This post has nothing to do with the coastal town. It. Does. Not. Rather, it is about – and to the letter I might add – the unlikely sex symbol Superintendent Ted Hastings, leader of AC12 in the BBC’s terribly good series Line of Duty, which ended on Sunday night.
The amazing Adrian Dunbar as Superintendent Ted Hastings
When I first saw it, halfway through Series Two, I didn’t like him much because with his once-red-now-grey hair, rather large nose and certain awkwardness, he looked like the ex-Principal of the sixth form college where I once had the misfortune of working. He was a complete, misogynist, too, although he was also a weak, wimp so there the likeness ends. There’s nothing weak or wimpy about Ted, fella! There. Is. Not.
I’m sorry, I keep finding myself going into Hastingsisms and speaking in a loud, clipped voice.
What a man, though! Not only did he bring everything to an (almost) successful conclusion, he saved the reputation of AC12 and proved himself to be a crack-shot, taking out Balaclava Man while only clipping the security guard who was being held hostage in the process. His one-liners crack me up. ‘Sit down or I’ll handcuff you to the chair!’ He barked that at the dodgy lawyer. ‘Are bent coppers not criminal enough for you, son?’ This to DS Arnott. He likes him, you can tell, because he calls him “son”.
Yes – I know it’s “only” a TV series and that I need to get out more – but it was bloody brilliant! Brilliantly written; brilliantly acted; brilliantly executed. All credit to Jed Mercurio for writing and producing what I can only describe as an epic fourth series. All the ends were neatly tied up. Well, almost.
We didn’t find out who’d been murdering the young women. Or why Roz wanted to frame her own husband. Or why Maneet was the leak. And if Jamie-not-James was in cahoots with Hilton, why did Maneet have to get his password to nick the video of Dot’s dying admission? And was ACC Hilton really H? And had he committed suicide? I was just so glad H wasn’t Hastings.
Or is he?
Why was it brought up that he’s a Mason? Was he too quick to agree that Hilton’s death was suicide? And the poignant last line “Get my photo off that board!” Was there another reason he was so glad to get it off there? I hope not. I’m sure it’s me falling into all the traps that the beyond excellent Mercurio laid out for us.
And now – what will I do with my Sunday evenings? We are talking serious withdrawal symptoms. And even worse, it might be 2019 until Series Five!!! That’s torture! I’ve had to console myself with binge watching Series Two of Unforgotten – another brilliant series.
But no more Line of Duty… Sigh.
I must think not with sadness that it is no more but with gladness that it was.
Superintendent Hastings, you rock, fella!
Know who you mean – the 6th FC principal had an alias – Postman Pat – and with his partner formed the ‘(Un)Dynamic Duo’, aka Pratman and Dobbin. Lol! Like you, it’s been a case of onwards and most definitely upwards for me, too, after getting shot of that little shambles.
Glad to hear it! X