Tuesday, October 05, 2021

While Miz Kittling Knits: Line of Duty

 


The amount of knitting that I do on afghans has been greatly curtailed now that Denis is retired. He prefers to watch television in the dark, and although I don't mind doing that after I have my two hours of stitching in, I'd rather not do it for the entire evening. I've reached the point where I get antsy when my hands aren't busy. Perhaps I should learn how to knit in the dark, or just have him wear sunglasses and get on with it, eh?

Speaking of getting on with it...

Here is my latest creation. It was a cool, rainy day here in Phoenix yesterday, and I'm glad it was close by so I could give it a test snuggle. It passed with flying colors.

The pattern is called Diamonds in Denim, but as you can see, I decided to knit my diamonds in pink. I used two strands of worsted weight acrylic yarn, Red Heart's Super Saver Jumbo in a color called "Pretty 'n Pink" on size 15 (US) needles. I always make my afghans longer (and sometimes wider) than the pattern states, but even so these jumbo skeins of yarn are so big that three are all I really need.

Another thing that I like about this pattern is that it's reversible. There's something nice about a big ole afghan that looks the same on both sides, isn't there?

Although you can't tell it from the photo, the pink is so pink that it almost hurts your eyes. In fact, Denis came in one evening and asked, "Is that pink enough for you?"

I know this is going to be a shock for you, but I didn't get the pattern from my old stand-by, the book that's so well-loved that I have to use a binder clip so all the loose pages won't be lost.

No, this new one is 20 Easy Knitted Blankets and Throws. As the title states, these are all relatively easy patterns for beginning and intermediate knitters, and I have one earmarked for later use that will have me putting my cable needles to use. I don't know if my old stand-by is sad to be on the shelf, or relieved that it's getting some rest! (I won't tell either of these books that there is a third one waiting in the wings. Unless I can reach some sort of compromise with Denis, it may be awhile before I can get to it...)

Now, the only thing to tell you about is what I was watching while I was knitting all those pretty pink diamonds.

That would be Line of Duty, a superlative UK crime drama that I ignored for quite some time. Why? It was getting so many rave reviews that I was suspicious. I know-- weird, huh? Something tells me that, while I still need to be cautious with excessive book hype, TV hype isn't in the same league.

 

Storyline from IMDb website:

"Line of Duty follows Detective Sergeant Steven "Steve" Arnott (Martin Compston), a former authorized firearms officer who led an operation to catch an Islamic terrorist intending to detonate a bomb, but the strike team mistakenly entered the wrong apartment and shot dead an unarmed innocent man. In the subsequent investigation, Arnott refused to cover up negligence in the planning and execution of the raid and unable to work in his unit anymore, Arnott receives a transfer to AC-12, a unit tasked with uncovering police corruption. Arnott is partnered with Detective Constable Kathrine "Kate" Fleming (Vicky McClure), a highly commended undercover officer with a keen investigative instinct. They work under the supervision of Superintendent Edward "Ted" Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), who is one of several Senior Investigating Officers responsible for uncovering corruption within the police force. Throughout the series, AC-12 investigate seemingly disparate cases involving seemingly corrupt police officers, with each series focusing on a different corrupt officer and AC-12 soon realize the pervasive nature of corruption and the police's deep-rooted links to an organized crime group with ties to drug running, prostitution, child exploitation and people trafficking."

 

Denis and I galloped through all six seasons like we didn't have good sense-- it's that addictive. For any of you who are tempted to watch this series, begin with the first season. These are interconnected stories, and things may be mentioned in later seasons that occurred in earlier ones. Watching the seasons in order will eliminate a bit of confusion.

As Denis and I watched, we thought we knew who the bad guys were, but many, many times our assumptions were proved wrong. Bad guys turn out to be good guys. Good guys turn out to be bad guys. Bad things happen to good people. (I usually don't gasp in shock when watching anything, but Line of Duty has had me doing that more than once.) The twists and turns as well as the depth of corruption are amazing.

Bottom Line: Line of Duty is excellent television. If you like hard-hitting crime drama with fully fleshed-out characters, do not miss it.

16 comments:

  1. That afghan is gorgeous, Cathy! Such a bright, 'alive' shade of pink! And I have a few books like that, too, held together because I've used them so much. Thanks for the mention of Line of Duty; It's a well-made show, I tink.

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    1. I'm really looking forward to the next season.

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  2. Beautiful afghan! Perfect bright and cheerful wrap for a cool and overcast day. :)

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  3. Beautiful afghan! Your afghans always make me want to learn how to knit. Last year at the beginning of covid, I signed up for a knitting class but it was cancelled due covid. I have crocheted afghans which are packed away which is a shame. The reason is that I have a dog and a cat and I don't want pet hair tangled up in the afghans.

    I loved Mare of Eastland on HBOMax. I really liked The Unforgotten with Nicola Walker. I had heard of Line Of Duty but never looked for it. I will do so now. If you liked it, am pretty sure I will like it also.

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    1. I've made a note of Mare of East Town, and I liked The Unforgotten, too.

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  4. Beautiful PINK afghan, Cathy. :-)

    We've watched all six seasons of Line of Duty here, too, but I have to admit that we had to "re-wind" several times to help us keep up with some of what was happening. All those twists and turns, false leads, etc., demand that the viewer pay pretty strict attention. It's a great series, one that everyone who enjoys the genre needs to take a look at, IMO.

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    1. Yes, this definitely isn't a series which you can watch with both eyes on your phone, which is something that Denis likes to do (and annoys the puddin' outta me). Even he put his phone down, which is saying a lot. If I'm knitting while watching, my eyes may not always be on the TV screen, but I'm listening for all I'm worth! LOL

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  5. Lovely color and pattern of that afghan. I'm always amazed at the productivity at your home as you watch TV mysteries.

    I agree about Line of Duty. I saw the first four seasons and ended with the one starring the brilliant Thandi Newton.

    But Keeley Hawes deserves awards for her acting. When I saw her on Colbert's show a few years ago, she said she never knew which personality she was when she got to work.

    I have to find the most recent seasons. This is a serious TV series. The acting is excellent, some of the events are raw. But it is good.

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  6. On the TV situation, you could watch TV in separate rooms (no fun!), but some couples do that. Or can you put a little lamp next to you on your side of the couch or next to your chair? There are lamps which only project light in a small area.

    Knowing you, you've thought of every solution.

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    1. I think I may be working some of my charm on him. He's becoming a bit more understanding about it, since knitting keeps my fingers and hands limber. Rheumatoid arthritis is in my family, and I'm trying to discourage it.

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  7. Where are you watching Line of Duty? Amazon Prime goes through series four. I don't see it on Acorn or Hulu or Brit Box.

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    1. Seasons 1-4 and 6 on Britbox. Season 5 on Acorn.

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  8. Omigosh, paying all those bills. Well, I don't go on vacations or on trips. So I should get more movie websites.

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