Vicky McClure has moved on from Line of Duty for this one and has opted to become Lana Washington, a London based explosives officer. McClure was not the only one to jump ship from BBC to ITV, Jed Mercurio also takes the role of executive producer for the show.
There is not one dull episode of Trigger Point as it always seems the bomb disposal team are trying to stop a different tragedy happening. Most episodes conclude on a cliff hanger with a bomb having just exploded, been newly discovered or amid being diffused; this leaves you guessing the answers to questions such as who is surviving?
Series one was action-filled with bombs being discovered in various places such as vans, cars, homes, and mosques. The team were ordered to various locations where it was predicted bombs had been planted, with the responsibility of diffusing them quickly and safely – which often was not the case.
We see Lana get thrown into action, with a total of three bombs in the first episode which ultimately brings co-worker Joel’s fatal end. Series one focused on the rise of a white supremacist group ‘The Crusaders’, who were planting bombs in places including mosques and LGBTQ+ areas. With this unravelling, as if Lana doesn’t have enough trauma already, her brother gets wrapped up with this group. As you may have guessed he is in a life-or-death situation with a bomb being planted in his vehicle.
Lana reaches him in time and provides clear instructions through the car window, but ultimately the bomb explodes after he fails to listen. Washington is then reeling after the loss of her brother, but in true trigger point style the writers just want to give her a cherry on top of all this.
In comes Karl, the man who she found herself falling into the arms of despite being close with co-worker DI Youngblood. We see the concluding episode of series one featuring Karl wearing explosives on a stage. I know what you are thinking – but no he did not set the explosives off - he was shot instead.
Series two has begun, and Lana is back doing what she does best. There seems to be a new threat circling this time, it seems as though this force can never catch a break - similar to the audience of the show who are left in suspense each episode.
Ultimately this show encapsulates what it is all about, suspense, action and emotion. McClure captures her character well, displaying the trauma she has faced yet not releasing the emotion to show it. If you are looking to be on the edge of your seat this is definitely the route to go down, and you may also find yourself critiquing the expo’s doing their job even though ultimately you could do no better.