Interesting, so 7 as a drama, but maybe a 3 for reality. James Nesbitt is compelling. Murphy is an undercover policeman- gets assignments that take 6 months, always dangerous deep cover. He uses his name, the same, in all his undercover- we;l, if he is recognized, at least he isn't changing names. It's cold and stalk gray, not any nice buildings or locations. BBC England produced for Northern Ireland where it takes place. "Murphy has a dark past and fails a psychiatric assessment...and is given 1 more chance". He'd have to be dark with problesm, to go undercover play a criminal and risk his life daily for years on end. But the crime syndicates, criminal enterprises, can't be that insular, that he wouldn't become known. He can't keep reinventing himself. So any truth would have to be a composite of many UCs.
It is impossible that he would work the same area- city, and that no one from before would recognize him, or not know someone who knew him in one of his other capers. He couldn't work a city, without being known as UC. Or suspected police informant. Or known from some previous incarnation. They all went to jail, why are you out? Sometimes they never know who he is. But he testifies in court. Do they say UC whose ID needs to protect his identity. They dont say. But this strains credulity.
Surely the crime world is not that big, and he would have to be found out after one caper to another. .
He complains in one that he has no one and nothing. Is it possible for anyone to live so long in so many deep covers. No wonder he drinks.
He is a rough guy with a big heart for protecting woman, including fellow officers, a drinker (my Scottish friend says, this is not just a stereotype), scrappy. Who believes in justice and law.
Often I don't like the extraneous family stuff, but he is very touhing with his mother and father.