The Responder, series 2, review: no let-up for TV's most stressed-out cop in this superb drama
During the first season of The Responder (BBC One), Chris Carson was a man who felt like he was about to fall off the edge. However, in the second season, he is barely holding on with just his fingertips.
Carson is a police officer who responds to emergencies during the night in Liverpool, and his job has taken a toll on him. He only has two moods: extreme anger and trying to contain that anger. At the beginning of the first episode, he is shown attending a support group for men’s mental health, struggling to articulate his emotions. However, when he is working, he is able to express himself through a barrage of shouted curse words.
Things always seem to go wrong for Carson, but he's partly responsible. The story is filled with drama, and each character makes poor choices, sometimes with good intentions. When Carson's wife Kate (played by MyAnna Buring) informs him that she is taking their daughter (Romi Hyland-Rylands) to London because he never sees her due to his night job, he makes his first mistake. Carson lies and claims that he has been given a day job, which seems like a reasonable excuse but is ultimately a poor decision. His attempts to secure the job lead him deeper into a dark and dangerous world filled with drugs, guns, and gangsters.
When the first season of The Responder came out, it was remarkably good. Keeping up the same level of quality in the second season seemed like a difficult feat. However, the show's second installment is equally fantastic. The reason for this is the excellent performance of Martin Freeman, who is portraying the best role of his career. Additionally, the writing of Tony Schumacher also contributes to the show's success. Tony's past experience as a response officer in Liverpool adds an essential layer of credibility to the show.
Everyone in the supporting cast of the show performs brilliantly. One particular actor who deserves recognition is Josh Finan, who plays Marco, a young man who is not very intelligent and struggles with his new responsibilities as a father. The late Bernard Hill also appears in a guest role as Carson's horrible father. The production team has searched for actors from the old television series Brookside for this show, and have included Michael Starke in the first season and Louis Emerick as a nightclub owner, as well as Sue Johnston and Sue Jenkins playing a mother and daughter duo in the style of Grey Gardens.
Do you recall Rachel (played by Adelayo Adedayo), the new probationer who was appalled at Carson's tactics in the first season? She has now adopted similar methods while fighting her personal demons. In the previous season (it is strongly suggested to watch it prior to this one), she was in a harmful relationship, and the experience is still affecting her.
Schumacher allows us to see what it's really like to be a police officer at this high level. They often have to handle cases involving disruptive behavior, violent threats, and those dealing with mental health struggles. Unfortunately, it can feel like a never-ending and often unproductive cycle. However, experienced officers like Schumacher have learned some useful tips. For example, Schumacher asks Rachel if she can smell gas, even though he can't either. This trick is a clever way for police to gain entry into a property.
At times, Carson's situation can be overwhelming. He seems to constantly feel manic, angry, and hopeless, with a lot of cursing mixed in. However, Schumacher manages to inject some dark humor into the show. In the second episode, Carson warns a neighbor who made a legitimate complaint about his parking, saying "This isn't kicking off yet, but just you wait because it's going to get crazy."
