After the Flood

... recently appearing is several very popular series, Peaky Binders, The Diplomat, Gentleman Jack, et al, Sophie Rundel once again is heavily involved leading in the success of this cop-show-drama... yes, you must get past her character being many months pregnant, and yet still very active in dangerous police investigative operations

... that aside, it's got a pretty decent plot-storyline, good-solid acting, with higher than average production values... winding up after six episodes with credible storyline threads heading towards another season series

... reading many of the bad reviews, they are not entirely incorrect.. this is not a perfect story by any means, yet it is entertaining programming, believed to be worthwhile viewing for this, and for the next series should it come about.

I thought the first episode was very promising as the flood scenes were very realistic indicating it might be a drama series that had cost a lot to make and so would be very good. I also like Philip Glenister and Lorraine Ashworth as actors. The first episode and these two actors account for my 4 star rating. Thereafter the series becomes a typical ITV drama, promising start to reel viewers in leading to a damp squib of an ending. It's also quite obvious that many police dramas are written these days with a female officer/detective showing her male colleagues up to be incompetent. That formula is wearing a bit thin. I can't comment too much on the plot (other than as many holes as a culender.) without giving away spoilers. Overall watchable but do not expect Happy Valley.

After helping save a baby from dangerous flood waters, Jo finds the dead body of a man in a lift, unable to discover his identity, she illegally puts his DNA into an online search facility, the man's sister arrives in The UK wanting answers.

I'm really surprised by the negative reviews, and had I quit at episode one, I may have also given up, but I decided to stick with it, and I'm glad it did, as it develops, it gets better and better, it angles along, but the last couple of episodes are very good.

Very much a suspense thriller, Whodunnit, it didn't play out as I was expecting, from the advertising, it was made to look as if the big flood would be the climax, it's more the fallout, very much after the flood.

It's a clever storyline, at a time where flooding in The UK has become a real issue, you can only imagine how bad it must be to get caught up in one, visually that first episode looked great, the scenes of a flooded village looked terrific.

No issues with the acting, Sophie Rundle, Philip Glenister and Matt Stokoe are all excellent, I thought Lorraine Ashbourne really stood out.

Don't be too quick to believe the low reviews, it's well worth watching.

7/10.

A pregnant constable, Jo, acts heroically to rescue an infant during torrential rains and flooding. She has been promoted to Trainee Detective at the same time, and, after finding a dead murder victim in an elevator, she is keen to investigate. Too keen, perhaps, as she runs an unauthorized DNA check on the corpse, in haste.

Here's an interesting plot point: apparently, the DNA check, to a PRIVATE database (nothing turned up on the Police version) is ILLEGAL (???) in U. K.--hence, she faces dismissal and even jail time, if caught. Is that true? Maybe in England, but we see historical cases being solved in USA & Canada via those sources. So, the notion that the submission by an officer is a felony seems bizarre. Anyway, she gets a 'hit' and that drives the rest of the story.

I like these Euro 6-part series (3 or 4 is better), but even they can't resist the filler (including needless profanity) that better writers could skip. Nonetheless, good performances by Sophia Rundle (Jo), Lorraine Ashbourne (as her crusading Mom, Jonas Armstrong (her spouse & shifty fellow cop, Lee) and, one of my favs, PHIL GLENISTER, as a shifty contractor, who cuts corners to keep his head above water, wgilst citizens are sinking BELOW water.

The wrap-up is quite unique, with a few characters embroiled in borderline (or serious) violations. What to do? Leave it at that, or run a second season? I'm happy to believe that we can just tie it up THERE and draw our own conclusions --not that easy to predict!

I'm writing a review as the ones I've read are so negative. Criticisms involve (a) another strong female lead who knows better than the men. After 70 years of male detectives sweeping the floor with women it's about time the strong female lead takes her place in drama - we need more not less (sorry boys but coercive control tends to be a male thing) and yet the female character is not so strong as to be free of coercive control. Then (b) the dialogue is too ordinary like everyday conversation! As a writer I can tell you that "writing the ordinary" is a ton harder than convoluted language. It also makes the story easy to follow and the characters appear more real. Perhaps those who don't like it simply watch too much TV? Then (c) the so called ridiculous plot. What police drama doesn't have a ridiculous plot? Line of Fantasy Duty? This was believable on-edge stuff with great acting that kept one guessing right to the end - with enough tension and up-to-date themes. The ambiguous characters ensured there could easily be a series 2 and I look forward to watching it.