The Thin Blue Line
Inspector Raymond C. Fowler is the officer in charge of Gasforth police station, a devoted servant of the crown--and a terrible stickler for rules and all forms of correctness. His second-in-command, Sergeant Patricia Dawkins, is also his partner and very much in command in all non-police matters, with a nasty tendency to forget her professional place. The uniform branch is further manned by three Constables: older Trinidadian-born Frank Gladstone, promising foxy Pakistani Maggie Habib, and English simpleton Kevin Goody, good friends but constantly arguing and overeager, especially by Fowler's impossibly-high standards. They share the station with loudly arrogant but stupid and shockingly discourteous Detective Inspector Derek Grim's CID branch, which includes Detectives Robert Kray and Gary Boyle. The Mayoress, whom Fowler knew in schooldays, is a further worry. The crooks usually cause much less trouble then the permanent cast.
- 1995-1996
- 2 seasons
- BBC Warner
- Comedy, Suspense
- TV-PG
Inspector Raymond C. Fowler is the officer in charge of Gasforth police station, a devoted servant of the crown--and a terrible stickler for rules and all forms of correctness. His second-in-command, Sergeant Patricia Dawkins, is also his partner and very much in command in all non-police matters, with a nasty tendency to forget her professional place. The uniform branch is further manned by three Constables: older Trinidadian-born Frank Gladstone, promising foxy Pakistani Maggie Habib, and English simpleton Kevin Goody, good friends but constantly arguing and overeager, especially by Fowler's impossibly-high standards. They share the station with loudly arrogant but stupid and shockingly discourteous Detective Inspector Derek Grim's CID branch, which includes Detectives Robert Kray and Gary Boyle. The Mayoress, whom Fowler knew in schooldays, is a further worry. The crooks usually cause much less trouble then the permanent cast.
Season 2 Episode Guide
7 Episodes 1996
Episode 1
Court in the Act
32 mins
CID failed for months to find hard evidence against Gasford's worst criminal, drug dealer Harry the Spike. Boyle convinces Grim to plant evidence, to be found by Goody, who is proudly 'modeling' the new, actually future, police uniform, during the bust. Fowler uses role-play to prepare Goody for a hard defense lawyer-grilling. It turns out the counsel is the mayoress. Dawkins, already having her 'monthly mood', is violently jealous. Then Habib discovers Goody was manipulated, even Grim feels guilty. Fowler is determined to prevent a corrupt conviction.
Episode 2
Ism Ism Ism
36 mins
The Gasforth police has to arrest an illegal immigrant. Inspector Raymond C. Fowler first makes sure his officers get an elaborate brainstorming about tolerance and non-discrimination, a particularly sensitive subject for ethnic minority Constables Frank Gladstone (Trinidadian origin) and Habib (Pakistani), so the hypothetical example is a Martian. Meanwhile shamelessly bigoted CID inspector Grim fails to get accepted into a real masonic lodge, and pledges an absurd secret society instead.
Episode 3
Fly on the Wall
30 mins
The Gasforth PD are to be in a fly-on-the-wall documentary. Naturally, everyone wants to look good for the camera.
Episode 4
Alternative Culture
32 mins
CID plan a raid on a rave party. Meanwhile, Habib's proper younger sister comes to Gasforth and turns out to have a wild side.
Episode 5
Come on You Blues
32 mins
Gasforth Football Club are drawn at home against Chelsea in the FA Cup and since this has attracted a lot of tourists and investors, Mayoress Wickham orders the police to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Episode 6
Road Rage
34 mins
A bypass leading to Gasforth is being built through a forest. Naturally, protesters appear. Patricia joins the protesting environmentalist group, the Dongers, during her two-week holiday. This puts Fowler in a dilemma as the Gasforth PD are called to the construction site to remove the protesters. Meanwhile, Grim's car gets scratched, driving him to conduct one of the most extensive operations of his career.
Episode 7
The Green Eyed Monster
41 mins
The promotion board will be visiting the Gasforth police station and Grim and Fowler are the most likely candidates. When Grim tells Fowler that they usually go for family men, Fowler proposes to Dawkins in a most unromantic way, causing her to break up with him.