The Responder: Does primetime TV need to be this exhausting and relentlessly gloomy?
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As I watched the police drama series The Responder on BBC One, it brought to mind a striking image taken by freelance photographer Joel Goodman during a New Year's Eve celebration in Manchester a few years ago. This photo went viral in 2016 for its depiction of the frenzy that can accompany nightlife in the North East. The picture features police officers handcuffing a man on the pavement, while a woman in fancy attire observes. An elderly man is also lying on the ground, seemingly for no reason, much like the figure in Manet's Olympia painting. The photo serves as a reminder of the tumult that authorities face during alcohol and drug-fueled afterparties, which we can once again witness on television screens this week with the return of The Responder.
Martin Freeman plays the role of Chris Carson, a police officer from Liverpool who works night shifts in The Responder. In season one, Chris underwent therapy, but in the new season, he has started attending group support sessions. Despite this, he still lives his life during the night with the help of cheap energy drinks. When he is not patrolling the streets of Merseyside, he struggles to maintain his family relationships. He begs his ex-wife, Kate, not to move to London with their daughter Tilly, as she is everything he has left. To stop their move, Chris lies about having a day job and promises to be more involved in Tilly's life, leading him to get involved with the Liverpool underworld once again.
British crime TV often has charming male actors playing gritty detectives, like David Tennant in Broadchurch, Idris Elba in Luther, or Kenneth Branagh in Wallander. This is so common that it's no longer a surprise to see an actor like Martin Freeman, who is usually known for playing nice guys, tackling the role of a troubled cop. In 1968, director Sergio Leone shocked audiences by casting Henry Fonda, a typically heroic actor, as a villain in Once Upon a Time in the West. Nowadays, this type of casting is a common trope in television. However, Freeman is still impressive as Chris, a character who struggles with making more bad decisions than good ones. "I'm trying," he tells his support group. "But when am I going to see some results?"
Chris has a counterpart in the series who is a younger police officer named Rachel, played by Adelayo Adedayo. Rachel was assigned to work with another officer in the beginning but was unsuccessful and was transferred back to working with Chris. She often complains about working with him because on one hand, he is the worst police officer ever, and on the other, he is the most irate officer. Chris is known for his aggressive behavior and uses profanity excessively while working, including when he moonlights for corrupt police officer Deb Barnes, played by Amaka Okafor, and aspiring drug kingpin Jodie, played by Faye McKeever. As of yet, Chris has not found a healthy relationship for himself.
Tony Schumacher, who used to work as a police officer in the city, is the creator of The Responder. The show is known for its authentic feel, although it still follows the heightened atmosphere of a typical British crime drama. The characters all face the challenges of everyday life, such as Rachel struggling to leave a toxic relationship, Marco struggling to raise a child on his own while battling addiction, and Chris dealing with his abusive father's health concerns. It's a show that explores the different forms of desperation, where Chris often regrets taking risky decisions, but the audience can sense that his circumstances will eventually lead him down a path of desperation.
The Responder is an extremely tiresome show with a persistent sense of dread. Chris laments about not seeing sunlight in years to an amnesiac who cannot help, and the audience shares his despair. The constant violence and poverty portrayed can be overwhelming. Chris struggles to gather enough money to buy a dress for his daughter, often resorting to taking a few coins from his father's cookie jar. Ironically, moments of humor presented by Casey and Marco can turn into scenes of cruelty and immorality in the blink of an eye. If the show's bleakness reflected reality, it would be easier to defend the creative choices. However, The Responder is similar to other British emergency service dramas in its ridiculousness and dramatization.
The Responder has many good qualities, but it can be quite depressing. Freeman and Adedayo make a great duo, and the depiction of Liverpool at night is beautiful. However, this show can be quite exhausting to watch. In one scene, Chris asks a shopkeeper how he stays awake at night, and the shopkeeper responds by saying he just restocks the chips. Unfortunately, after watching The Responder for an hour, even restocking snacks won't keep you from feeling completely drained.
