The first two episodes were terrific. You have to watch them. Then the writers had to make choices. I didn't care for the choices the writers made but I still enjoyed watching the last two episodes. I didn't feel the end satisfied the promise of the beginning. Nevertheless, the shows are hands down better than 90% of what's out there. The acting is great. The filing is great. Watch and enjoy.
8 Reviews
An ok finale, a bit half baked, but watchable.
Sleepin_Dragon18 March 2021
I think this was a pretty fair ending, I loved the previous episode, and was expecting big things, sadly it didn't quite live up to my expectations.
I came away from this scratching my head a bit, some of it was confusing, not all of the pieces seemed to fit together.
The outcome did come as a surprise, it had a different vibe from that point of view. I couldn't help however feeling as this was a precursor to Line of Duty, which kicks off a week after this.
Line of Duty remains the main course, a mixed grill, with side orders, champagne on ice and a desert. Bloodlands served as a prawn toast starter, appetising, but lacking variety.
For me the best element here was the appearance of Susan Lynch, the scene where she was interviewing Twomey was very Line of Duty, and perhaps the best moments of the series, Lynch never disappoints.
I'm of surprised that a second series was commissioned, it has had elements of excellence, sadly this finale wasn't one of them.
6/10.
I came away from this scratching my head a bit, some of it was confusing, not all of the pieces seemed to fit together.
The outcome did come as a surprise, it had a different vibe from that point of view. I couldn't help however feeling as this was a precursor to Line of Duty, which kicks off a week after this.
Line of Duty remains the main course, a mixed grill, with side orders, champagne on ice and a desert. Bloodlands served as a prawn toast starter, appetising, but lacking variety.
For me the best element here was the appearance of Susan Lynch, the scene where she was interviewing Twomey was very Line of Duty, and perhaps the best moments of the series, Lynch never disappoints.
I'm of surprised that a second series was commissioned, it has had elements of excellence, sadly this finale wasn't one of them.
6/10.
Twists for the Sake of Twists
AJ_Blanc8 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Bloodlands is not a bad show. There's a lot to like such as the acting, casting, and cinematography, and the first two episodes were quite good for the most part. The last half of the first season/series seems to fall apart a bit for me though leaving me questioning if I will continue watching. Ultimately, there's simply way too much plot convenience for events to occur the way they do.
Getting into spoiler territory: Tom didn't need to shoot Adam. For over two decades the old guy had been dismissed as a crank, so why would anyone all of a sudden start to believe him? How does Tom get a boat and go to the island and back, cleaning up blood and other evidence, without anyone seeing him? Also, why not just dump him back in the now vacant gravesite, since there's no reason for anyone to revisit it? Why does Tom still have the gun he used in 1998? Oh, and the gun he used was a Walther PP, but it was most likely a .380 or .32 rather than a 9mm because the only 9x18mm made in that model was for the West German police. I mention this because it would be a fairly unique gun even for the 90s and probably not hard to track down.
A few other points: how was Tori able to kidnap a physically capable man at least twice her size, and how was he not found sooner by someone at the hotel? Why does Tom frame Jackie when the only thing he has on him was planted? A formal investigation on circumstantial evidence would only fizzle out quickly and likely point directly at him. When the notion of Goliath being a cop narrows the scope down to three people, all of whom are part of the investigation, why aren't they all immediately benched pending exoneration?
We finally learn here that Tom is Goliath... for the couple people that didn't make the connection earlier. He killed those three guys in 1998 because they kidnapped his wife so he would look the other way while they smuggle guns for the IRA. However, the kidnapping was just a ruse as Emma was indeed having an affair with David and helping the IRA. This creates a plot hole in that if Emma is still alive why wouldn't she come forward and point the finger squarely at Tom? She was an intelligence officer, and could probably overcome any 'colluding with terrorists' allegation that would be thrown her way, as well as saying she was afraid of Tom. She has no reason not to return and get her daughter back.
Despite all that, what concerns me most is why Tom continues to be a cop in the same place all this happened? I don't have a problem with the protagonist turning out to be a villain, or good guys doing bad things for the right reasons, but that's not what this is. Tom killed three people in a jealous rage, and three more to cover up those crimes. There's nothing to root for here. If he had either transferred or emigrated somewhere off island, he'd probably never have to worry about this again. But then there'd be no story, and we just couldn't have that now could we...
Getting into spoiler territory: Tom didn't need to shoot Adam. For over two decades the old guy had been dismissed as a crank, so why would anyone all of a sudden start to believe him? How does Tom get a boat and go to the island and back, cleaning up blood and other evidence, without anyone seeing him? Also, why not just dump him back in the now vacant gravesite, since there's no reason for anyone to revisit it? Why does Tom still have the gun he used in 1998? Oh, and the gun he used was a Walther PP, but it was most likely a .380 or .32 rather than a 9mm because the only 9x18mm made in that model was for the West German police. I mention this because it would be a fairly unique gun even for the 90s and probably not hard to track down.
A few other points: how was Tori able to kidnap a physically capable man at least twice her size, and how was he not found sooner by someone at the hotel? Why does Tom frame Jackie when the only thing he has on him was planted? A formal investigation on circumstantial evidence would only fizzle out quickly and likely point directly at him. When the notion of Goliath being a cop narrows the scope down to three people, all of whom are part of the investigation, why aren't they all immediately benched pending exoneration?
We finally learn here that Tom is Goliath... for the couple people that didn't make the connection earlier. He killed those three guys in 1998 because they kidnapped his wife so he would look the other way while they smuggle guns for the IRA. However, the kidnapping was just a ruse as Emma was indeed having an affair with David and helping the IRA. This creates a plot hole in that if Emma is still alive why wouldn't she come forward and point the finger squarely at Tom? She was an intelligence officer, and could probably overcome any 'colluding with terrorists' allegation that would be thrown her way, as well as saying she was afraid of Tom. She has no reason not to return and get her daughter back.
Despite all that, what concerns me most is why Tom continues to be a cop in the same place all this happened? I don't have a problem with the protagonist turning out to be a villain, or good guys doing bad things for the right reasons, but that's not what this is. Tom killed three people in a jealous rage, and three more to cover up those crimes. There's nothing to root for here. If he had either transferred or emigrated somewhere off island, he'd probably never have to worry about this again. But then there'd be no story, and we just couldn't have that now could we...
Amazing ending!
boxford-3257815 March 2021
Good start - dreadful finish.(Entire series)
germanning15 March 2021
Episode 4
Prismark1015 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Just to ram home that this series is from the team behind Line of Duty.
There is a lengthy interrogation scene between Jackie Twomey and officer Heather Pentland. Unfortunately she is no Hastings.
As for Tom Brannick. He realises that the evidence against Twomey might just be circumstantial. He is under pressure from Tori Matthews and later by Pat Keenan. Even his fellow police officer look at Tom suspiciously.
The only way out is to put someone else in the frame as Goliath if it cannot be Twomey.
Once again the movie No Way Out is an inspiration here. The weak link was Tori Matthews thinking she could take on Brannick alone.
The ending felt a bit too neat for my liking and the reason was because a second series of the show was announced.
I am not sure if Bloodlands merited a second series. There is only so much I can take of James Nesbitt looking pensive.
Like another Northern Ireland thriller The Fall, where I thought a third series was pushing it. This should had been wrapped up here.
There is a lengthy interrogation scene between Jackie Twomey and officer Heather Pentland. Unfortunately she is no Hastings.
As for Tom Brannick. He realises that the evidence against Twomey might just be circumstantial. He is under pressure from Tori Matthews and later by Pat Keenan. Even his fellow police officer look at Tom suspiciously.
The only way out is to put someone else in the frame as Goliath if it cannot be Twomey.
Once again the movie No Way Out is an inspiration here. The weak link was Tori Matthews thinking she could take on Brannick alone.
The ending felt a bit too neat for my liking and the reason was because a second series of the show was announced.
I am not sure if Bloodlands merited a second series. There is only so much I can take of James Nesbitt looking pensive.
Like another Northern Ireland thriller The Fall, where I thought a third series was pushing it. This should had been wrapped up here.
Too ridiculous for words
ray-545-6281218 March 2021
Don't waste your time
rachelsanger23 June 2021
A very poor and implausible episode wrapping up a disappointing series. The authors could have saved the series with a really tight ending - it was still possible - but no! They blatantly had to fudge the end of this episode to leave the door open for another series. Pathetic. I feel cheated.
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