Blue Lights

Series 1 : I'll start with a caveat. It's a drama not a documentary. If you made a police drama that reflected the real pace of things you'd soon get bored watching 90% same old mundane or hurry up and wait. Therefore some poetic licence and speeding up is required and the trick , that this series manages magnificently , is not to let that detract too much from the attempts at realism. Keeping that in mind this has the lot. Not all cops are heroes (though many are very much so ) , not all baddies are as they seem, some in authority or in responsible roles are far too far up their own whatever and some are simply stupid. There's fair amoint of of politics but balanced by lots of willingness backed up by humour be it dark or comic. It's a gritty drama well written directrd and acted that ranges from making you laugh through to holding back the tears. Most of the characters or type of characters are identifiable and are out there, maybe not all together at the same time but they're there.

Surely that's what it's all about and something many armchair critics who learn about police work from shall we say , less competent police dramas , miss entirely.

Series 2: All the above still applies . Its as easy as that . The original cast plus some great additions carry along the slightly different approach. That slightly different style is the excellent way they've slipped in a few more looks at the local residents behaviour (no spoilers), interactions with the "peelers" and the consequences. The behaviour , comments and attitude of the cops remain well researched , advised and well played, still subject to a bit of artistic licence but that keeps it going . All the unpredictable plots and sub plots keep you wondering whats going to happen next and are you watching a baddy , a hero or an anti hero . Thats what its all about and as a result it remains a fantastic series and I wish I could give it more than 10.

A team of rookie Officers join The Belfast Police, after their initial training is completed, they're thrown straight into the thick of things. The Streets are mean, the threat, very real.

It wasn't long before a second series was announced, and if you watch even a single episode, you will understand why, you don't get many like this.

There is a harsh realism about this show, yes it's a cop show, but somehow it feels very different to what is usually presented, they show the job of The Police as being far from glamorous, it's shown as being intensely pressured and virtually impossible.

Episodes one, two and three were very good, episode four blew my mind, after that it became the drama highlight of the year.

Don't expect any half baked romance stories, that's not what this show is about.

It initially focuses on the trio of rookies, and every single one of them plays a key role, but the mix of regulars are all terrifiic. Gerry is perhaps my favourite of them, a no nonsense, Maverick, brave and supportive as they come, Jen undergoes the biggest transformation, from lazy good for nothing, to hero, she's impressive.

9/10.

Being from, lived, experienced and witnessed the worst of NI through the troubles., I have just finished watching the complete six episodes of Blue Lights. And contrary to some other reviewers on this page I enjoyed the drama and laughed at the ni humour throughout this series. Naturally, it is a tv series and I suppose you have to allow for a certain amount of 'artistic licence' in these type of programmes. But I have to say the sequence of events on the drugs/gun running and or 'sneaky beakers' is very much a realistic story that occurred quite often in the quest for law and order in our we country N. I. I have to single out the character PC Gerry Cliff played by the excellent actor Richard Dormer. I do hope there is a second series to follow.

Having stinted in NI 1973-1981 this thought provoking drama brough back some happy, and a lot more unhappy memories of NI (during 'the troubles').

Realistic, excellent action and tension, my only very minor point of technical correctness would be that when 'out on a shout' you always parked up with your vehicle 'pointing' outward to enable a speedy 'escape' should matters turn nasty (as they often did).

The early scenes in the Creggan like area were so very typical of what was happening in those days, and I guess from recent news coverage what is still happening right now.

Every police character had been well thought out, so believable, and inner tensions were excellently captured.

Like other reviewers I sincerely hope there will be more series to follow. Once again, well done to the BBC drama dept, sometimes you just 'hit the nail on the head' e.g. Line of Duty, Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax etc.

Ignore any critics. This is really good.

It's a good insight into the type of incidents all police have to deal with. The added interest is that this is in Northern Ireland.

OK, the Troubles have been and gone, but trouble is still present.

Some of it is political.

As we all know, there are still additional problems present in NI, even though one person has criticised the BBC as depicting all Irish people are criminals.

Not so - but like everywhere else, Northern Ireland does have its fair share of criminals up to no good, and this programme is all about that element through the eyes of the NI Police Force.

There is absolutely no bias toward Irish people here. The critic that said that surely must agree that ALL of Great Britain has an abundance of criminals who are well portrayed in countless drama series.

Does he think Northern Ireland should be portrayed differently?

The programme is about criminality. Its gritty, well written and well acted with a lot of good characters.

An added bonus is that there is no irritating background music obliterating the dialogue.

Very refreshing.

It's definitely not biased toward the Irish as one critic has said. That's just rubbish.

If you enjoy the likes of Happy Valley you'll enjoy this too. I hope there's more to come.

Watch it.