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An interesting idea: is it possible to curb crime completely and still remain true to the law yourself? An excellent story. Strange, though, why the actual name of the town is never used: one could easily have invented one without offending anybody.

Of course the irony here - and one that Brian Clemens, ever mindful of the dubious morals of CI5, deliberately worked into the dialogue - is that Chief Constable Green's tactics and self-appointed powers are uncomfortably close to Cowley's. For example Green encourages Inspector Chives to make judgments based on intuition: "I like instincts: they can't be put down on paper!". This is alarmingly close to the CI5's "Sniff hard, be alert" and "By whatever means necessary - that's our loophole" attitudes espoused in the first season. Indeed Cowley even protests about Green exercising "unbridled power! That's the thing I've been fighting against all my life! " - yet, as we know, CI5's own remit is challenged as being omnipotent throughout the series - the earlier 'The Rack' being the prime example.

There are some great humorous moments: see Sharon's "eyelash" comment, the lads in their hotel room, the drunken man and his Nazi salute (which counterpoints with an earlier comment by Cowley).

Great to see the excellent Allan Surtees back as the Minister - and wonderful chemistry with Gordon/Cowley. A pity he didn't become a regular fixture in the show.

Paul Hardwick plays the Chief Constable as paternal and caring, genuinely believing in his own ideals, although clearly knowing that his own men have to bend the law to achieve them - again, so reflective of Cowley and CI5. And the script beautifully "plays" Green on this: his ego leads him to believe that the real purpose of Cowley's visit is to hand over the reins of The Big A!

As ever with this show, the support stars are super, too, especially those playing Green's men. John Judd gives a wonderfully steely performance as Chives, a copper who clearly relishes being his boss' "enforcer". The underrated Colin McCormack, sadly no longer with us, plays Sergeant Edwards' attitude as nicely ambiguous until realising that the situation has been pushed too far. Even brief roles such as Terry the small-time villain and the unnamed hotel receptionist (oddly, Saba Milton's last acting role, apparently) are a joy to watch.

An excellent episode, this is definitely one of my faves.

A truly excellent story. The idea that good intentions put before proper legalities leads to a corruption of the system and those with power in it is one that can never be repeated enough. I like George Cowley here too. Very much.

It's also a great Lad-watching episode. Both look terrific and the "gay" role they have to play in the second part makes it even more fun. The irony of Stephen "The Crying Game" Rea as a man who says: "I'm not a homosexual myself, but many of my friends are" is too precious!

We get some personal background on Doyle. He's from Derby, but went to school elsewhere (wherever "the lousy town" is) and was precocious sexually. "Whatd'ya mean 'first time?' I was nearly fifteen!". And he snuck into adult films using his father's overcoat. Naughty laddie.

Bodie wears black or dark brown much of the time and Doyle, with sunglasses, chest hair, silver chain, tight jeans and leather jacket, doesn't get much better ever!

The car park scene shot with the night filter is visually bothersome, but it does make both heroes look marvelous.

Note that Bodie hauls the heavy luggage, lumbering along in Doyle's wake. This is an ongoing theme we'll see over and over. There is speculation that this became an inside joke between the two of them.

The campy acting and dialogue when they check into the hotel for the second time is delightful. A frequent rewind and replay moment. Watch Ray closely when he gives his little "fractured eyelash is so much better" speech.

Watch how they know one another's physical positions when they're unloading the car. Teamwork, no matter what the task.

Bodie's (Lewis's) skin in this one is on gorgeous display. The first time I saw the episode in PAL I went wild over the pearlescent glow. No one has skin like that man! And of course, during the aborted whipping scene, we get to see more of it than usual. A very big round of applause to the writers for that bit of pleasure! That scene is well done by both actors, though the baddies are a bit boring. Would have liked a little more nastiness, but I suppose once they saw the CI5 IDs they knew they were done for.

Notice that Bodie uses Ray's first name when he spots the cops closing in on them. This happens often when things are really worrisome. Otherwise he calls him Doyle.

Doyle's trust in police as a whole is put to the test in this story and he emerges triumphant. Nice, understated byplay between them on this issue starting from the first encounter when Bodie declares that he doesn't like arrogant coppers. When Doyle dictates they surrender, Bodie's behavior and expression show just how fond of the notion he is but he does it because Doyle thinks they should.

And observe the fury in Doyle's face when Bodie is struck.

A good story of right-mindedness gone wrong.

On arriving in the hotel room, Doyle opens his attache case, takes off his shoulder holster, removes the gun, puts it down and puts the holster on top of it. A moment later he picks up the (empty) holster and again takes the gun out to put it in the case! (Thanks to Sue Law)

When the lads are stopped for speeding, they pull up outside some houses. When they drive off again they are outside some shops instead! (See the Locations section below.) Thanks to Sue Beach for that one!

There's another "scene-shifting" flaw when the lads are giving the small-time villain a lift.

The story was partly inspired by Greater Manchester's Chief Constable James Anderton. Although the episode's city is unnamed, a mention of "Canal Street" in the dialogue may have been a (subconscious) reference to Manchester. Appointed to the position in 1976, Anderton's reign commenced with raids on newsagents, bookshops and warehouses to confiscate soft-porn ("Not even a girlie mag" as Pellin notes about Green's "clean-up") and stronger material. Anderton was also accused of undue "policing" of gay communities. Christened "God's Copper" by the media, he took a hard line on criminality and frequently criticised politicians and the judiciary over what he saw as overly-lenient sentencing.

Stephen Rea (Pellin) is best remembered for the oddball IRA thriller The Crying Game. (Apparently he was once actually married to a former IRA terrorist).

Tom Georgeson (Detective Sergeant Reed) also starred in the episode 'Need to Know' but is best remembered for Boys from the Blackstuff and Between the Lines.

Colin McCormack (Sgt Edwards) had a tiny role in 'The Ojuka Situation', again playing a copper! Sadly passed away, aged just 62, in 2004.