Assault on Sun Hill Parts 1&2

[George]

Good part one. I liked the idea of a "Tonight on The Bill" instead of "Previously on The Bill". They probably did this because they couldn't find any previous clips to tie into this episode. I hope it doesn't happen in every episode though, it just reminds me too much of something they used to do at the start of Thunderbirds and for me The Bill is taking too many conventions from that programme lately.

Good plot as well and interesting new character.

[CBel27]

Yeah I liked this episode too. The "Tonight on The Bill" was a surprise to me. As George said, I also hope it doesn't happen every episode.

The new character was interesting. The actor seems to play a more series role than he did with his character in Ultimate Force.

I liked the plot line also. But I do believe the hostage situations are becoming too increasingly common on the show this year. Maybe they'll switch to something else in 2008?


Sgt. Matt Boyden:[/u] When The Met employed Reg Hollis, they deprived a village of its idiot.

Chris[/i][/u]

[obbo]

They used to use the 'tonight on The Bill' bit all the time circa 2001, with a different member of the cast announcing it each story ;-) but they soon stopped doing it.

[George]

The one for the first part sounded like SGT Stone who vanished in the second part. The new man didn't play too large a role in the 2nd part either but it's probably a good thing. Usually he would have been thrust into the limelight throughout but keeping him back a bit was a nice change.

The ending of part 2 was also good and didn't have any extra dialogue after the arrest.

Just out of interest,who were those hostages in the green uniforms?

[Wheezle]

I think they were the cleaners. Didn't seem to speak English either, which is a pretty stereotypical office cleaner.

[George]

The Met probably have a lot of foreign cleaners.

[Harry]

Did anyone else notice that Will called into CAD as Sierra 1, that's the area car but he was in a IRV car!

[George]

The scene on the 2nd part when the copper was shot along with the criminal didn't make sense. There were two armed police, the balding one and the one with ginger hair. The ginger one noticed the man holding the gun in the reception. Then the copper was shot, but his colleague didn't pay any attention to that or the criminal in the car and went pointed his gun at the hostage taker in the building. Then the criminal in the car somehow got from the driver's seat of the car, over the passenger seat and outside, where some mysterious third armed officer just appeared out of nowhere and shot him.

1) Why were the armed police there?

2) Were the men/man in the car connected with the hostage takers inside the building.

3) Why did the armed officer show no attention towards his mate being shot.

4) Where did the third armed officer appear from?

[yournicked341]

OMG they used correct radio language!! Except for that 'Sierra 1 'comment from Will.

The IBO should always be said like 'IBO SO' to check ANY databases, 'SO' I believe is the main place for call recieving. The IBO is such a cool place, they have plasmas!

[George]

The "Tonight on The Bill" was in the following episode as well, this time with Mickey doing the voice which is a nice touch (I actually thought they should do this a while ago). It's pretty much the previous episode's preview.

[graham_quinn]

I really liked this story, despite inital misgivings. But any story whcih gives Tony and Terry a chance to shine is fine by me. Loved Terry's "big boy" comments. Very funny!!

[George]

Note that this is the third time a bald man has set fire to the station, and the second time Terry has been held hostage by an EastEnders star.

One other thing, the coppers set up a base in the pub (which looks too fake to me, probably the lighting) which implies the pub is near the station. This, I think, is an example of good continuity because the original station back in the 80's was right next door to the pub, and there was even a scene I remember when some of the characters walked from the pub to the DI's office all in one take. I suppose we can assume this is the same pub.

[THEBILL1996]

maybe they couldn't gain access to the rear yard because of the hostage takers? so a senior officer allocated the irv as the temp area car

[JQL]

1) Why were the armed police there?

Sally tells one of the gunmen that the armed police (CO19) were there dropping off statements.

One other thing, the coppers set up a base in the pub (which looks too fake to me, probably the lighting) which implies the pub is near the station. This, I think, is an example of good continuity because the original station back in the 80's was right next door to the pub, and there was even a scene I remember when some of the characters walked from the pub to the DI's office all in one take. I suppose we can assume this is the same pub.

The pub is fake as it is on the backlot of the Sun Hill set. It was the pub used in FAMILY AFFAIRS & was recently seen in the episode "Great Power" when the police chased the rioters into it.