‘Line of Duty’ Recap: ‘Season 2, Episode 3’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM. YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

There is a good reason as to why the phrase ‘it’s a small world’ pops into our heads from time to time, simply because it is painfully true. For we can all call upon countless examples, where we run into someone from out past, that we thought we would never see again. Which can be a good thing, if it is an awesome friend that we somehow lost touch with, or someone that we never got to explore our feelings for. But a crossing of paths once again, can also be a sour experience. Since that strange twist of fate allows for us to run into people that we simply didn’t care for and were just fine with never seeing again. But one way or another, this just happens in life, and it happens enough that it motivates writers to plop it into fiction. Because it just works in storytelling in a seamless and organic fashion, and for proof, look no further than last night’s episode of Line of Duty.
 
For this particular chapter in the Denton disaster saw the witness protection specialist arrive in AC-12 and wouldn’t you know it, it was Detective Inspector Matthew ‘Dot’ Cotton. Who if you recall, is a dirty, dirty cop. Because he’s the guy that played nice with AC-12 in order to help Tommy escape prosecution and jail time at the end of the last season and the whole point of having him here, was so he could orchestrate a grand cross departmental cooperative. One that would help the department get to the bottom of what happened on that fateful night, and it should be noted that his arrival in AC-12, helped to reveal the true identity of the now deceased witness to the viewer. And as it turns out, the departed was Tommy all along. But while it was nice to get some answers and wild to see Dot flex up on Arnott and Fleming, thanks to their sorted past, there was still a case to solve and what the investigation uncovered in this episode, was downright fascinating.
 
Because the further that AC-12 dug into this mess, the more it became clear that this whole case was tied to something larger. Something that was reinforced by Lindsay’s time in jail. Because she was having quite the difficult time behind bars, and that wasn’t related to the harsh reality that her career in law enforcement was likely over and that she might spend the rest of her life in a tiny twelve by twelve cell. No instead, her troubles stemmed from the fact that people had it in for her. For there was some gross stuff showing up in her food, and a barrage of insults and harassment being hurled her way, day and night. And while she was able to handle that, and some tough visits from Kate from time to time; what truly opened the flood gates in this investigation, is what happened after a little fight in the weight room. For the guards that rescued her from grave harm, took the time to badly hurt her with some scalding water, in order to make her understand that she shouldn’t be talking to AC-12.
 
Which truly made Lindsay wonder if she was being set up. But by whom was the true mystery. Thankfully though, some prodding and some digging from Kate, revealed something significant. In that, Lindsay was once romantically involved with an officer early on in her career, one that rose through the ranks to become quite powerful and that same officer turned boss made some odd manipulations to the schedule, the night of this disaster. Because Lindsay should have been home that evening. But instead that fateful operation fell to her, and she was unable to reach anyone but Deputy Chief Constable Mike Dryden to receive approval for the op. And it just so happens, that he is the officer in question that she used to be close to, and he was the one that made that schedule change. Which makes it seem as though the DCC is one the behind this mess, but proving that, will be quite the task. But the good news, is that Steve now believes Lindsay, and his change in tune makes a lot of sense, when one takes a moment to ponder upon Dryden and his actions thus far. 
 
Because he’s been oddly brash about getting this case solved, and it’s equally as strange that he wants something as simple as a traffic violation out of the limelight, as though he wants zero scrutiny upon him. And to make matters worse, he’s leaking information to the press to keep a media circus rolling, and really all of these actions leave one to wonder what exactly he’s hiding and what he’s up to. Of course, those truths will have to wait for another time. But in the here and the now, this was quite the impressive episode. One that did a phenomenal job of bringing elements from season one back into the mix and one that quite frankly blows your mind. Because the possibility that corruption and illegal acts have been orchestrated by a top cop is stunning for certain, and it really will be interesting to see what will be revealed about DCC Dryden in the weeks it come. Until next time.

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