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The Shadow Line

 The Shadow Line
type
TVTItem
 The Shadow Line
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The Shadow Line
 The Shadow Line
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TheShadowLine
 The Shadow Line
comment
The Shadow Line is a seven-part British television drama serial produced by Company Pictures/Eight Rooks Ltd/Baby Cow/CinemaNX production for BBC Two. It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Christopher Eccleston, Rafe Spall, Antony Sher and Stephen Rea.Drug baron Harvey Wratten is dead, and nobody knows who did it. From the cop with a bullet in his brain, whose amnesia leaves him doubtful of his own moral compass; to the drug-lord driven by a profound personal tragedy, risking it all on one last deal; to the brilliantly lethal puppet-master who gradually emerges from the shadows to bring the story to its shocking climax, the show explores the morality of these characters as they negotiate the repercussions of Wratten's death and attempt to navigate the fine line between right and wrong.It has been compared, inevitably, to The Wire, being another Grey-and-Gray Morality, Four Lines, All Waiting, cops 'n' robbers drama — however, stylistically the two shows couldn't be more different. In contrast to The Wire's verisimilitude, The Shadow Line is stylised and Noir-ish, with heavy symbolism and crafted dialogue.Broadcasting started on 5 May 2011, ended on June 16th, and the DVD is out in the UK July 14th. Not to be confused the OTHER Shadow Line.
 The Shadow Line
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2023-07-11T21:16:02Z
 The Shadow Line
parsed
2023-07-11T21:16:02Z
 The Shadow Line
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DBTropes
 The Shadow Line / int_10a6623b
type
Fair Cop
 The Shadow Line / int_10a6623b
comment
Fair Cop: Gabriel wears a suit fairly well, but Honey - played by conventionally attractive Kierston Wareing - almost seems to be going out of her way to not look attractive. This is actually common of women in male-dominated fields, including policing.
 The Shadow Line / int_10a6623b
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 The Shadow Line
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The Shadow Line / int_10a6623b
 The Shadow Line / int_10cdfe4b
type
Fall Guy
 The Shadow Line / int_10cdfe4b
comment
Fall Guy: Andy Dixon. He was just hired to drive Harvey Wratten to a specific location, yet ended up getting framed for his murder.
 The Shadow Line / int_10cdfe4b
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 The Shadow Line / int_10cdfe4b
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The Shadow Line / int_10cdfe4b
 The Shadow Line / int_1237828f
type
Anyone Can Die
 The Shadow Line / int_1237828f
comment
Anyone Can Die: Andy Dixon, his girlfriend and his mother; Ross McGovern; Bob Harris; Glickman; Penney; Khokar; Joseph Bede; Jonah Gabriel...
 The Shadow Line / int_1237828f
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The Shadow Line / int_1237828f
 The Shadow Line / int_13c1fec8
type
Dragon-in-Chief
 The Shadow Line / int_13c1fec8
comment
Dragon-in-Chief: While he isn't technically the Big Bad, Gatehouse is undoubtedly the main antagonist.
 The Shadow Line / int_13c1fec8
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 The Shadow Line / int_13c1fec8
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The Shadow Line / int_13c1fec8
 The Shadow Line / int_13e1c444
type
Plot-Triggering Death
 The Shadow Line / int_13e1c444
comment
Plot-Triggering Death: The killing of Harvey Wratten.
 The Shadow Line / int_13e1c444
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The Shadow Line / int_13e1c444
 The Shadow Line / int_143939c1
type
Trailers Always Spoil
 The Shadow Line / int_143939c1
comment
Trailers Always Spoil: Gatehouse was shown in promo pictures long before he appeared in Episode 2, and is right behind Gabriel and Bede in the BBC website header. The character description refers to him as "lethal", well before he kills anyone. The iPlayer description for Episode 5 says Gatehouse finally tracks Glickman down, with explosive consequences." There is literally an explosion. Someone at the BBC thinks they're being cute. Gatehouse will also appear on the DVD cover.
 The Shadow Line / int_143939c1
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The Shadow Line / int_143939c1
 The Shadow Line / int_161fa3b8
type
Hidden Agenda Villain
 The Shadow Line / int_161fa3b8
comment
Hidden Agenda Villain: Gatehouse, for most of the series.
 The Shadow Line / int_161fa3b8
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 The Shadow Line / int_161fa3b8
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The Shadow Line / int_161fa3b8
 The Shadow Line / int_18d15922
type
Title Drop
 The Shadow Line / int_18d15922
comment
Title Drop: Finally happens in Episode 5, after an awful lot of characters musing on the themes of shadows and light and lines. And then they keep musing, right through the final scene of the series.
 The Shadow Line / int_18d15922
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The Shadow Line / int_18d15922
 The Shadow Line / int_1badfbbb
type
The Heavy
 The Shadow Line / int_1badfbbb
comment
The Heavy: Gatehouse's actions ultimately turn out to be driving much of the plot, even in subplots he's apparently uninvolved in.
 The Shadow Line / int_1badfbbb
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The Shadow Line / int_1badfbbb
 The Shadow Line / int_20af79d3
type
Oral Fixation
 The Shadow Line / int_20af79d3
comment
Oral Fixation: Sgt. Foley and his chewing gum. Da Chief finds a pencil to suck on if he's somewhere he can't smoke. Bob Harris is giving up smoking, and substitutes with gum, nicotine inhalers and, er, rent boys.
 The Shadow Line / int_20af79d3
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The Shadow Line / int_20af79d3
 The Shadow Line / int_22cf536c
type
Chekhov's Gun
 The Shadow Line / int_22cf536c
comment
Chekhov's Gun: The Briefcase Full of Money in Gabriel's wardrobe. It turns out to be marked, and is a key clue implicating the police in drug smuggling.
 The Shadow Line / int_22cf536c
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 The Shadow Line / int_22cf536c
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The Shadow Line / int_22cf536c
 The Shadow Line / int_25524784
type
No-Holds-Barred Beatdown
 The Shadow Line / int_25524784
comment
Jay Wratten delivering a No-Holds-Barred Beatdown to one of Bob Harris's men, establishing him right away as a dangerous psychopath.
 The Shadow Line / int_25524784
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The Shadow Line / int_25524784
 The Shadow Line / int_2835de61
type
Evil Power Vacuum
 The Shadow Line / int_2835de61
comment
Evil Power Vacuum: In the drug trade, following Harvey Wratten's death. Engineered by Gatehouse to give his people a chance to rise to the top.
 The Shadow Line / int_2835de61
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The Shadow Line / int_2835de61
 The Shadow Line / int_286eaf85
type
Dragon Ascendant
 The Shadow Line / int_286eaf85
comment
Dragon Ascendant: By the end of the series, Gatehouse has killed his superiors and taken full control of Counterpoint, which he can run on his terms now.
 The Shadow Line / int_286eaf85
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The Shadow Line / int_286eaf85
 The Shadow Line / int_2dc0d2bf
type
Hidden Depths
 The Shadow Line / int_2dc0d2bf
comment
Hidden Depths: Budding chessmaster Jay Wratten. Gatehouse uses the very phrase.
 The Shadow Line / int_2dc0d2bf
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The Shadow Line / int_2dc0d2bf
 The Shadow Line / int_2e8441c9
type
The Bad Guy Wins
 The Shadow Line / int_2e8441c9
comment
The Bad Guy Wins: Gatehouse, his allies, and Patterson are the only ones to truly come out of the series ahead. Patterson and Honey get promoted, Jay and Ratallack get their own drug smuggling empire and Gatehouse gets a new version of Counterpoint, with him clearly in control.
 The Shadow Line / int_2e8441c9
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The Shadow Line / int_2e8441c9
 The Shadow Line / int_34c3144b
type
Lured into a Trap
 The Shadow Line / int_34c3144b
comment
Lured into a Trap: In episode 6, Gatehouse is sent to kill Jonah Gabriel for his assumed knowledge of Counterpoint, yet Gabriel's just bait and Glickman intends to kill Gatehouse when he goes to find him.
 The Shadow Line / int_34c3144b
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The Shadow Line / int_34c3144b
 The Shadow Line / int_34dcfc96
type
Kick the Dog
 The Shadow Line / int_34dcfc96
comment
Kick the Dog: Invoked by Jay, who shows a mechanic what he's made of by partially Drowning The Cat. Doesn't really work, mostly because it wasn't his cat. Jay proceeds to point out that next time it'll be the mechanic's son, which works much better.
 The Shadow Line / int_34dcfc96
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The Shadow Line / int_34dcfc96
 The Shadow Line / int_382a6399
type
The Hero Dies
 The Shadow Line / int_382a6399
comment
The Hero Dies: Gabriel is shot just before the end of the final episode. Bede is shot offscreen, after losing his will to live when his wife makes him give up on her. He could have defended himself against Jay, but chose not to.
 The Shadow Line / int_382a6399
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 The Shadow Line / int_3ae6199a
type
Psychopathic Manchild
 The Shadow Line / int_3ae6199a
comment
Psychopathic Manchild: Jay
 The Shadow Line / int_3ae6199a
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The Shadow Line / int_3ae6199a
 The Shadow Line / int_3dd3951e
type
Cowboy Cop
 The Shadow Line / int_3dd3951e
comment
Gabriel gives the impression of one, but hints emerge that he's more of a Cowboy than he lets on.
 The Shadow Line / int_3dd3951e
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The Shadow Line / int_3dd3951e
 The Shadow Line / int_3ec18c6f
type
Sherlock Scan
 The Shadow Line / int_3ec18c6f
comment
Sherlock Scan: Gatehouse is so good he looks like a Cold Reader "psychic". He can read people who aren't saying anything. In Episode 6, Gabriel figures out Gatehouse is lying about his peaceable intent because he's still wearing gloves. Indoors. Of course, the viewers know that "Gatehouse is lying" is generally a pretty safe bet.
 The Shadow Line / int_3ec18c6f
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The Shadow Line / int_3ec18c6f
 The Shadow Line / int_3f0b2f50
type
Make It Look Like an Accident
 The Shadow Line / int_3f0b2f50
comment
Make It Look Like an Accident: Ross McGovern is killed in what seems like a random traffic collision. When Sir Richard Halton is killed, it's made to look like he drowned after falling and hitting his head on the edge of his pool.
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The Shadow Line / int_3f0b2f50
 The Shadow Line / int_3f6d2c98
type
Cold Sniper
 The Shadow Line / int_3f6d2c98
comment
Cold Sniper: Subverted - DI Honey says she'll "never get over this", and is visibly disturbed in the press conference after having shot Gabriel.
 The Shadow Line / int_3f6d2c98
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 The Shadow Line / int_41ba335a
type
Amnesiac Hero
 The Shadow Line / int_41ba335a
comment
Amnesiac Hero: Jonah Gabriel Amnesiac Dissonance: The series hints he may have been corrupt before he was shot, in contrast to the By-the-Book Cop he is afterwards. Ultimately subverted, however: he was a good cop all along, and there turns out to be a perfectly good explanation for the apparently incriminating evidence.
 The Shadow Line / int_41ba335a
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The Shadow Line / int_41ba335a
 The Shadow Line / int_46c1dc8e
type
Someone to Remember Him By
 The Shadow Line / int_46c1dc8e
comment
Someone to Remember Him By: Gabriel's wife, who gives birth to his son after he's been shot dead.
 The Shadow Line / int_46c1dc8e
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The Shadow Line / int_46c1dc8e
 The Shadow Line / int_4e3d253b
type
Downer Ending
 The Shadow Line / int_4e3d253b
comment
Downer Ending: Jay Wratten takes Bede's place at the head of the food chain; Jonah Gabriel is shot by his partner, who's working for Gatehouse; Counterpoint gets renewed with Wratten and Ratallack; it all gets covered up; and Patterson makes it clear that he will be involved in Gabriel's son's life, albeit ostensibly as a protector.
 The Shadow Line / int_4e3d253b
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The Shadow Line / int_4e3d253b
 The Shadow Line / int_537dd8fe
type
Affably Evil
 The Shadow Line / int_537dd8fe
comment
Affably Evil: Gatehouse, who commits horrific acts of violence but is always scrupulously polite.
 The Shadow Line / int_537dd8fe
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The Shadow Line / int_537dd8fe
 The Shadow Line / int_53f5119f
type
The Dragon
 The Shadow Line / int_53f5119f
comment
The Dragon: Gatehouse, to the leaders of Counterpoint.
 The Shadow Line / int_53f5119f
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The Shadow Line / int_53f5119f
 The Shadow Line / int_56240281
type
Country Matters
 The Shadow Line / int_56240281
comment
Country Matters: It must have taken several takes for Honey to get that reading of "constable" exactly right...
 The Shadow Line / int_56240281
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The Shadow Line / int_56240281
 The Shadow Line / int_5a4aa505
type
Government Conspiracy
 The Shadow Line / int_5a4aa505
comment
Government Conspiracy: Counterpoint
 The Shadow Line / int_5a4aa505
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The Shadow Line / int_5a4aa505
 The Shadow Line / int_5e68bb61
type
Gayngster
 The Shadow Line / int_5e68bb61
comment
Gayngster: Bob Harris, and his boytoy Ratallack.
 The Shadow Line / int_5e68bb61
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The Shadow Line / int_5e68bb61
 The Shadow Line / int_5f52cfcf
type
Intrepid Reporter
 The Shadow Line / int_5f52cfcf
comment
Intrepid Reporter: Ross McGovern
 The Shadow Line / int_5f52cfcf
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The Shadow Line / int_5f52cfcf
 The Shadow Line / int_65acf9db
type
He Knows Too Much
 The Shadow Line / int_65acf9db
comment
He Knows Too Much: This is why Gabriel and his partner were shot, in that they came too close to discovering the true extent of police involvement with Counterpoint. Ross McGovern is killed while investigating the above, again because his investigations led him too close to Counterpoint. And deliberately invoked in episode 6 by Glickman and Gabriel. Glickman sends Gabriel to confront Commander Penney with what he knows about Counterpoint, knowing that this will prompt Penney to sent Gatehouse after Gabriel to silence him. Which is what Glickman was counting on, seeing as he wants to draw Gatehouse out so he can kill him.
 The Shadow Line / int_65acf9db
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The Shadow Line / int_65acf9db
 The Shadow Line / int_664bc28f
type
British Brevity
 The Shadow Line / int_664bc28f
comment
British Brevity: Seven episodes and done.
 The Shadow Line / int_664bc28f
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The Shadow Line / int_664bc28f
 The Shadow Line / int_6a0b03a6
type
One Last Job
 The Shadow Line / int_6a0b03a6
comment
One Last Job: Joseph.
 The Shadow Line / int_6a0b03a6
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The Shadow Line / int_6a0b03a6
 The Shadow Line / int_71105dfc
type
Everybody Smokes
 The Shadow Line / int_71105dfc
comment
The effect of the smoking ban on the traditionally Everybody Smokes setting of the police station; see Oral Fixation above.
 The Shadow Line / int_71105dfc
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The Shadow Line / int_71105dfc
 The Shadow Line / int_715704e5
type
Jigsaw Puzzle Plot
 The Shadow Line / int_715704e5
comment
Jigsaw Puzzle Plot: Has an extremely complicated plot and what's really going on doesn't become clear until the last two episodes.
 The Shadow Line / int_715704e5
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The Shadow Line / int_715704e5
 The Shadow Line / int_722b3319
type
Camp Gay
 The Shadow Line / int_722b3319
comment
Camp Gay: Ratallack
 The Shadow Line / int_722b3319
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The Shadow Line / int_722b3319
 The Shadow Line / int_728298ef
type
Vandalism Backfire
 The Shadow Line / int_728298ef
comment
Vandalism Backfire: Jay Wratten proves what an utter psycho he is by half-drowning a cat in front of someone, explaining as he does so that the cat's causing him plenty of pain in return. When he lets it go the guy points out it wasn't his cat, but even if it was he doesn't know anything. The scene doesn't do much except act as an Establishing Character Moment.
 The Shadow Line / int_728298ef
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 The Shadow Line / int_728298ef
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The Shadow Line / int_728298ef
 The Shadow Line / int_72e0023f
type
Invoked Trope
 The Shadow Line / int_72e0023f
comment
And deliberately invoked in episode 6 by Glickman and Gabriel. Glickman sends Gabriel to confront Commander Penney with what he knows about Counterpoint, knowing that this will prompt Penney to sent Gatehouse after Gabriel to silence him. Which is what Glickman was counting on, seeing as he wants to draw Gatehouse out so he can kill him.
 The Shadow Line / int_72e0023f
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The Shadow Line / int_72e0023f
 The Shadow Line / int_78255ad7
type
Passing the Torch
 The Shadow Line / int_78255ad7
comment
Passing the Torch: An evil version in the new members of Counterpoint; Jay Wratten as the figurehead and Ratallack as the numbers man.
 The Shadow Line / int_78255ad7
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The Shadow Line / int_78255ad7
 The Shadow Line / int_7a4013f3
type
Deuteragonist
 The Shadow Line / int_7a4013f3
comment
Deuteragonist: Joseph Bede, who has his own plot which barely crosses over with Gabriel's investigations. In addition, Gatehouse could be considered a tritagonist, especially towards the end of the series.
 The Shadow Line / int_7a4013f3
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The Shadow Line / int_7a4013f3
 The Shadow Line / int_7febc23b
type
Establishing Character Moment
 The Shadow Line / int_7febc23b
comment
Establishing Character Moment: Jay Wratten delivering a No-Holds-Barred Beatdown to one of Bob Harris's men, establishing him right away as a dangerous psychopath. Glickman tracking down and murdering an old associate who recognised him in hiding in Dublin, to establish that he really doesn't want to be found.
 The Shadow Line / int_7febc23b
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The Shadow Line / int_7febc23b
 The Shadow Line / int_8013dd08
type
'Tis Only a Bullet in the Brain
 The Shadow Line / int_8013dd08
comment
'Tis Only a Bullet in the Brain: Gabriel
 The Shadow Line / int_8013dd08
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The Shadow Line / int_8013dd08
 The Shadow Line / int_83b44e80
type
Straight Gay
 The Shadow Line / int_83b44e80
comment
Harris, who despite using/paying Ratallack for sex, is very Straight Gay, and a very dirty cop.
 The Shadow Line / int_83b44e80
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The Shadow Line / int_83b44e80
 The Shadow Line / int_8404a0f3
type
Amnesiac Dissonance
 The Shadow Line / int_8404a0f3
comment
Amnesiac Dissonance: The series hints he may have been corrupt before he was shot, in contrast to the By-the-Book Cop he is afterwards. Ultimately subverted, however: he was a good cop all along, and there turns out to be a perfectly good explanation for the apparently incriminating evidence.
 The Shadow Line / int_8404a0f3
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The Shadow Line / int_8404a0f3
 The Shadow Line / int_898ff050
type
Villain Protagonist
 The Shadow Line / int_898ff050
comment
Villain Protagonist: Despite being sympathetic, Bede is still a wholesale cocaine dealer.
 The Shadow Line / int_898ff050
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 The Shadow Line / int_898ff050
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The Shadow Line / int_898ff050
 The Shadow Line / int_8cb4ea46
type
By-the-Book Cop
 The Shadow Line / int_8cb4ea46
comment
By-the-Book Cop: The green constable accompanying Foley to a murder scene anxiously points out all the procedures he's breezily violating. Gabriel gives the impression of one, but hints emerge that he's more of a Cowboy than he lets on. Robert Beatty, though he's a by the book Customs officer rather than a cop.
 The Shadow Line / int_8cb4ea46
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The Shadow Line / int_8cb4ea46
 The Shadow Line / int_8e7ada2c
type
Technically a Smile
 The Shadow Line / int_8e7ada2c
comment
Technically a Smile: Gabriel exhibits one of these when he and his boss go to talk to Khokar, laying out his theory of what happened. And then he drops the pretense and explodes with "But that's not what happened, is it?" as he points to the scar the bullet in his brain left, and the audience realizes he's actually furious.
 The Shadow Line / int_8e7ada2c
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The Shadow Line / int_8e7ada2c
 The Shadow Line / int_90b66e22
type
Femme Fatale
 The Shadow Line / int_90b66e22
comment
Femme Fatale: Petra Nayler, Glickman's girlfriend. For example, she's willing to have an affair with Joseph Bede in the hope of getting more information on her boyfriend's location. It also turns out that she's a Counterpoint agent, and when she eventually finds him she stabs him to death.
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 The Shadow Line / int_928ca2cc
type
You Have Outlived Your Usefulness
 The Shadow Line / int_928ca2cc
comment
You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Andy Dixon and his entire family in episode 3, after they've carried out their roles in Gatehouse's plan. In episode 6, the Counterpoint leaders decide this about Gatehouse himself and send an assassin to kill him. It fails, and prompts him to decide they've outlived their usefulness.
 The Shadow Line / int_928ca2cc
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 The Shadow Line / int_92f674e5
type
Revenge
 The Shadow Line / int_92f674e5
comment
Revenge: Gatehouse seeks bloody revenge on his superiors in Counterpoint in the final episode, because they tried to have him killed.
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1.0
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 The Shadow Line / int_978a82e6
type
Big Bad Duumvirate
 The Shadow Line / int_978a82e6
comment
Big Bad Duumvirate: Commander Khokar, Commander Penney and Sir Richard Halton; the three men in control of Counterpoint.
 The Shadow Line / int_978a82e6
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The Shadow Line / int_978a82e6
 The Shadow Line / int_99298c71
type
Better to Die than Be Killed
 The Shadow Line / int_99298c71
comment
Better to Die than Be Killed: Commander Penney kills himself rather than wait for Gatehouse to find and kill him.
 The Shadow Line / int_99298c71
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 The Shadow Line / int_9cad69bf
type
Depraved Homosexual
 The Shadow Line / int_9cad69bf
comment
Depraved Homosexual: Ratallack; cold, ambitious, and delights in using his sexuality to make other men uncomfortable. Harris, who despite using/paying Ratallack for sex, is very Straight Gay, and a very dirty cop.
 The Shadow Line / int_9cad69bf
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 The Shadow Line / int_a4be7043
type
Da Chief
 The Shadow Line / int_a4be7043
comment
Da Chief finds a pencil to suck on if he's somewhere he can't smoke.
 The Shadow Line / int_a4be7043
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 The Shadow Line / int_a6e8221e
type
Status Quo Is God
 The Shadow Line / int_a6e8221e
comment
Status Quo Is God: Gabriel is shot for digging too deep. The generation of conspirators that have gone are simply replaced by their heirs and/or killers. Couterpoint is still going, but new people are starting to ask their own questions. The only substantive change to anything is that Patterson is getting a promotion.
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The Shadow Line / int_a6e8221e
 The Shadow Line / int_a70223
type
Karma Houdini
 The Shadow Line / int_a70223
comment
Karma Houdini: Gatehouse, Jay, Ratallack, Patterson and Honey, as a result of them winning.
 The Shadow Line / int_a70223
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The Shadow Line / int_a70223
 The Shadow Line / int_a7850fbf
type
Only Known by Their Nickname
 The Shadow Line / int_a7850fbf
comment
Only Known by Their Nickname: Gatehouse. Glickman calls him James, but other than that we (and most of the characters) have no idea what his real name is.
 The Shadow Line / int_a7850fbf
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 The Shadow Line / int_a8c7bf13
type
Sickbed Slaying
 The Shadow Line / int_a8c7bf13
comment
Sickbed Slaying: Almost happens to Gatehouse in episode 6, when an assassin is sent to kill him in his hospital bed after he's shot by Glickman. However, he's able to overpower and kill his assassin and escape.
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 The Shadow Line / int_acecb17d
type
Chekhov's Skill
 The Shadow Line / int_acecb17d
comment
Chekhov's Skill: Honey's sniping, which she's seen practising in the pre-credits sequence of episode 7 and later plays a key part in the episode's climax.
 The Shadow Line / int_acecb17d
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 The Shadow Line / int_ae6adc36
type
Religious and Mythological Theme Naming
 The Shadow Line / int_ae6adc36
comment
Religious and Mythological Theme Naming: Jonah Gabriel, Joseph Bede.
 The Shadow Line / int_ae6adc36
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 The Shadow Line / int_b5c562be
type
Face Framed in Shadow
 The Shadow Line / int_b5c562be
comment
Face Framed in Shadow: Gatehouse is fond of this. In one meeting he's apparently rung the doorbell before retreating several feet to stand in a suitably ominous patch of darkness.
 The Shadow Line / int_b5c562be
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The Shadow Line / int_b5c562be
 The Shadow Line / int_bd79d896
type
Minor Crime Reveals Major Plot
 The Shadow Line / int_bd79d896
comment
Minor Crime Reveals Major Plot: The death of a drug baron leads to the discovery of a conspiracy to use drug money to fund police pensions.
 The Shadow Line / int_bd79d896
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The Shadow Line / int_bd79d896
 The Shadow Line / int_c40c8b74
type
And Starring
 The Shadow Line / int_c40c8b74
comment
And Starring: Stephen Rea
 The Shadow Line / int_c40c8b74
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 The Shadow Line / int_c420a553
type
We Can Rule Together
 The Shadow Line / int_c420a553
comment
We Can Rule Together: Gatehouse offers Gabriel a chance to join him in the final episode. His refusal is what leads Gatehouse to have him killed.
 The Shadow Line / int_c420a553
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The Shadow Line / int_c420a553
 The Shadow Line / int_cbaa9102
type
Signature Headgear
 The Shadow Line / int_cbaa9102
comment
Signature Headgear: Gatehouse's trilby.
 The Shadow Line / int_cbaa9102
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 The Shadow Line / int_cbaa9102
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The Shadow Line / int_cbaa9102
 The Shadow Line / int_cdfe12c3
type
Nothing Is Scarier
 The Shadow Line / int_cdfe12c3
comment
Nothing Is Scarier: Near the end of Episode 4, Ross heads home to what his boss refers to as a beautiful country cottage, where his wife is. We get some nice shots of him on his bike, riding though gorgeous countryside, and we already know Gatehouse has his address, so we know something's going to happen, and we're keyed up because of the Blatant Lies above. And then Gatehouse kills him just offscreen. Literally right on the other side of a hill from the camera. All we see is his car coming over the hill toward us with a broken mirror.
 The Shadow Line / int_cdfe12c3
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The Shadow Line / int_cdfe12c3
 The Shadow Line / int_ce9da072
type
Realistic Diction Is Unrealistic
 The Shadow Line / int_ce9da072
comment
Realistic Diction Is Unrealistic: Like everything else on the show, the dialogue is highly stylized. As this review from the Telegraph puts it; "it is unsettling that these characters, however diverse, all talk in exactly the same way. They speak in measured, perfect sentences, full of conscious metaphors about lines that can and cannot be crossed. They interact in a manner which allows each character to finish their perfectly modulated paragraph: no one interrupts; no one is inarticulate".
 The Shadow Line / int_ce9da072
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The Shadow Line / int_ce9da072
 The Shadow Line / int_cfbd1467
type
Never Suicide
 The Shadow Line / int_cfbd1467
comment
Never Suicide: Both Andy Dixon and Commander Khokar are murdered in such a way that it looks like they killed themselves. In addition, Sir Richard Halton discusses killing Jonah Gabriel in such a way in episode 6, but it never comes to pass.
 The Shadow Line / int_cfbd1467
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The Shadow Line / int_cfbd1467
 The Shadow Line / int_d21f3d5d
type
Justified Criminal
 The Shadow Line / int_d21f3d5d
comment
Justified Criminal: Joseph Bede. He's just in the drugs business for one last job, the proceeds of which he'll use to pay for his wife's Alzheimer's treatment.
 The Shadow Line / int_d21f3d5d
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The Shadow Line / int_d21f3d5d
 The Shadow Line / int_d62dd556
type
The Chessmaster
 The Shadow Line / int_d62dd556
comment
The Chessmaster: The BBC website refers to Gatehouse as a "puppet master" and he proves very adept at planning to get what he wants, resulting in his ultimate victory. Also Glickman, who manages to Out Gambit Gatehouse twice, both times nearly resulting in Gatehouse's death. Even Joseph Bede shows some aptitude for this towards the end of the series, as he manipulates Customs in order to get them off his case long enough to finish his deal.
 The Shadow Line / int_d62dd556
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 The Shadow Line / int_d7472e4f
type
Kicked Upstairs
 The Shadow Line / int_d7472e4f
comment
Kicked Upstairs: Ross is promoted to an editorial job in an apparent attempt to stop him digging into his corruption story.
 The Shadow Line / int_d7472e4f
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1.0
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The Shadow Line / int_d7472e4f
 The Shadow Line / int_dda99fa8
type
Despair Event Horizon
 The Shadow Line / int_dda99fa8
comment
Despair Event Horizon: Joseph Bede crosses this in the final episode, after his wife tries to kill herself and is hospitalised. He then leaves his gun behind when going to meet Jay, who he knows intends to betray him, which leads to his death.
 The Shadow Line / int_dda99fa8
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The Shadow Line / int_dda99fa8
 The Shadow Line / int_dfa40c1b
type
Didn't See That Coming
 The Shadow Line / int_dfa40c1b
comment
Didn't See That Coming: Gatehouse gets one in his first encounter with Glickman when he learns Glickman knew he was coming and prepared countermeasures — namely a large bomb, which destroys his shop and almost kills Gatehouse. In the next episode, this happens to Glickman himself when he's stabbed to death by his girlfriend, who was actually an agent of Counterpoint.
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 The Shadow Line / int_e0aced16
type
Giggling Villain
 The Shadow Line / int_e0aced16
comment
Giggling Villain: Jay Wratten
 The Shadow Line / int_e0aced16
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The Shadow Line / int_e0aced16
 The Shadow Line / int_e2f7ab99
type
Assassin Outclassin'
 The Shadow Line / int_e2f7ab99
comment
Assassin Outclassin': Don't try to kill Gatehouse. Because you won't.
 The Shadow Line / int_e2f7ab99
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 The Shadow Line / int_e2f7ab99
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 The Shadow Line / int_e3b0cd87
type
Morality Pet
 The Shadow Line / int_e3b0cd87
comment
Morality Pet: Joseph's wife
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 The Shadow Line / int_e7ae07f5
type
Briefcase Full of Money
 The Shadow Line / int_e7ae07f5
comment
Briefcase Full of Money: Gabriel finds one in his wardrobe, which turns out to be a key plot point.
 The Shadow Line / int_e7ae07f5
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 The Shadow Line / int_e7b0229a
type
Laser-Guided Amnesia
 The Shadow Line / int_e7b0229a
comment
Laser-Guided Amnesia: Jonah can't remember anything about the operation that got him shot... Subverted in that a few people have expressed the opinion that it all sounds suspiciously convenient, as there are serious doubts around what went on, and how his partner died.
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 The Shadow Line / int_ea38ddd5
type
Sissy Villain
 The Shadow Line / int_ea38ddd5
comment
Sissy Villain: Ratallack
 The Shadow Line / int_ea38ddd5
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The Shadow Line / int_ea38ddd5
 The Shadow Line / int_eb251937
type
Dirty Cop
 The Shadow Line / int_eb251937
comment
Dirty Cop: DS Delaney, Gabriel's deceased partner. Also, virtually every police officer in the series other than Gabriel is in some way involved with Counterpoint. And Sgt Foley, though he's more aggressively amoral than outright evil.
 The Shadow Line / int_eb251937
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 The Shadow Line / int_f09ac6a6
type
Chekhov M.I.A.
 The Shadow Line / int_f09ac6a6
comment
Chekhov M.I.A.: Glickman. His disappearance gets a lot of focus in the first few episodes, and sure enough he finally appears in person in episode 5.
 The Shadow Line / int_f09ac6a6
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The Shadow Line / int_f09ac6a6
 The Shadow Line / int_f74f567f
type
Bastard Understudy
 The Shadow Line / int_f74f567f
comment
Bastard Understudy: The show is full of them. Ratallack to Bob Harris, Jay Wratten to his uncle Harvey, and later Joseph Bede, and Patterson to Commander Khokar — all of whom eventually supplant their superiors to take their place in the new Counterpoint. And even Gatehouse is implied to have been working to create the new Counterpoint before his superiors tried to kill him.
 The Shadow Line / int_f74f567f
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The Shadow Line / int_f74f567f
 The Shadow Line / int_f9f2c33
type
Running Gag
 The Shadow Line / int_f9f2c33
comment
Running Gag: At no point do we ever actually see anyone being arrested or brought in for questioning. Just before and after, but never the event itself. The effect of the smoking ban on the traditionally Everybody Smokes setting of the police station; see Oral Fixation above.
 The Shadow Line / int_f9f2c33
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 The Shadow Line / int_fd4f8299
type
Well-Intentioned Extremist
 The Shadow Line / int_fd4f8299
comment
Well-Intentioned Extremist: In Episode 6, we are told that the entire "Counterpoint" scheme, according to one participant, was to get money for police pensions. The money they made was just a bonus. The fact that the money goes to police pensions also means that the police have a collective interest in the success of Counterpoint's activities thus providing Gatehouse and his core team with more protection, and leverage, than any crime syndicate could wish for.
 The Shadow Line / int_fd4f8299
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The Shadow Line / int_fd4f8299
 The Shadow Line / int_feadb064
type
Generic Ethnic Crime Gang
 The Shadow Line / int_feadb064
comment
Generic Ethnic Crime Gang: The Turks, right down to a strong focus on "family" that Jay Wratten firmly objects to.
 The Shadow Line / int_feadb064
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The Shadow Line

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

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Amnesiac Dissonance / int_ff1346be
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Bastard Understudy / int_ff1346be
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British Brevity / int_ff1346be
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British Conspiracy Thriller / int_ff1346be
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By-the-Book Cop / int_ff1346be
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Camp Gay / int_ff1346be
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Chekhov M.I.A. / int_ff1346be
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Da Chief / int_ff1346be
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Dragon Ascendant / int_ff1346be
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Dragon-in-Chief / int_ff1346be
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Drone of Dread / int_ff1346be
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Evil Power Vacuum / int_ff1346be
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Film Noir / int_ff1346be
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Gayngster / int_ff1346be
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Government Conspiracy / int_ff1346be
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He Knows Too Much / int_ff1346be
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Hidden Agenda Villain / int_ff1346be
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Lured into a Trap / int_ff1346be
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Make It Look Like an Accident / int_ff1346be
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Minor Crime Reveals Major Plot / int_ff1346be
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One Last Job / int_ff1346be
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Oral Fixation / int_ff1346be
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Plot-Triggering Death / int_ff1346be
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Revenge / int_ff1346be
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Right-Hand Cat / int_ff1346be
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Sickbed Slaying / int_ff1346be
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Someone to Remember Him By / int_ff1346be
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The Heavy / int_ff1346be
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'Tis Only a Bullet in the Brain / int_ff1346be
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Vandalism Backfire / int_ff1346be