George Gently... finally

[londonronnie]

Catching up at last with the Inspector...

Gently Northern Soul - apparently the girl that was killed was found in Byker. I practically live in Byker, and there's nowhere there that resembles the locality we saw on the screen. So, I'm thrown out of the story within the first five minutes. If a tv show is going to mention a specific place by name you'd think they'd at least try to film somewhere that looks believable.

And oh, Craig Conway playing the dodgy bloke who runs the club! I spent a couple of months in panto with Craig. He's a lovely fella!

Regardless of all that, I'm enjoying it immensely!

More when I've seen the next ep...

Comments

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Not even Byker many many many many many years ago? Cos otherwise - oh dear, that's pretty bad... especially for a show that prides itself on getting historical detail right, according to various interviews... I wonder how that was let slip...

I had to play catch-up too, a bit, and I can't believe it's not on again tomorrow night - waaaah! - I enjoyed this series...

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

a show that prides itself on getting historical detail right, according to various interviews...
I have to say, I wish they wouldn't harp on about that, because they are setting themselves up for a fall from the start. Anachronisms are inevitable, but if they say they are completely confident it's accurate, people are going to comment.

Someone I know who thought about applying for the police in the fifties says there was a height test and that he cannot believe that Bacchus would have passed (funnily enough, that actor is taller than MS - but MS might well not have done!), and that he's certainly not physically imposing enough; and that single fact glares at him every time he watches. Similarly with the idea of a television on in the background in a working police station and the back chat that Bacchus gives Gently. You can check the date of "was that record available then" all you like, but it's the social aspect like this that my friend questions.

I'm not saying I don't like the series, but I do wish they wouldn't emphasise the historical research, because even I can see the problems!

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed this season. That last one was roller coaster ride! You have a GG connection. How fun is that!

[hambelandjemima.livejournal.com]

Bollocks, I keep forgetting about GG. I'll have to catch up too. Glad you're enjoying it :)

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Loved this episode!
Strong resonance with "Klansmen", a contemporary story taking place less than 10 years after "Gently Northern Soul", so not a lot of time for popular attitudes to change much.
The only thing that jarred was the anachronistic sense of occasion attributed to Enoch Powell's 'rivers of blood' speech, unless they were all gathering around to watch a re-run after the speech made the headlines.

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

I must admit that what jarred for me there was that only one of the policemen said "You know what, he's right, an' all." I am afraid I think the reality was that he was rather more popular.

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

Haha, thank you, I was *utterly* baffled by the Byker thing - as I remember, they show some waste ground and then subsequently there's a reference to her having headed off in the direction of Byker? I was so confused, I thought "so, after Byker, when/how did she get to wherever it was she was found?"

Next ep is great fun, with plenty of folk favourites. Twitter was full of Northern Soul aficionados complaining about anachronisms in the music choices for the first episode, and I laughed at all the silly people. Then in the next episode, there's Jethro Tull on a record player somewhere and I promptly got into a discussion with other half about "that was never released then.." and realised why the Northern Soul people couldn't help themselves...