By Any Means tries to be clever using what the writers think are twist endings in each episode, but they fail to understand how twist endings actually work. Instead of planning ahead and weaving clues into the storyline, they have each episode meander around until the last five minutes where they suddenly show you a load of storyline that was previously missed out. An ending you stood no chance of seeing coming is then pulled out of a hat to a great fanfare of victory for the heroes. It's the laziest style of writing since the, "It was all a dream," ending.
Whilst the idea of a police force that can set criminals up and give them a good hiding without worrying about the due process of collecting evidence or about human rights might seem like a good idea briefly, it's an insult to all that's just and decent. I can forgive it to some extent on the grounds that it's obviously just fantasy but it is set in the real world. It's not a mysterious future or a sci-fi reality or anything like that. It should, therefore, be believable and realistic.
The characters also aren't likable. They betray those vulnerable people they are supposed to protect and, in some cases, get them killed in acts of violence that are shocking for the sake of it and, instead of just showing how bad the bad guys are, show how weak the good guys are.
The BBC has invested in far better written dramas in the past and can still show some good stuff now. There are writers out there who can put together a genuinely well thought out plot. It needs to take a long hard look at what it's spending its money on and provide something that gives people's minds a workout instead of "brain out" television that people who don't want to think about what they're watching believe is clever because they don't quite get it.
Whilst the idea of a police force that can set criminals up and give them a good hiding without worrying about the due process of collecting evidence or about human rights might seem like a good idea briefly, it's an insult to all that's just and decent. I can forgive it to some extent on the grounds that it's obviously just fantasy but it is set in the real world. It's not a mysterious future or a sci-fi reality or anything like that. It should, therefore, be believable and realistic.
The characters also aren't likable. They betray those vulnerable people they are supposed to protect and, in some cases, get them killed in acts of violence that are shocking for the sake of it and, instead of just showing how bad the bad guys are, show how weak the good guys are.
The BBC has invested in far better written dramas in the past and can still show some good stuff now. There are writers out there who can put together a genuinely well thought out plot. It needs to take a long hard look at what it's spending its money on and provide something that gives people's minds a workout instead of "brain out" television that people who don't want to think about what they're watching believe is clever because they don't quite get it.