The Thin Blue Line

The Thin Blue Line

1995
The Thin Blue Line
The Thin Blue Line

The Thin Blue Line

7.5 | en | Comedy

The Thin Blue Line is a British sitcom starring Rowan Atkinson set in a police station that ran for two series on the BBC from 1995 to 1996. It was written by Ben Elton.

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Seasons & Episodes

2
1
0
EP7  The Green Eyed Monster
Dec. 23,1996
The Green Eyed Monster

Inspector Fowler proposes to Sergeant Dawkins so as to help his chances for promotion, but his lack of sensitivity during the proposal prompts her to leave him instead. Fowler tries to find a new woman, but loses his interest when he hears that Dawkins is now with someone called "Toby."

EP6  Road Rage
Dec. 19,1996
Road Rage

Sergeant Dawkins leaves for a break with some nature-loving activists, but during this time, they get into a feud with the police for their extreme methods, forcing Dawkins to choose between their arrogant leader, Stallion, or Fowler.

EP5  Come on You Blues
Dec. 12,1996
Come on You Blues

Gasforth Football Club is about to play Premiership team Chelsea, and Mayoress Wickham orders Fowler and his officers to personally see to it that nothing goes wrong in exchange for her recommending him for an MBE. However, things get complicated when the football players get up to no good.

EP4  Alternative Culture
Dec. 05,1996
Alternative Culture

Constable Habib finds her younger sister holding drugs during a drug raid in a rave club, and hides the drugs to protect her, but she is discovered and charged for withholding evidence. Fowler, unhappy with the injustice, does his best to protect Habib.

EP3  Fly on the Wall
Nov. 28,1996
Fly on the Wall

Fowler receives a letter from the BBC, who then come and make a fly on the wall documentary about Gasforth Police Station. Unfortunately, Grim convinces the officers, sans Fowler, that they are all going to become international television stars, prompting them all to undergo many changes to look "nice for the telly" and end up making fools of themselves in front of the cameramen until a farmer enters the station with a gun.

EP2  Ism Ism Ism
Nov. 21,1996
Ism Ism Ism

Dawkins discovers circumstantial evidence of a domestically abused wife, Grim applies to join the Todgers, and Mayoress Christabel Wickham informs Fowler of the presence of an illegal immigrant in Gasforth. Fowler apparently solves the crimes, but soon realises that they seemed a little too easy.

EP1  Court in the Act
Nov. 14,1996
Court in the Act

Grim and Boyle enlist the help of Fowler and his officers to search the home of a suspected drug-dealer, and Goody finds the drugs in the kitchen. But the too-obvious location, Boyle's discretion and Grim's comfortableness lead Fowler to believe something is going on behind the arrest.

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7.5 | en | Comedy , Crime | More Info
Released: 1995-11-13 | Released Producted By: Tiger Aspect , BBC Country: United Kingdom Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/thethinblueline/
Synopsis

The Thin Blue Line is a British sitcom starring Rowan Atkinson set in a police station that ran for two series on the BBC from 1995 to 1996. It was written by Ben Elton.

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Stream Online

The tv show is currently not available onine

Cast

Rowan Atkinson , Serena Evans , David Haig

Director

John Birkin

Producted By

Tiger Aspect , BBC

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Reviews

Nick Good This 'comedy series' is pure cult-Marx goodthink propaganda promulgating CATHEDRAL attitudes and values towards immigration, Muslims, gun-control, 'reactionary buffoons' and so much more. It's quite fun to watch and play PC bingo. Using the following 4 categories. Watch with a friend or loved one or as a group and shout 'BINGO' followed by one of the following 5 categories, as appropriate. Freeze the video and make your case to the other players.The winner has the highest score at the end of the episode. 1) Goodthink Social Attitude 2) Clichéd 'stupid' white male 3) Immigration puff piece 4) Evil boilerplate Reactionary 5) Magic virtuous minority....enjoy!
Sharan S The Thin Blue Line is a typical crowd-pleaser, and maybe that's the problem. Critics found that the show didn't offer anything new. While I will side with the critics, the show is nonetheless funny AF.Rowan Atkinson perfectly captures the "stiff upper lip" in his portrayal of Inspector Fowler, an old school "by the books" cop. But perhaps, the breakout character of this show is D.I. Grim, played by David Haig. Sidebar: This show was in the 1995-96 period. Just a year after Haig and Atkinson played memorable roles in Four Weddings and a Funeral. Who can forget Wedding #2??.Back to the show, The Thin Blue Line has an unheard of cast but that's good for a reason. They are incredibly hilarious and the chemistry is terrific. The Thin Blue Line covers story lines from drugs to racism and even straightening kids from a life of crime and abandonment. The villains are usually never shown as the humour happens between the cops. I thought this was a much better take than the usual "bad guy go bye- bye" methodology followed by US cop shows.So, patiently watch The Thin Blue Line. After a few episodes (there are only 14 in all) you will fall for the characters.P.S. the show also features some excellent cameos - including Stephen Fry.
jan This is Ben Elton's homage to Croft & Perry's 'Dad's Army'. the very first episode shows Inspector Fowler coming out of a shop called Mainwaring's, looking very similar to Hodges in his ARP helmet. As the series progresses and the characters develop, you can see the similarities to the characters of Captain Mainwaring (Fowler) Pikey (goody) and Jonesey (Gladsone). Ben Elton makes a cameo appearance as a new age traveller in the first series. Although there are bound to be comparisons made with Blackadder, these are unfair as they are both in differrent classes. However, there are obvious similarities in the topical satire and digs at modern establishment. Fowler is not incompetent, nor do his staff make him appear to be so. in fact, they very rarely get it wrong in the pursuit of justice. (except when they arrested the wrong carol singers). The episode on Sir Paul Condon's press release, racism and asylum seekers ( Ism Ism Ism) was particularly relevant to the times, not to mention hilarious (Fowler pretending to be an asylum seeking martian)
Andrei Pavlov On the whole the series is very funny. But there is one serious complaint from my side: those background giggles are real spoilers. Why should they exist at all? Don't the people, who watch the show, know themselves where to laugh? Even some phrases of the main characters are being overdubbed by stupid "ha ha". Let them exist on TV - all right, but not on DVDs.If some people from TV entertaining industry are reading this, please pay attention what is mentioned here. I repeat: background giggles are no good because they interfere immensely, robbing the viewers of following and enjoying the action and words on the screen. In that respect "Jeeves and Wooster" comedy is much superior (even the switch of the characters is not so bad if compared to stupid off-screen giggles).I can give it 6 out of 10 (only because of that background stupid laughter). Shame on the film-makers who destroyed the classic piece of cinema by one little but interfering detail. Thanks for attention.