & Order:  UK as Senior Crown Prosecutor Jacob Thorne while Peter Davison has been cast as Henry Sharpe who takes over as CPS Director, the position previously held by Castle.

While Daniel's will not be returning to the show, Bill Paterson will return in a future series as George Castle who is now the newly appointed Director of Public Prosecutions.

For more information:  Peter Davison Joins Law & Order:  UK (www.whatsontv.co.uk)

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episode 4.6 "Skeletons"

Law & Order:  UK
Season Four, Episode Six, Skeletons
Skeletons, Original Air Date:  December 9, 2010 (Canada)
Skeletons, Original Air Date:  April 11, 2011 (U.K.)
Based on Law & Order (US) "Trophy", Season 6, Episode 12 (31st January, 1996)

Two young boys are found murdered and a note found with both of the bodies leads police and the CPS to a name they've investigated and prosecuted before, Andrew Dillon.  When new evidence comes to light that Dillon might not be guilty of the crimes he was imprisoned for, and his imprisonment guaranteed by missing evidence, Steel's freedom and career are in jeopardy.

A police search for a missing child, Sean Monroe, that includes the young boys father, Mick Monroe (Terence Maynard) yields a grisly shock when the lad's body literally washes out of a drain at Devlin's feet.  Sean was killed by a single blow to the head with a heavy blunt-force object.  He was killed then dumped into the drainage system.  Devlin shows Brooks a paper he found on Sean that reads "They Must Be Destroyed" which is something Brooks thought he'd never see again.

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episode 4.5 "Help"

Law & Order:  UK
Season Four, Episode Five, Help
Help, Original Air Date:  December 12, 2010 (Canada)
Help, Original Air Date:  March 7, 2011 (U.K.)
Based on Law & Order (US) "We Like Mike", Season 7, Episode 20 (30th April, 1997)

When a former footballer is found murdered a good Samaritan becomes the prime suspect.  Things turn sinister when the footballer's murder is linked to a dangerous local crime boss.  The good Samaritan must choose between what is right and his fear to help Steel and Phillips put the crime boss behind bars where he belongs.

Footballer Robert Nichols is found dead by his sister, Jennifer (Matti Houghton).  Robert was killed as he was trying to change a flat tire on his car.  Jennifer last spoke to her brother earlier in the evening.  They were supposed to meet at Andrew's Restaurant.  Brooks and Devlin speak with the owner who tells them about the suspicious bloke who came in and cleaned his hands with napkins then left not long after Jennifer.  The rubbish bag containing the napkins he used should be in the bag that is still out front waiting to be collected.  Devlin goes out to collect the rubbish bag while Brooks stays inside, eating chips, and talking with the restaurant owner.  He mentions the man had a carrier bag from Barry Flowers with him.  At Barry Flowers, they speak with Barry Flowers (Richard Cunningham).  The man in question wanted a bridal display for that Saturday.  They find 54 weddings scheduled for that Saturday.

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episode 4.4 "Duty of Care"

Law & Order:  UK
Season Four, Episode One, Duty of Care
Duty of Care, Original Air Date:  November 25, 2010 (Canada)
Duty of Care, Original Air Date:  April 4, 2011 (U.K.)
Based on Law & Order (US) "Endurance", Season 11, Episode 1 (18th October, 2000)

The death of a thirteen-year-old boy in a fire is ruled arson.  Investigation leads the police to the boys mother, Megan, as the prime suspect due to the circumstances of the boy's health.  Megan faces prison and the loss of her young daughter.  Matters become complicated when it becomes obvious her lawyer isn't exactly trying to do what is in his clients best interest.

A woman confronts a man wanting his mobile.  A fire is raging in a building and she tells him her son is inside.  Once the fire has been extinguished, Brooks and Devlin are called in as the boy didn't make it.  Fire officials think some sort of accelerent was used but they cannot give further details until they have the opportunity to do a more thorough investigation.  A man drives up wanting through to the building.  His shop was on the ground floor of the building and he is upset he lost everything in the fire.  A fireman presents Brooks and Devlin with a container of paint thinner found just inside the entrance to the flats.  The fire is officially arson.

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episode 4.3 "Shaken"

Law & Order:  UK
Season Four, Episode Three, Shaken
Shaken, Original Air Date:  November 18, 2010 (Canada)
Shaken, Original Air Date:  March 28, 2011 (U.K.)
Based on Law & Order (US) "Homesick", Season 6, Episode 22 (15th May, 1996)

The death of a baby is thought to be because he was shaken.  The suspects include the baby's parents, the nanny and the nanny's boyfriend.  The case takes a twist when it is learned the baby might not have died from having been shaken.

At the home of Michael & Suzanne Raines, Michael Raines arrives home to the sound of loud music.  He yells to the nanny, Leyla Merton (Rebecca Night), who turns the music down then both of them go in to check on the baby who is apparently sleeping.  The baby isn't sleeping and he orders Leyla to phone 999.  Suzanne Raines arrives home after Brooks and Devlin have already arrived.  Autopsy shows the baby had the characteristic injuries of Shaken Baby Syndrome.  He died between 7 and 9 p.m., but the abuse could have occurred anywhere within the last 12 hours of his life.

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episode 4.2 "Denial"

Law & Order:  UK
Season Four, Episode Two, Denial
Denial, Original Air Date:  November 4, 2010 (Canada)
Denial, Original Air Date:  March 14, 2011 (U.K.)
Based on Law & Order (US) "DNR", Season 10, Episode 3 (6th October, 1999)

A high court judge is shot when she and her husband return from their vacation cottage.  At first, it appears to be a carjacking but, as the details of the case start to not add up the judges husband becomes a suspect for hiring her murder.  However, the judge insists her husband couldn't have done it as he was always with her and never had the opportunity to call the shooter.  Are they suspecting the wrong man or is the judge lying?

Rachel Callaghan (Juliet Stevenson), a high court judge, is shot in a car park and her car is stolen.  A tube of red dye gel is found at the scene.  If sprayed in an attackers face, it will not wash off for seven days.  From hospital, Devlin calls to order the GPS tracking device in Judge Callaghan's car be activated.  He and Brooks talk with the judges husband, Dan Callaghan (John McArdle) who didn't notice anyone suspicious in the car park.

Idris Elba Nominated For a Golden Globe!

The amazing Idris Elba has received a Golden Globe nomination for his work as John Luther in the BBC series Luther.  His nomination is in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television category. 

Ian McShane (Pillars of the Earth), Al Pacino (You don't Know Jack), Dennis Quaid (The Special Relationship) and Edgar Ramierez (Carlos) are also nominated in the same category.

Congratulations, Idris!    Hopefully, come January 16, 2011, Idris and all of his fans will be celebrating his win!

If you would like to see the entire list of nominees for this year, you can visit the Official Golden Globes web site.
http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episode 4.1 "ID"

Law & Order:  UK
Season Four, Episode One, ID
ID, Original Air Date:  November 4, 2010 (Canada)
ID, Original Air Date:  March 21, 2011 (U.K.)
Based on Law & Order (US) "Promises to Keep", Season 3, Episode 14 (10th February, 1993)

A young doctor is brutally murdered in the car park of the hospital where she works.  The case takes on a dramatic twist when the prime suspect turns out to have a shocking identity.  As the investigation continues, even more details emerge and the case takes on a complication that could potentially threaten the legal system.

In 1997, Billy Wells (Matthew Loreti) is given a sentence of 12 years for his part in the killing of teacher Yvonne Macy and her unborn child.  In the present day, at the Royal Hampton Hospital, Alice Cullen was murdered.  The murder wasn't caught on CCTV has it happened between cars and the cameras didn't pick it up.  Nothing was missing with the exception of her keys.  Brooks feels Alice Cullen knew her attacker.

When Brooks and Devlin search Alice Cullen's flat, they find that whoever killed her had already used her keys to get in and ransack the flat.  Matt Devlin finds an ultrasound that had been done of the child Alice was carrying and post-mortem confirmed she was 10 weeks pregnant.  Two dark hairs found on her clothes were sent in for DNA analysis.

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episode 3.7 "Anonymous"

Law & Order:  UK
Season Three, Episode Seven, Anonymous
Anonymous, Original Air Date:  October 21, 2010
Based on Law & Order (US) "Stalker", Season 8, Episode 18 (15th April, 1998)

When a young woman is found to have been thrown down the staircase of the building where she lives, the case takes on a new turn when Brooks and Devlin find e-mails from a cyberstalker in her home.  But when it appears the attack on the stairs might have been faked, things change.  The suspect is sent home and the woman is found dead a week later.  Because of the possibly faked attack, will who Brooks and Devlin believe killed the young woman get away with murder?

A young couple hears a commotion in the flat next to theirs late at night and upon investigating they find the body of a woman, Stephanie Blake (Michelle Bonnard), at the foot of the stairs.  The woman isn't dead but in serious condition.  The question is who hurt Stephanie and how did they get out of the building?

Using a spare key given them by the owner of the building, Maria Golofsky (Eileen Essell), Brooks and Devlin enter her flat and find a notebook full of e-mails addressed to the young woman all signed by "Giovanni".  She had tried blocking him and tracking him by the e-mails continued coming.  She had even changed her e-mail address a half dozen times.  The e-mails are extremely descriptive in a sexual nature and "Giovanni" appears to know every detail of Stephanie's life.  She had reported the e-mails to D.S. Frasier (Sara Woodward) at Northcross C.S.U.  Brooks and Devlin interview her and find out even more details about Stephanie's stalker including threats he had made against her.  Frasier gives them a tip about a prisoner at Ashbridge Prison who wanted Stephanie's new mobile number added to his list of approved numbers.

Shane Morgan (Mark White) had given Stephanie's name as well as number for his list of approved numbers but he claims he made a mistake.  After a little pushing from Devlin, Morgan admits that a bloke named Lowry wanted him to request the number because he was running low on phone credits and wanted to hook up with Stephanie.  Lowry was released from prison the week before.

UK Television: BBC One Dramatic Series "Luther" Filming a Second Series

Well, I'm just about as happy as happy can be here!

Ever since the first series of Luther ended a few months ago I have been wondering if the BBC One would renew the show for a second series.

Well, folks, wonder no longer.

According to information on the official Luther Facebook site, scripts for a second series are finished and the shooting for the second series has already begun.  There is even a photo of the scripts!  The Facebook posting was dated September 20th and the information given was "Scripts in.  Shoot starts two weeks today."

To read the postings on the Luther Facebook wall.  

To see the photo of the scripts.

BBC one also issued a press release announcing the recommissioning of Luther and the beyond excellent series Sherlock for second series'.  You can read the entire BBC one press release at their web site.

There's all kinds of great television news coming out of the UK right now, isn't there?  I can't wait to see Luther and the diabolical (but so likable) Alice back on the screen!

UK Television: 13 Episodes Commissioned for Law & Order: UK for 2011

It was announced on Monday, 18th October, 2010 that ITV has commissioned another 13 episodes for Law & Order:  UK that will air sometime in 2011.

This is great news for fans of Law & Order:  UK as season three is now complete for the series and there are currently six more episodes waiting to air for season four.  I'm hoping we will get those closer to the end of the year.  They would make a perfect Christmas present, wouldn't they?

You can read the entire press release on the ITV web site.

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episode 3.6 "Masquerade"

Law & Order:  UK
Season Three, Episode Six, Masquerade
Masquerade, Original Air Date:  October 14, 2010
Based on Law & Order (US) "Admissions", Season 9, Episode 22 (19th May, 1999)

Student Archie Rahman is stabbed in his flat and Brooks and Devlin are left with only one solid clue to follow:  a library book.  The case takes a new twist when the girl who was at his flat claims she killed him in self defense after he raped her.  But is she telling the truth?

Archie didn't do drugs, wasn't a gang member, kept to himself and, by all reports, always had his nose in a book studying.  There was evidence that there had been a woman at Archie's flat but she is nowhere to be found.  Archie's father (Hassani Shapi) insists his son didn't have a girlfriend and focused instead on his schoolwork.  Archie's mother (Sameena Zehra) mentions a former girlfriend, Darla (Suzie McGrath) but they had broke up a few months prior.

A library book is amongst the items of evidence collected in Archie's flat and it leads the detectives to the Waterloo and City College Library.  They learn the book was checked out at eleven o'clock Sunday by Rebecca Anderson (Charlene McKenna).  Rebecca reluctantly provides them with the information that she was in the library with her friend, Sally Douglas (Kimberly Nixon) but that she doesn't know Archie Rahman.  Both Rebecca and Sally claim they were working in the library until it closed at six.  On a hunch, Devlin does a bit of checking and finds the library closes at midday contradicting the girls' stories.  When confronted with the truth about the time the library closes, Sally says the two girls went to the Region room, carried on with their work then went home.  She is studying philosophy and art history at university on her way to a lecture on Ancient Arts of Persia and the Subcontinent, which just so happens to be the subject of the library book.

BBC One Dramatic Series "Luther" Begins Airing in America

The psychological drama Luther will begin airing in the United States on BBC America at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 17, 2010.  The episode will be followed by Luther:  Inside Look - Episode 1.  This is "an exclusive behind the scenes look at tonights episode of Luther".

If you miss episode 1 this Sunday, don't worry!  It will be aired again:

Monday, October 18, 2010:
2:00 A.M., Episode 1
3:15 A.m., Luther, Inside Look - Episode 1

Thursday, October 21, 2010:
9:00 P.M., Episode 1
10:15 P.M., Luther, Inside Look - Episode 1

Friday, October 22, 2010:
12:00 A.M., Episode 1
1:15 A.M., Luther, Inside Look - Episode 1
2:00 A.M., Episode 1
3:15 A.M., Luther, Inside Look - Episode 1

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episode 3.5 "Survivor"

Law & Order:  UK
Season Three, Episode Five, Survivor
Survivor, Original Air Date:  October 7, 2010
Based on Law & Order (US) "Punk", Season 9, Episode 8 (25th November, 1998)

Two children find the body of a dead man, Charlie Tyner, who was a prison officer.  The investigation takes a new lead when they find out Tyner was dealing heroin.  When they are able to tie Tyner to a drug dealer they've been trying to catch for some time, they need the help of a woman in the prison where Tyner was an officer.  But getting that help isn't going to be easy.

The kids who find the body are themselves playing with a gun they found in the rubbish bin.  Turns out, the gun was the weapon used in the murder.  No identification is found with the body but the man is later ID'd as a prison officer named Charlie Tyner.  He had worked for 18 years at the same job but suddenly was promoted six months ago.

Brooks and Devlin go to Tyner's new assignment at Cold Norton Prison to learn more about him.  Charlie is described by his boss as having been "the best" officer.  He even saved a woman who tried to hang herself last week.  He took it personally when one of the inmates he supervised tried to self harm.  While he didn't have any problems at Cold Norton, he did have a run-in with a male prisoner at Ashbridge, Ellis Bevin (Celyn Jones) who has been out of prison for two days.