I’d agree about the lack of development but I’d say that was more to do with the timescale. The comparable scenarios of corruption in Our Friends In the North – Soho and vice cops – was dealt with more satisfactorily because it was able to take the time to take in the sweeping away of the old guard by the new police management in the late 80s. If it had been stuck with a ten year lifespan like Red Riding, it wouldn’t have managed to demonstrate that as well.

I agree it was far from perfect but I’d still say it was by far the best drama that’s been on telly for several years.

And did it really succeed brilliantly as a treatment of police corruption? It was hardly subtle. They all stand around in a room sipping champagne boasting about how rich they’re going to become and how the north is (pretty laughably) “where we do what we want”. For me, outside of Morrissey (and his arc was entirely predictable) there was no character development, no rhyme or reason to it all – just David Peace’s view that the West Yorks police was comprised entirely of money grabbing, murdering, ugly chain smoking bastards. All very atmospheric and entertainingly bleak, but ultimately shallow and unimaginative. I’d have been more interested in seeing the force slowly becoming corrupt and eaten away from the inside, rather than being instantly introduced to ready-made regional villains.

I enjoyed the series (and I live in Yorkshire so it gave it an extra zing for me) but only as a stylish diversion for a couple of hours. It was no masterpiece and I doubt very much if in years to come it will be remembered as a great drama in the way that Our Friends in the North or Cracker is.

During flashbacks we’re shown that Morrisey and Clarke saw the girl had swan’s wings stitched on to her back at the site of her discovery and commenting “look what he’s done” but also at the meeting above the wedding when it was decided – with Jim Carter in attendance – that Dawson had been “putting personal pleasure before business” and had to be dealt with.

The crux of the plot, as I understood it, was police corruption and it succeeded brilliantly in that respect. The murders, paedophilia were tributary to that.
As it goes, I felt episode 2 was the weaker of the trilogy, with episode 1 the best. And I haven’t been compelled to watch anything as much since Our Friends In the North.

In making my original post, I was actually referring to the lack of good drama series in the Noughties rather than post- Holding On. Boy A was indeed excellent but was a one-off, rather than an episodic drama (which is what I was getting at).

I haven’t seen some of the dramas mentioned in this thread, but did catch Eureka Street (and indeed there is a review of it here: http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/?p=6119). It was pretty good, but didn’t it all go a bit rubbish towards the end when Chuckie became famous? Also it txed in 1999.

Did anyone watch the Peter Flannery / John Simm drama on C4 a few months ago? Was that any good?

Oh, and it’s an adapation – or some of it is – but I’d also give an honourable mention to the Bleasdale version of Oliver Twist.