5 reviews
Good One For The Wives
John Thaw's Inspector Regan is the kind of sex symbol that could only derive from the British 1970's... and while resembling the devil-head from the William Shatner roadside-cafe fortune-machine TWILIGHT ZONE episode, he's never at a loss for sexy birds...
Yet sometimes settling for somewhat plain ones, that actually fit him aesthetically and realistically over the bombshells... so here's a middle-ground in ABDUCTION as we meet his first wife, having been divorced before the series began, and young daughter, befitting the titular plot-line of kidnapping...
Like most of the series, there are enigmatic characters and more upfront blunt types: from a pretty blonde neighbor with a secret to future villainous-actor Stuart Wilson as the monotone doctor who took Regan's place with wife Janet Key...
Then leading to a risque twist-ending that befits a series far ahead of its time, and yet, since England's neo noir was always ahead of America... going all the way back to the 1950's... maybe it's par for the course...
Yet the most intriguing scenes occur with Regan's younger partner Dennis Waterman as Carter, who'd soon enough become a similar kind of womanizer as his gov...
But for the first two seasons he's married to an assertive and progressive but not too pushy Stephanie Turner, who, angry about her husband working on a genuine sick day, gives Regan more hell than anyone so far... male or female... ending the first season with a hybrid of suspense and melodrama.
Yet sometimes settling for somewhat plain ones, that actually fit him aesthetically and realistically over the bombshells... so here's a middle-ground in ABDUCTION as we meet his first wife, having been divorced before the series began, and young daughter, befitting the titular plot-line of kidnapping...
Like most of the series, there are enigmatic characters and more upfront blunt types: from a pretty blonde neighbor with a secret to future villainous-actor Stuart Wilson as the monotone doctor who took Regan's place with wife Janet Key...
Then leading to a risque twist-ending that befits a series far ahead of its time, and yet, since England's neo noir was always ahead of America... going all the way back to the 1950's... maybe it's par for the course...
Yet the most intriguing scenes occur with Regan's younger partner Dennis Waterman as Carter, who'd soon enough become a similar kind of womanizer as his gov...
But for the first two seasons he's married to an assertive and progressive but not too pushy Stephanie Turner, who, angry about her husband working on a genuine sick day, gives Regan more hell than anyone so far... male or female... ending the first season with a hybrid of suspense and melodrama.
- TheFearmakers
- Mar 2, 2019
- Permalink
Abduction
Abduction is personal for Regan. His daughter Susie has been taken from school, his ex wife is at her wits end and bitter towards Regan.
Regan can only call on Carter but he is off sick at home. Let's say Mrs Carter is not pleased to see Regan turn up.
It turns out that the abduction is linked to a case that Regan was working on. The robbers ring Regan up and order him to hold back.
Regan and Carter takes the robbers head on. It is Carter who uncovers a robbery is about to take and place and who is involved.
A well known cast in this one. Joe Gladwin (Wally Batty) is a grass for Regan who gets bashed in for his troubles. Stuart Wilson (I was in every major cop show in the 1970s and 80s) plays a cop who specialises in child abduction cases and he has no time for Regan. Then there is Wanda Ventham (Sherlock's mother) who knows more than she lets on.
Abduction was the first series finale and brings a focus on Regan. The pressure of the job that led to the breakdown of his marriage. There is some anger and bitterness about the job as a policeman.
Regan can only call on Carter but he is off sick at home. Let's say Mrs Carter is not pleased to see Regan turn up.
It turns out that the abduction is linked to a case that Regan was working on. The robbers ring Regan up and order him to hold back.
Regan and Carter takes the robbers head on. It is Carter who uncovers a robbery is about to take and place and who is involved.
A well known cast in this one. Joe Gladwin (Wally Batty) is a grass for Regan who gets bashed in for his troubles. Stuart Wilson (I was in every major cop show in the 1970s and 80s) plays a cop who specialises in child abduction cases and he has no time for Regan. Then there is Wanda Ventham (Sherlock's mother) who knows more than she lets on.
Abduction was the first series finale and brings a focus on Regan. The pressure of the job that led to the breakdown of his marriage. There is some anger and bitterness about the job as a policeman.
- Prismark10
- Mar 7, 2020
- Permalink
"That isn't gonna help, y'know?"
Well, I made it through the first series of The Sweeney and I actually ended up enjoying it a lot more than I'd imagined.
I was just a little lad when this was first broadcast, so was never able to view it on the telly. I picked up a boxed set the other day at a car boot and decided to give it a go.
Although by today's standards the pacing is basic and painfully slow at times it still has a certain charm. The innocence of simpler times is what I'm especially relishing watching these through older eyes.
What have I learned? Well, it seems that '70s coppers stored more booze in their desks than than you'd find at the local pub. Having an afternoon whisky was nothing out of the ordinary whilst doing your paperwork.
Also, it's evident that unless you constantly smoked, then you weren't really from the 1970s. Regan even lit up two ciggies in his mouth at one point.
Robbers loved to zoom around deserted, dusty, dirty roads with the occasional pile of boxes just begging to be smacked into.
This episode in particular was a departure from the standard format up until now. Regan was a lot more intense - having his daughter kidnapped would cause this, I guess.
There is one brief scene near the beginning which features Regan and his informant meeting in a public park when two young ladies walk past. One of them leans over to tie her boots whilst wearing a short skirt and reveals a bit more than she realises to both the chaps.
This incident is completely superfluous, unnecessary and primarily only included for titillation. Suffice to say that this was seen all too often in those much less PC and far off days of yesteryear.
Overall a great series ending which adds a little more depth to Regan - and to a lesser extent, Carter, with his fishwife.
I was just a little lad when this was first broadcast, so was never able to view it on the telly. I picked up a boxed set the other day at a car boot and decided to give it a go.
Although by today's standards the pacing is basic and painfully slow at times it still has a certain charm. The innocence of simpler times is what I'm especially relishing watching these through older eyes.
What have I learned? Well, it seems that '70s coppers stored more booze in their desks than than you'd find at the local pub. Having an afternoon whisky was nothing out of the ordinary whilst doing your paperwork.
Also, it's evident that unless you constantly smoked, then you weren't really from the 1970s. Regan even lit up two ciggies in his mouth at one point.
Robbers loved to zoom around deserted, dusty, dirty roads with the occasional pile of boxes just begging to be smacked into.
This episode in particular was a departure from the standard format up until now. Regan was a lot more intense - having his daughter kidnapped would cause this, I guess.
There is one brief scene near the beginning which features Regan and his informant meeting in a public park when two young ladies walk past. One of them leans over to tie her boots whilst wearing a short skirt and reveals a bit more than she realises to both the chaps.
This incident is completely superfluous, unnecessary and primarily only included for titillation. Suffice to say that this was seen all too often in those much less PC and far off days of yesteryear.
Overall a great series ending which adds a little more depth to Regan - and to a lesser extent, Carter, with his fishwife.
10/10 "It's all bloody wrong my son"/You went and saved the best till last
- Marqymarquis
- Sep 9, 2016
- Permalink
Good closer
- Leofwine_draca
- Feb 21, 2021
- Permalink