Brendan O’Regan
This week’s British crime drama made brought ‘excellent’ plots to the table while also tackling deep issues such as ‘the gravity of abortion’, writes Brendan O’Regan
I have a weakness for British crime dramas and for my sins am concurrently working on two seasons of Scott and Bailey, set in Manchester and featuring two female detectives, one (Rachel) with a rather chaotic private life, the other (Janet) relatively down to earth.
In season one (currently on RTÉ One Tuesday nights) Rachel (Suranne Jones) has just had a miscarriage. Previously she had become pregnant during an affair with a married man (adultery shown as a disaster) and considered an abortion. Even Janet (Lesley Sharp) advised her to “get rid of it”.
Rachel pored over the ultrasound scans of her unborn baby, agonised, booked herself into an abortion clinic and decided eventually to continue with the pregnancy, which ultimately didn’t develop.
Now, in season five, which just started last Wednesday on ITV, she’s pregnant again and saying she’ll make no decisions until she sees if this pregnancy “sticks”. So, in a way, the point of view is both pro-life (in that the humanity of the baby and the gravity of abortion is acknowledged) and pro-choice (in that there’s no suggestion that the option shouldn’t be available). So, does that keep all sides happy or none?
Plot-wise the show is excellent, though it’s definitely mature adult viewing with graphic crime details, some choice language and questionable values, but it has depth and is nicely character driven.
In a similar vein Happy Valley, back for season two on RTÉ One, Thursday nights, also explores the seamier side of criminal activities, this time in West Yorkshire. Sarah Lancaster plays Catherine, a policewoman struggling with crime and her personal life (TV cops nowadays have to have personal flaws and issues galore!). Where she lives and works is anything but a happy valley, as she pursues what looks like a serial killer case.
In one scene, a local clergyman had to break the news of bereavement to a prisoner (a chilling James Norton). The clergyman struggled to achieve some sort of empathy and seemed rather uncomfortable in his role. In last Thursday’s episode Catherine, in a serious lapse of judgement, was responsible for the disruption of a Christian funeral at a crematorium, and, later in the show, adultery (in relation to another police officer) was yet again shown to be a moral and personal disaster.
Meanwhile, on Liveline, Monday of last week, Fr Brian McKevitt OP was once again under fire for the content of the Alive free paper of which he is editor. The strange thing was, most of those criticising the paper, especially the later callers (one called it “toxic”) were unable to give any significant evidence, suggesting prejudice more than anything else.
The main controversy centred on the reporting of a study which supposedly showed that children who were smacked at home at an early age were likely to do better in life. It was a pity the discussion didn’t focus more than it did on the quality or validity of the study, or the wisdom of including it in the first place.
A few years ago presenter Joe Duffy was criticised by the Broadcasting Authority for his treatment of Fr McKevitt on the same show and while he was better this time I still thought I detected a certain testiness.
Earlier that day, on Newstalk’s Pat Kenny Show I was impressed by Maria Steen of the Iona Institute when she was interviewed by Pat Kenny on the abortion issue. She handled all questions really well and came across as a person committed to the human rights of all people, excluding no-one.
Finally, what an impact Pope Francis made when he visited refugees and asylum seekers on the Greek island of Lesbos last Saturday and brought some of them home with him. A Catholic couldn’t but be proud at the coverage on that evening’s news programmes. The visit and gesture was very warmly welcomed by presenter Marian Finucane and guest Eamon Ryan of the Green Party on the Marian Finucane Show, last Sunday morning on RTÉ Radio 1, and on the same morning’s Sunday Sequence (BBC Radio Ulster). Another item on the show was surely relevant to that – an interview with psychologist Tony Bates about the wonderful advantages of acts of kindness – whether by words, deeds or just presence. Pope Francis ticked all those boxes in the most genuine way.
PICK OF THE WEEK
Sunday Spirit
RTĖ Radio 1 Extra, Sunday, April 24, 10am
Topical religious and ethical matters with Michael Comyn.
The quest for Shakespeare
EWTN, Monday, April 25, 8pm; also Friday, 4pm
A quest for the real Shakespeare with a look at the evidence that Shakespeare secretly worked as schoolmaster in a Catholic stately home.
Never Again: Fear and Faith in Paris
BBC 1, Tuesday, April 26, 10.45pm
Exploring the decision of 8,000 Jews to leave France in 2014, concerned about terror attacks and rising anti-Semitism in the country.