The Interceptor

Come back Bonekickers, all is forgiven.

The publicity for this show made reference to The Professionals and Spooks. Ash is a committed customs officer who is frustrated by his bosses reluctance to go after the big fish. He is someone who as a kid saw his drug addicted father kill someone.

A former colleague introduces him to the head of a shadowy surveillance unit called the Unit which pursues some the most ruthless criminals like Trevor Eve who cheats at golf and threatens committee members in the nineteenth hole.

Two episodes in and The Interceptor is badly written drivel and it never improved by the final episode. Clichéd characters, even the casting looks uninspired with a lead that gets mistaken for Craig David.

The only plus side is that the chase scenes looked good.

Well, we recorded this as we would otherwise have missed the first two episodes. And then, seeing the poor reviews it had, I thought about deleting it....

One evening last week we decided to watch episode 1. Seven nights of one-episode-a-night later we've finished it and all I can say is I am so glad I didn't press the delete button.

So what if it's a rip-off of an older programme? There's scarcely a decent show these days which isn't. At least it's one where I feel I don't need a Mensa-type IQ to understand the convoluted plot....and it's British. And above all it is very well acted particularly in respect of the two main characters....Ash and Roach....which is as it should be. Trevor Eve in particular is superbly cast as the villain.

As I say....very enjoyable!

Channeling his inner Luther via many an EastEnders grimace ,our hero sets out to cock up the best laid plans. Procedurally unconvincing,overacted and not a patch on most US dramas. Fights were staged with the brio of The Chuckle Brothers. Computer usage was way beyond capabilities and a mere plot device. Bad guys not bad enough Good guys implausible. This show does not warrant the 10 lines of text that IMDb insists that I write. I hope that it gets better but I have seen too many British shows that have been stymied by bad writing , poor effects and stilted acting to remain convinced.As other reviewers will point out the protagonist comes across as a petulant toddler with control difficulties. Indulged by his all new "Top Secret" task force bosses he still manages to stuff it up. I am not very confident in this shows future.

It looks like The Professionals aka CI5. It doesn't have chemistry like Bodie and Doyle or Starsky and Hutch. Busy, busy but no character development. Various periods of "plot discussion " mixed with violence. It doesn't elevate this show in any way. Little wonder that they only made a single season. If they wanted the longer season they should have had parallel storylines. Boring by E5. . The "boss" is annoying without being a source of wisdom. Trevor Eve plays a good role but is insufficiently used to maintain the tension. Everything could have been darker and more threatening. Could do better.

This series may become worth watching and I found it OK for a first episode. The basic idea is interesting and it may develop well.

The acting of the lead character isn't of the best quality as his petulant storming around is more akin to a 13-14 year old having a paddy than a professional detective/ customs officer.

However, the suggestion of another reviewer that the IT abilities are 'way beyond capabilities' is farcical. They are speaking without any knowledge. I worked in an IT surveillance role years ago and reality was beyond those 'capabilities' many years ago.

So back to the series. Directing is poor and lets unrealistic acting rule. The characters may develop well as may the story lines.

I would suggest that you watch it and give it a chance. It is entertaining.