In other news, two episodes in, I’m really enjoying Sky One’s new buddy cop drama Bulletproof, starring Noel Clarke and Ashley Walters, who also co-created the show.
It’s a lot of fun, and manages to evoke the spirit of The Professionals in more ways than one - slightly maverick cops who are close friends as well as partners, grumpy boss who sighs over their antics but is proud of them really, dramatic shoot outs, car chases, the works.
The characters and their dynamics feel very real, the emotional and dramatic beats are solid, lending a strong counter-weight to the more comedic notes. The casting is deliberately and consciously extremely diverse. Maybe not setting the Bechdel test on fire, but there are plenty of women in a variety of roles, and while some of the plotting is a little formulaic, the show also puts its own unique spin on those formulae. Episode two offered the first hints of an overarching story arc to carry through the season ahead. Plus it has the always excellent Clarke Peters, and I kinda love Pike’s wife Arjana, played by the very beautiful Lashana Lynch - I love that (so far) they are allowed to have a stable and loving married life, and a happy family with their kids, unlike so many TV cops - in stark contrast to Bishop, who is the one with the more traditionally turbulent love life.
So yeah. I’m definitely on board.
